Like mother, like daughter: Dance passion runs deep for Phantom Theater Encore performer

Madelynn Glenn has spent this summer as a dancer in Kings Island’s Phantom Theater Encore show. Her parents put her in dance classes at a young age, so dance has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.

Since her mother, Michelle Walker-Glenn, is a dance teacher, it was her mother’s love for dance that initially got Madelynn interested but her subsequent love of it is what has kept her dancing to this day.

Growing up, Madelynn’s mother would share stories of her performing and the friends she made while working at Kings Island. She heard stories about her cast celebrating things like Christmas in July and a talent show the entertainment department would put on called Summer Showcase.

“It was especially fun during rehearsals,” Madelynn said. “I would come home after work and share my choreography and then she would show me some of hers to the same song. She even knew some of the lyrics to the songs before I did.”

Michelle spent parts of seven years from 1989 to 1996 working as a dancer at Kings Island. Her show credits include Santa’s Toy Factor at WinterFest, It’s Magic, Superstars, Escapade, Rock the House and House of Groove.

“My best memories are the people,” Michelle said. “I made some amazing lifelong friendships with performers from all over the U.S. I’ve enjoyed staying in touch with my former Kings Island colleagues from 11 shows at the park. I’ve loved following their careers in entertainment, as well as their contributions in other fields.”

Madelynn is performing on the same stage as her mother. What’s that like for Michelle?

“I absolutely love seeing Madelynn perform! As a parent you’re always proud of your child’s accomplishments, but it has been especially fun seeing your daughter excel in an area that you love.

“I started performing at Kings Island during my senior year of high school, but Madelynn had the opportunity to start during her sophomore year. She’s years ahead of where I was at her age. I always enjoy asking her about her day at work. It’s fun hearing her talk about those same amazing experiences, like socializing with friends, performing when you have an amazing audience, and hear about little things that happen during a live performance… like the water drip on stage, the hat that falls off and ends up in the audience, or the time her skirt fell off and she continued to dance with one hand while holder her skirt with the other.”

Last year at WinterFest, Madelynn performed in the same show that her mother had been in, Tinker’s Toy Factory. In fact, she was essentially the same character.

“Madelynn and I always joked that I could ‘swing' into the show if needed, if someone were to get hurt or sick and you suddenly need another elf, here I am,” Michelle said. “Once an elf, always an elf!

“Even though the choreography was different, many of the songs and lines were the same. It’s funny how the songs, lines and choreography are still there in your memory years later. I’m pretty sure I could still do sections of choreography from several King Island shows, just probably not with the same grace and flexibility.”

Michelle and Madelynn have lots of fun talking about the similarities and differences between their shows.

“After working four seasons in the WinterFest elf show, it was fun to sit in the audience and relive some of those fun memories and know that she would be making those memories herself,” Michelle said.

“It’s always fun when I am telling her about my day and what’s going on backstage that she can picture all of it,” explained Madelynn. “Not only does she share some similar experiences, but she knows exactly what the green room and backstage look like too.”

Michelle’s favorite part about watching Madelynn dance in Phantom Theater Encore is watching her give her best possible show every day.

“Every audience is important, and she consistently gives her all,” Michelle said. “Performing four shows a day, six days a week is hard. I remember those days well. There are days when you don’t feel like giving 100 percent – your feet and legs hurt, you’re tired, and you just don’t feel like smiling. Sometimes performers just end up going through the motions. Madelynn does a really good job of maintaining performance quality and that’s what I enjoy most about watching her.

“I also love that she gets to have the experience of performing the show 250 times. It’s a completely different experience than what most high school students get exposed to in school or community theater. It’s an opportunity (working at Kings Island) to learn about perseverance, commitment, and pushing through struggles. Performing is fun work, but also hard work.”

For Madelynn, dancing is where she finds joy. While she would like to have more time to hang out with friends from school or just relax, performing at Kings Island all summer has felt more like fun than a job.

“It can be hard work at times, but it is also rewarding,” she said. “Since I love dancing, the busy schedule hasn’t been too difficult for me to embrace. I love seeing the audience’s excitement each time we perform.”

Madelynn’s time as a dancer in Phantom Theater Encore comes to an end when the show ends its limited time run Aug. 14. She has loved a lot of things about being in the show.

“Since tap is one of my favorite styles of dance, I’ve enjoyed doing Happy Feet, especially since not many shows incorporate tap dancing, But I also love the opening number and how we get to dance in each of the headliners’ styles as they are introduced.”

Madelynn is not completely sure of her plans for college, but she knows she wants dance in her life whether choosing it as her major or minor of if she will just continue to dance on the side. She hopes to one day audition for a cruise ship or the Rockettes. But she also loves math and science, so she is considering a career like engineering and hoping to find a way to fit both passions into her future.

“Who knew when I performed during Kings Island’s 20th anniversary season in 1992, my daughter would be performing on the same stage 30 years later for the 50th anniversary season,” Michelle said. “I had no idea when I started performing at the park that Kings Island entertainment would still be a part of my life 30 years later. It has also been fun to think about my parents’ experience. They saw countless performances when I was dancing at the park, and now they’re regulars in the audience watching their granddaughter.

“Although I know lots of performers whose children have had the opportunity to be legacy performers at Kings Island, it’s fun to think about the fact that Madelynn and I have had Kings Island experiences that aligned with major Kings Island milestone years – anniversary years – on the same stage!”