The Courage to Care: Getting to Know Addison Shay, Maid Marian

If you spend even a few minutes with Addison Shay, you immediately see why she was cast as Maid Marian in Robin Hood and the White Arrow. She brings a quiet steadiness, a genuine warmth, and a natural sincerity to everything she does. Her presence invites you in, and it is easy to imagine audiences feeling that same connection when she steps onstage this holiday season.

For Addison, this production is not just another show. It is a return to the place where her love of theater began. She remembers that moment vividly. “I first got involved with the Rose Center Theater back in middle school. I went to Sowers and we had the amazing opportunity to perform at the Rose in Tim Nelson’s Alice in Wonderland. That was sort of my introduction to musical theater and what made me fall in love with it. I have been performing ever since.”

Before that experience, Addison fully expected her life to remain in the world of sports. “I had played soccer my whole life up until eighth grade when I discovered my passion for musical theater,” she says. “I was a goalkeeper, like many others in my family, and I was looking forward to playing soccer through high school and into college. But when I had the opportunity to do Alice in Wonderland with Mr. Nelson, I realized that I did not want to play soccer anymore and theater is what I wanted to do every day after school instead of soccer practice.”

The shift from goalkeeper to performer might seem like a dramatic turn, but for Addison it felt natural. The same focus, discipline, and inner drive that once defined her athletic life now shape her artistic work, particularly in her approach to Maid Marian. “One part of Marian that I think I relate to the most is her compassion and her protectiveness over the people she loves,” she says. “There are many times throughout the show where she stands up for her Maid Servant Sophie or vows to protect her during moments of vulnerability. You also see her dedication to Robin, for she had been searching for him for several years before finally reuniting him.”

Marian’s strength does not come from grand gestures alone. It is rooted in loyalty, heart, and an unwavering sense of what is right. Addison sees this clearly, and she carries that understanding into her performance. Portraying that depth has been one of Addison’s most meaningful challenges. “For me personally, it has been difficult to portray a character who has more depth compared to some of the other characters I have played in the past. Playing someone with such lived experience pushes me to think beyond my own perspective and explore deeper and more complicated emotions and desires. I really do think that playing this role will benefit me and prepare me for similar roles in the future.”

Still, rehearsal has its lighter moments. Addison shares that Bernie Peters and Catherine Dosier are the cast members who make her laugh the most, and the camaraderie in the room has shaped the process in the best way. As the cast builds the world of Sherwood Forest, Addison hopes audiences notice the heart at the center of the story. “I hope that the audience will realize that Robin Hood is more than just an adventure story, but about creating bonds between people to come together and stand up for the greater good. The strong relationships between the characters is what really shines through as well and really carries the show forward.”

For Addison, Maid Marian represents both inspiration and idealism. “Maid Marian is a symbol of courage and compassion who is not afraid to stand up for what is right,” she says. Those qualities are not simply written on the page. They live in Addison too. As she steps onto the Rose Center Theater stage, the place that first sparked her love of performing, she brings with her years of growth, dedication, and artistic purpose. Her Maid Marian promises to be heartfelt, honest, and grounded in the same courage and care that shapes her own story.

Experience Addison’s Maid Marian live onstage this holiday season. Robin Hood and the White Arrow: the Holiday Feast of Stephen runs Nov 21–23, Dec 5–7, and Dec 19–21 at the Rose Center Theater. Reserve your seats now at rosecentertheater.com.

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