Every seat in the house is filled. The show is sold out. The lights dim, and darkness engulfs the packed auditorium. The curtain opens. Act one, scene one. The play begins, and the star appears. She takes a breath, and the spotlight meets her in center stage. Her name? Erin Christine Walsh. That's Erin's dream -- to be the leading lady of Broadway. But what seems like an impossible dream for most is slowly being worked into a possible reality for Erin. "All the things I devote my time to right now are what I plan on pursuing as a profession," she said. That profession? Musical theater. On …

Oliver Bret Whitten could be South's own Troy Bolton. The Downers Grove South junior and Woodridge resident is a three-season athlete, an actor and an honors student. He competes in soccer, track and field, wrestling, lacrosse and cheerleading. Last year, he also auditioned for "Bus Stop," one of South's school plays, with little theater experience. He was cast as one of the play's main characters. His only acting experience was taking Acting I that same semester. He will also be auditioning for the fall and winter plays at school. Whitten, who goes by Bret, also takes honors-level classes. …