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Elin Hawkinson may be a seasoned actress, but a performance last week at Chisago Lakes High School was the highlight of her busy year.

Hawkinson is a native of the Chisago Lakes area and went to school here through her sophomore year at CLHS. From there, her thespian journey took Hawkinson to the Perpich Center For Arts and Education, where she received her high school diploma.

The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York was the next stop for Hawkinson, where she has stayed busy with various acting jobs.

But when CLIMB Theatre made a stop to call for auditions in New York, Hawkinson was excited to return to Minnesota.

She auditioned for a spot with the Twin Cities-based company and earned a slot. Hawkinson started her tour with the group last August, and wraps up with final school year performances this week.

CLIMB Theatre travels to perform at schools across the midwest, including Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Although she has enjoyed visiting so many different schools, Hawkinson was determined to bring the theatre troupe to CLHS and made her wishes known to the troupe's schedulers.

"I asked if we could perform at Chisago Lakes," Hawkinson said. "I kept asking and nothing was on the schedule, but they finally said OK," she said.

Hawkinson, along with fellow actors Liesbet Higham, Blaine Kelley and Jason Kruger, performed for small groups of ninth grade students at CLHS last Wednesday.

Their play was about bullying and harassment. It showed the students how bullying and harassment can affect people, and what to do if they are ever bullied or harassed. The troupe also has similar performances tailored toward middle school and elementary school audiences.

Hawkinson said she was "very excited" to bring the performance to CLHS. She is also thrilled to be part of a performance that focuses on social issues.

"I was excited to be part of this group, especially in light of recent school violence," Hawkinson said.

She said CLIMB receives positive feedback from teachers following their performances, letting them know that the message is getting through to the students.

Now that her stint with CLIMB Theatre is wrapping up, Hawkinson plans to head back to New York, where she will joining the theater group, Up With People and probably line up other auditions.

Before she leaves, she will visit with family and friends still in the area, including her grandparents and dad in Shafer, and brother and his family outside of Taylors Falls.

CLIMB Theatre's program at CLHS was sponsored by the Chisago Lakes High School Parent Advisory Committee.

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