SESALIE AMOS

Personal: Sesalie Amos, who will be a junior at Montgomery High School in

the fall, will be 16 on Wednesday. She lives in Santa Rosa with her mom,

Lynette, and dad, Scott. The family has a pet cat named Matilda.

Overture, hit the lights: She said she was shy, very shy, before she

transferred at age 12 to Brush Creek Montessori School, where one of the

popular activities was being in a school play. Her first role was the mute

character Tinker Bell the fairy in ''Peter Pan.''

''I think they picked me because I was the smallest. We did it on an

outdoor stage, so no flying. I had little bells on my wrists, and I pretended

to fly,'' she recalled.

This winter, she played the key role of Father Christmas in ''The Lion, the

Witch and the Wardrobe'' at 6th Street Playhouse. Acting has given her

confidence, she said.

''I was shy for most of my life. Right before a show starts, I get very

anxious. As soon as I say a few lines and get offstage, then I'm OK for the

rest of the show,'' she said.

The music girl: She has participated in summer youth workshops at the

playhouse for the past four years. Her first show was ''A Year of Frog and

Toad.'' Then came ''Bye Bye Birdie'' and ''Beauty & the Beast.'' This summer

she will be among the cast for ''The Music Man.''

''I don't even know what 'The Music Man' is about. I need to rent the

video. We'll start working on the choreography first,'' Amos said. The

workshop runs through Aug. 1, with performances running later into the summer.

Her favorite part of show business is getting to know her fellow cast

members and pitching in to help.

''Last summer, for 'Beauty & the Beast,' I got ready at home so I could

help others get ready at the theater. The younger kids come to me for help

because they know I've had more experience,'' she said.

The downside of showbiz? She had to think.

''I hurt my vocal chords screaming in 'Bye Bye Birdie,''' she said.

Career dreams, career goals: School has been going well, with most of her

spare energy going into acting. After high school, she hopes to start making

movies.

''Sure, I'd like to be a movie star, maybe direct a little. Either that, or

I will become a cop. I feel like I should be out there protecting the innocent

from bad people,'' she said.

Her parents support her name-in-lights pursuits as long as college is part

of the effort.

''They tell me to follow my heart and encourage me to plan for college.

They say I can act after college.''

She said she likely will major in drama or theater arts.

A few of her favorite things: Amos likes nothing better than to hang out

with her parents or members of their extended family, often baby-sitting or

playing with her adult cousin Jessica's toddler-aged children.

Her personal heroes are her parents. She especially admires her mother for

her peacemaker impulses.

''My mother focuses on family. She wants everyone to get along,'' Amos

said.

Splish splash: Since a trip to San Diego, during which she swam with

dolphins at SeaWorld, she is a fanatic about dolphins. Her room is filled with

oodles of dolphin-themed items.

She's a swimmer, too. This summer, she will be swimming as often as

possible and working on her tan.

Her favorite music is rock 'n' roll. Her favorite band is Def Leppard. Her

favorite comedian is George Lopez.

What's the story on that name?

She said her unusual first name has a story related to acting. It seems her

mom was watching a soap opera and there was a character she liked with that

name.

''But my mother changed the spelling for me. So even my name is from a

show. I think that proves I was meant to be involved in acting,'' she said.

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