Freelance Writer · Soprano · Actor
About Connie
Connie Shakalis
Connie Shakalis is an award-winning performer and writer. A past member of Actors Equity Association, she has held 19 leading roles throughout the U.S.
She graduated summa cum laude (New York State University), with a B.S. in communications and studied voice with Linda Hall, assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and Marko Lampas, of the Juilliard School.
Connie is the arts reporter for Bloomington, Indiana’s, The Herald Times, and is a regular contributor of feature articles there (approx. 900 stories). She has written for Bloom Magazine, Our Brown County and Bloomington's Gentry Lifestyle magazine. Her essays and articles have been published also in AARP Bulletin online, Aitia (humanities and philosophy) Magazine, Citicorp Newsletter and several newspapers in New York. Connie is a winner of New York's Raynor Wallace Award for Poetry and Ohio's Outstanding Performer Award, La Comedia Dinner Theatre.
In Manhattan she served as desk editor for Elsevier Science Publishing and Van Nostrand Reinhold books as well as copy editor for the Cornell University Medical College's Alumni Association Newsletter. In Bloomington she wrote and designed Meadowood's Health Pavilion newsletter.
In New York she performed her one-woman show in nearly 20 cabaret clubs and co-directed the Improvisational Theater Group for the Town of Huntington. She was a regular solo vocalist with Long Island, NY's Opera Night and with the Long Island Accordion Alliance. She has also soloed in concerts in Indianapolis, Bloomington, and New York. She wrote and directed walking tours of Manhattan and Long Island.
In Bloomington she has performed with Cardinal Stage Company (now Constellation Stage & Screen) and Bloomington Playwrights Project, for which she also wrote two short plays. She has performed also at the Brown County Playhouse in "2020 COVID the Musical," "Over the River and Through the Woods" and "On Golden Pond" (Ethel Thayer). This November, she makes her debut performance with the new theater company Eclipse Productions as Mom in Sam Shepard's "True West."
She solos with Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and will sing second soprano in Vivaldi's duet "Laudamus te" with Bloomington Chamber Singers.
Theater Resume
Connie Shakalis
connieshakalis.com connieshakalis@gmail.com Connie Shakalis, YouTube
631-219-5428; 812-333-7103
Past A.E.A. member, 30 years
LORT, Stock, Regional, Theatre Authority, Dinner Theater, etc.
- Ethel Thayer On Golden Pond Brown County Playhouse 2023
- Aida Over the River and Through the Woods " " 2023
- Mary, Cashier, Local #1 Granfalloon 2022 Woman Asylum 2022
- Woman 2020 Covid the Musical (2021) Brown County Playhouse
- Vicki Richards Tuning In (2018) Bloomington Playwrights Project, Ind.
- Daisy Daisy Hinkle Cabaret @ Bloomington Restorations, Inc. (2016) Ind.
- Prudy, Matron, Gym Teacher Hairspray (2015) Cardinal Stage Co., Ind.
- Connie, Walnut, et al. Blizzard (2015) Bloomington Playwrights Project, Ind.
- Eunice Hubell Streetcar Named Desire (2014) Cardinal Stage Co., Ind.
- Soloist Songs of the Gilded Age (2013) Port Wash., NY, and Bethpage, NY
- Soloist " " Long Island State Fair, NY
- Coochie Snorcher Vagina Monologues (2011) State University of NY, Long Island, NY Bosnian rape camp survivor
Past roles
- Woman Side by Side by Sondheim Meadow Brook Theater, Mich.
- Lottie & Maebelle Show Boat MUNY, Starlight Musicals, tour
- Chorus Where’s Charley? MUNY " "
- Irene Molloy Hello, Dolly Coachlight Dinner Theater, Conn.
- Dolly Hello, Dolly " "
- Nellie South Pacific Mark 1 Dinner Theater, Fla.
- Elsa Sound of Music Beef & Boards Dinner Theater, Ind.
- Sister Berte Sound of Music " "
- Magnolia Show Boat La Comedia Dinner Theater, Oh. *
- Maria Sound of Music La Comedia " "
- Irene Molloy Hello, Dolly La Comedia ""
- Vera Ten Little Indians La Comedia ""
- Fiona Brigadoon "Broadway/Grand Opera" (amateur) Theater Co., NY, NY
- Rosabella Most Happy Fella " "
- Phyllis Iolanthe " "
Commercials, Student Film, etc.
