b'Inspiring the NextGeneration of TheaterLittle Apple Arts brings the Big Apple to MaplewoodBY AMY LYNN-CRAMERThe Little Apple Arts team.W henBroadwaywentto New York City and booked her first profession- WhentheatersclosedduringtheCovid-19 darkduringtheal job as Wendy in Peter Pan. What followed wasshutdown, Fisher realized she could bring a theater pandemic,Maple- a dazzling career. She starred in the first nationalenrichment program directly to kids in their learn-wood resident Beckytours of Legally Blonde The Musical, Beautiful: Theing pods. She brought in local Broadway perform-FisherchanneledCarole King Musical and Come From Away. On hercreativityintoBroadway, she made her debut in Hairspray and launchingaback- joined the original casts of Legally Blonde The Mu-yardtheatercamp.Fiveyearslater,Fisherhassical and A Beautiful Noise, with additional credits grown Little Apple Arts into a thriving programincluding School of Rock and Come From Away. thatserveshundredsofchildrenacrossSOMAIn the summer of 2020, her most important and beyond. audience was closer to homeher daughter, Ha-For Fisher, an accomplished mom, entrepreneurzel, and a handful of friends. and performer, the stage has always been home.My friend Aya Sippie-Okoshi asked if I would Her journey began at age 10 when she played An- be interested in running a backyard camp for our nie in her local community theater in Moorhead,daughters,saysFisher.Sowedidaone-week Minn. When youre a theater person and you findcampwherewelearnedsongsanddances,and theater, you find your people, she says. then we performed our show for the parents on By 17, Fisher (known to audiences as Beckythe last day. It was fun and gave us purpose duringAt Little Apple Arts summer camp, the kids love sing-ing, dancing and acting, but the confidence and Gulsvig) had graduated high school early, movedthat crazy time. fun the kids get from their program is their mission.16/ matters magazine / fall 2025'