Rachel Wellman, an 18-year-old from Penn Valley plays the role of Nancy, the live-in girlfriend of the evil, terrifying Bill Sykes, a burglar whose abuse she endures because she loves him. Prospector asked her some questions.

Prospector: What is your acting background?

Rachel Wellman: With both parents being involved in the theater, acting has always been a part of my life. I was very involved in the Drama program at NU for all fours years before graduating in June.

I am currently 18 years old and I live in Penn Valley.

P: What is the best thing to you about the play and acting in it?

RW: My favorite thing about the play is working with the senior cast, they are all very talented and watching everyone's continuous growth in character has been stupendous.

For me personally, I love the challenge of maintaining a consistent character while acting, sing, and dancing.

P: Is it hard to play an abused woman?

RW: Honestly, it has been exceedingly hard trying to get into the mindset of my character.

Loving a man no matter what he does, and justifying all his actions are tricky things to play realistically for an actor.

Luckily for me the actor playing Bill, the abusive lover, is my boyfriend, which gives me a sense of safety and allows us to play around with how to portray the characters relationship and the situations that Nancy encounters.