Student film "Picture Perfect," by Jenna Kirsch, 2022, winner, Atlantic Film Festival
- Blueline Media Productions: TV commercials, 2018
- Student film, Contigo, by Jeremy Tatara, 2018, Coil, Jeremy Tatara, 2019
- Actor, Indiana University senior directing project, 2019
Soloist —
Premiered (world) Lauren Bernofsky's aria "No problem," from The Mensch, 2022 at Sigma Alpha Iota
Premiered (Midwest) David Canfield's "Death of the Firstborn" series, 2022, Sigma Alpha IotaCabaret Acts and Concert Series in New York and Bloomington*
- * University Club Women,
- Topo’s 403,
- * Friday Musicale, Nat’l. Fed. of Music Clubs,
- Long Island Accordion Alliance, NY
- “From B’way to the Met” Opera-Jazz Series, NY
- Northport Chorale, NY
- Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble, NY
- Freddy’s Supper Club, NYC
- Vito’s Nightclub, Long Island,
- Danny’s Skylight Room, NYC
- English Speaking Union, NYC
- National Arts Club, NYC
- Coe Hall, NY
- Judy’s Cabaret , NYC
- Chelsea Supper Club, NYC
- Props, NYC
- Jason’s, NYC
- Palsson's, NYC
- Water Club, NYC
- Conversation Club*
Improvisation
Directed improv workshop, Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington, Ind.
- Directed the "Imps," improv group, Bloomington, Ind.
- Co-directed Improv Theater Group, Long Island, New York
Public Speaking
Guest speaker, Rotary club North, Bloomington, Ind.
- Guest Speaker, “Inspiring Speaker Series,” Second Presbyterian Church, Indpls., Ind.
- Speaker, Institute for Learning in Retirement, Long Island, New York
Stars worked with: Van Johnson, Robert Morse, Edie Adams. Interviewed Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Craig Morgan
Studied voice with: Linda Hall, Assistant Conductor, Metropolitan Opera, NY, NY; Marko Lampas (student of Maria Callas), NY, NY
Dance: Zumba (8 yr.), a little Scottish country dance
Teaching: Teach voice, acting, audition preparation (2011- present); tutored Russian college student in graphic design and research technique
Languages: English, a little Mandarin
Volunteering (Bloomington, IN)
- Monroe County Civic Theatre — Playwright
- Sigma Alpha Iota, international music fraternity (member) — Soloist
- Psi lota Xi — Soloist
- Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble — Soloist
- Bloomington Playwrights' Project: "Blizzard" 2014; "PlayOffs" 2015, 2016 — Actor, playwright
- N2 Publishing, Writer, photographer
- Olcott Center, Soloist
Writing
- Past theater reviewer — reviewed approx. 60 productions per year. Current feature-article writer, The Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind.
- Past writer, graphic designer, The Reporter, Meadowood Health Pavilion monthly newsletter, Bloomington, Ind., 2017-2020
- Writer, photographer, Gentry Lifestyle Magazine, 2015-2017
Awards
- Summa cum laude, State University of NY, B.S., Professional Communications
- First place -- Multi-cultural Essay Contest, 2010, 2011
- Raynor Wallace Award for Poetry
- Outstanding Performer Award, La Comedia Dinner Theater, Ohio
Testimonials
- "You have such a positive, approachable and wonderful personality. I even got kudos for booking you! Such a compliment all because of you, as was our capacity attendance." - Mary Jo Day, Vice President, University Club Women's Group, Bloomington
- "Particularly memorable are . . . [two other cast members, and] Connie Shakalis’s performances as a plethora of matronly oppressors.” – Matthew Waterman, The Herald-Times, Bloomington
- “Connie Shakalis is a stitch as Penny’s mom, the school gym teacher, and a prison matron.” – George Walker, WFIU, Bloomington
- “Connie really is one of New York’s finest entertainers.” – Richard Hendrickson, Owner, Judy’s Cabaret, New York City
- “[Connie’s] performance is enchanting.” – Rochester Clarion, Rochester,Mich.
- Connie [Shakalis]’s “Losing My Mind” is perhaps the highlight of the [Side by Side by Sondheim] production.” – The Oakland Press, Detroit
- “Connie [Shakalis] as Nellie Forbush is delicious in the [South Pacific] role.” – Concert 90, WUSF (FM) 89.7