GRIDIRION TO THE STAGE: Palmer High football product, coach finds home in the theatre

PALMER — Collin Christiansen was raised in a football family.

His father, Rod, is the longtime head coach of the Palmer High School football program. Christiansen is one of four siblings to play football for the Moose, and one of three to compete on the collegiate level at Concordia University in Nebraska.

Christiansen, a 2011 high school graduate, spent his fall as an assistant coach within the PHS football program. But all of the practice time Christiansen logged was not strictly on the practice field. While football may be the family sport, and is one of his first loves, Christiansen has another passion beyond life on the gridiron.

Acting on a stage.

Christiansen, 24, also spent many of his days this fall preparing for his role of Buddy, in the Valley Performing Arts production of “Elf The Musical,” which continues through Dec. 18.

“It’s a great time,” Christiansen, who made his debut Nov. 25 playing a role made famous by actor Will Ferrell on the silver screen. “I think it’s a good, clean, family-friendly source of entertainment for people.”

Christiansen said there are some differences from “Elf,” the film, but plenty of similarities to the 2003 flick.

“The underlying story is the same,” Christiansen said. “It’s a heart-warming comedy. A Christmas story great for anybody.”

For the former Palmer football standout, it’s an opportunity to tackle a local stage. “Elf” is Christiansen’s first VPA production. He participated in a VPA summer camp while he was in middle school, but most of his local theatre experience came at Palmer High. Christiansen landed his first significant role — Professor Bhaer in a PHS production of “Little Women” — as a junior in high school.

Christiansen said he was part of a choir when he was young, and dabbled in small skits and such during church functions, but as gained more opportunity on stage, his love of the art continued to grow.

“I love telling a story, love acting for people, taking on a character,” Christiansen said.

A recent graduate of Concordia, Christiansen had a chance to hit the main stage in a number of prominent productions while studying at the Nebraska school. His first break came in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” an Oscar Wilde play. He also appeared in Joseph Kesserlring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Another big break came with his opportunity to play the Gentleman Caller in the Tennessee Williams classic “The Glass Menagerie.”

Christiansen said the biggest, and his favorite role, in college, came with his chance to play the Phantom in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“The Phantom takes the cake, but Elf is in there too,” Christiansen said of his favorite roles to date.

In addition to his work with the VPA production, Christiansen continues as an assistant on the Palmer football staff.

“I love teaching and coaching, and it was cool to coach with Dad too,” Christiansen said.

Assuming he’s still in area, Christiansen said he will be on staff for the 2017 season. But the more he has the opportunity to spend time on stage, Christiansen said the direction he’d like to travel in life is becoming more apparent.

“I love it. I love acting. I’d love to be doing some acting things in the future, especially in film,” Christiansen said. “My real passion at the moment is acting, and getting into acting.”

Tickets for “Elf The Musical” are still available for select shows. For more information, see valleyperformingarts.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor at sports@frontiersman.com.