Someone You Should Know: Heidi Buch was Mary Poppins on stage for the spring musical

Heidi Buch is a happy-go-lucky teenager who’s bursting at the seams with smiles, giggles and excitement over her role as Mary Poppins in the O’Fallon Township High School (OTHS) theater production slated to run this week at the Milburn Campus.

“I feel honored to have been chosen for the lead role because I know it is a lot of responsibility,” Buch said. “I love singing and dancing — it’s my passion.”

But, don’t let her Gidget-like personality fool you, she’s one smart cookie, who Eve Knipp, drama director, said is headed for greatness.

“She is an amazing young woman who is so well-rounded and talented in many ways, on and off the stage,” Knipp said.

For the first time ever in an O’Fallon school theater production, Buch is one of the two main characters to be harnessed up during part of the play for scenes involving over-the-stage flight.

While many would more than likely be nervous about flying across a stage, Buch said heights don’t scare her one bit.

“I’m not nervous about my safety. It’s going to be my first time flying, and I’m more excited about the idea of flying. And, it is a great opportunity that a lot of students my age aren’t able to experience before college or a professional career, and it’s brand new to O’Fallon, so I’m going to be one of the firsts,” Bush said.

Director Crissy Nordin, who has been with the OTHS staff since 2009, spoke highly of Buch’s acting and singing skills.

“Heidi is no stranger to the stage, and it’s obvious when watching her perform,” Nordin said.

Since her early years, Buch said she’s been on a stage or performing in some way in the community. As a youngster, Buch has been involved in Missoula Children’s Theater, that comes to the O’Fallon community, and other surrounding communities, annually for short-term productions.

“I’ve been doing Missoula since I was real little, and I love it because it is done in a shorter period of time, so you learn a lot about working with time constraints, plus you get to meet people you normally wouldn’t have the chance to,” Buch said.

Buch said she became involved with school productions while she was a student at O’Fallon’s Amelia Carriel Jr. High.

It’s not enough for Buch to just be in theater productions, it’s musical theater she prefers.

“I’m passionate about music and I think music brings people together, similar to how those in sports interact, there’s a team mentality that comes with musical productions — everyone is significant, and no role is minor because without one there couldn’t be another, whether your an actor, costume designer, light technician or sound person, we all work together,” Buch said.

Ironically, Buch said she took a personality test in a psychology class that found her personality matches that of Mary Poppins.

“So my personality is ESFJ, standing for extrovert sense feel judge, but the latter is not a negative. That’s also my character’s personality type, not that it is said in the show, but psychologists have analyzed the types of famous people or characters and it is definitely fitting,” Buch said.

“We both are neat and like things in their place and are straight forward with people, plus our love of music and children is (important),” Buch said. “It’s just crazy how similar we are, personality-wise.”

Youngest of five, and the daughter of Karl and Sheila Buch, Heidi said. her family is all very supportive of her interests and goals.

“My family comes first,” Buch said. “I have four sisters and I love spending time with them.”

Although Buch doesn’t hold a part-time job, mainly because she wouldn’t have time to with all of her extracurricular involvement, she said her school work is a high priority to her.

“School is really important to me,” she said.

Buch is a National Honor Society member, and involved in other clubs and choir.

Adding to Buch’s after school fun, and fulfilling her desire to help those around her, she serves on the executive board for the community service Interact Club, Buch said.

“There is a fairly new program to OTHS called H.A.N.D.S., which stands for Helping And Nurturing Diversity of Students,” Buch said. “It focuses on integrating special needs students with the rest of the student body.

“We have parties and activities planned with students who otherwise might not get as much attention from (general) education students, and it’s a really, really incredible club.”

Buch’s involvement goes beyond just participating in the H.A.N.D.S. club though; in so far as, she’s a leader for others in the club serving on the executive board since its inception two years ago.

“I really love spending time with these kids — they’re so fun and so happy,” Buch said.

Buch is also Vice President of S.A.D.D., Students Against Destructive Decisions.

With most of her time spent in the music department Buch said she is heavily involved in show choir and the annual madrigal performance.

“I spend as much time as I can in the choir department because I want to major in music education,” Buch said. “This year my boyfriend, Kent Rousseau, and I were crowned as the Madrigal King and Queen. It was so cool.”

OTHS’ Annual Frolics Variety Show has been a must for Buch she said.

“I’ve participated every year, and this year I was able to be an MC for the show, which was a lot of hard work, and a huge time commitment, but was 100 percent worth it,” Buch said.

Taking pointers from Nordin, also her choir director, Buch said she’s planning on attending Millikin University in Decatur, Ill.

“I can’t wait. I’ve visited the campus and loved it, so that’s where I’m headed after summer,” Buch said.

Attending Faith Lutheran Church for many years, Buch said she’s not only been active during services as a Canter for four years, hand bells for 10 years, and church choir for as long as she can remember, but also is an active youth group member she said.

“This summer will be my third time attending our youth group’s mission trip. We are going to Nashville, Tenn. this time. In the past we’ve helped with disaster debris clean up, painting houses or doing yard work for those in need,” Buch said.

Other subjects of interest include psychology and public speaking.

“I’m a happy person. I’m like your average teenager who likes to hand out with friends, and eat a lot of food. Bread Company is my go-to spot,” Buch said.

Meet Heidi Buch:

Q: Do you have words you live by?

A: Anything can happen if you let it.

Q: Whom do you most admire?

A: My mom. She has always been very supportive of me.

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: I don’t have a lot of time to read for fun, except what’s required for school, but one of my favorites is

Ellen DeGeneres’s “Seriously, I’m Kidding.”

Q: What do you do for fun and relaxation?

A: I like to spend time with friends and family, just hanging out, watching movies and playing games.

Q: What is the usual state of your desktop?

A: I like for my room and my desktop to be neat and organized, but it doesn’t always happen.

Q: What did you want to do career-wise when you were growing up?

A: I think I’ve always wanted to be a teacher.

Q: What do you think is your most outstanding characteristic?

A: I think my most outstanding characteristic is my enthusiasm.

Q: What irritates you most?

A: Right now, it’s college scholarship essays.

Q: What type of music do you listen to?

A: I listen to all kinds, but I love Christmas tunes and jazz the most.

Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you have with you?

A: A boat, so I could escape because I wouldn’t really like being alone on an island. I like to be

around people.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Someone You Should Know: Heidi Buch was Mary Poppins on stage for the spring musical."