GRANDVIEW, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Theatre West Virginia wrapped up a fantastic 62nd Season on Sunday with the Summer’s final production of The Wizard of Oz. As we await what’s to come from the community linchpin, LOOTPRESS continues its series of profiles highlighting the dedicated cast and crew who make these vital productions possible.
Patrons of more recent shows may know Lindsey Palmer from her work in Rocket Boys the Musical, as well as Hatfields and McCoys. But her journey with Theatre West Virginia is nearly a decade in the making, with the Summer of 2022 marking her seventh year with the organization.
A recent graduate of Independence High, Palmer’s longstanding penchant for performing began her time as a youth at Beckley Dance Theatre School with the Jerry Rose Dance Ensemble. “[Jerry] taught me how to have confidence and do my best in performing,” she explains. “Those lessons carry on today.”
Those lucky enough to have caught Palmer’s superb performance in Hatfields and McCoys – and subsequently, Rocket Boys the Musical – may be surprised to learn that, not so long ago, it was uncertain whether she would be capable of performing at all due to complications from a December surgery.
“I’m so blessed to be able to perform this summer for Theatre West Virginia,” she says of her remarkable return to the stage. “I had a back surgery in December at UVA and had complications. [I] was paralyzed for 4-5 days and was told I may never walk again.”
Despite the looming shadow cast over the potential future by these complications, it was through dedication to physical therapy, along with the love and support of her family, that Palmer was able not only to overcome the odds, but to thrive in the face of adversity.
“I have almost made a full recovery, [and] facing those odds has made me appreciate performing even more,” she exclaims.
Concerns of endurance following surgery led to the decision to limit Palmer’s participaction in Theatre West Virginia’s 62nd Season to her role in Hatfields and McCoys. However, after a successful run of shows, she made the decision to partake in July’s production of Rocketboys the Musical as well.
Seven summers with Theatre West Virginia have seen Palmer take on a number of roles, with Petra of Romeo and Juliet, the Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland, and both Mary Butcher and Josephine McCoy of Hatfields and McCoys having been named as a few favorites.
Outside of her work with Theatre West Virginia, she has assumed roles as Carrie White in Carrie the Musical, Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera, Johanna in Sweeny Todd, and Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors.
Off the live stage, she shoots movies with JCFilms, who are known for their faith-based and social conscious films, many of which can currently be found on the Amazon Prime streaming service. She also assists in coaching the color guard at Independence High School, and will be beginning her next journey in the coming weeks as a student at WVU Tech.
More information on Theatre West Virginia can be found here at the TWV website. Additional coverage from LOOTPRESS’ Theatre West Virginia profile series can be found here.