Andrew McKeough

Andrew McKeough: A Brief Biography

Andrew McKeough was born Andrew Kirill McKeough, (after the Saint, Disciple, and Apostle named Andrew), on Friday, July 26th, 1996 at 1:23 AM, to Professor (Villanova University) Charles McKeough and Mrs. Marylou Mckeough. Andrew's parents nicknamed him Andy. Andy was raised in Wayne, Pennsylvania; right outside of Philadelphia, and just around the corner from Valley Forge National Historical Park.

The first show that Andrew saw was Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the Academy of Music in downtown Philadelphia. Coincidentally the first show that Andy performed in was Disney's: Beauty and the Beast, off-Broadway in 2004, at the age of eight. Andrew performed in the role of the young boy that transforms into a little teacup, named Chip. When Andrew entered the third grade in 2005, he joined Valley Forge Elementary School's Children's Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Patrice Bove. In the spring of 2006, at age nine, Andrew started to be a Reenactor for Valley Forge National Historical Park. Andy portrayed the character of Daniel Jackson, who was a young drummer boy in the continental army. Then in the fall of 2006, now age ten, Andrew was recommended to continue his role of Daniel Jackson in both Valley Forge and a new location; historical Philadelphia. Andrew took the job with open arms! He continues reenacting in both Valley Forge and Philadelphia today. When Andrew was eleven, he made an appearance on the Steam Boat float in Universal Studio's 2008 Mardi Gras celebration parade.

Andy moved up to Valley Forge Middle School and joined the school's choir under the direction of Mrs. Anne Sprissler. Andrew remained in the choir until he graduated in 2011. Andy moved on to Disney's Mary Poppins playing Michael Banks at the New Amsterdam Theatre in 2007 at the age of ten. Andrew stayed with the show on Broadway for one year until 2008. Once Andrew's career started getting more involved, with Mary Poppins, Andy started to be coached in theatre by actress Annaleigh Ashford. To this day Ashford has remained close friends, almost family, to the McKeough family. In the summer of 2008, when Andy was twelve, he starred in the off-Broadway children's version of Disney's High School Musical: On Stage! He Starred as the ever popular Troy Bolton, at the Episcopal Academy Theatre. Andrew went on to play Flounder in Disney's The Little Mermaid at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, at the age of twelve, during the winter of 2008.

In 2009, Andy starred as the Head Chéf in Willy Wonka and The Great Glass Elevator at the Valley Forge Playhouse, in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Andrew then started to play the violin the VFMS's: Orchestra, in the sixth grade, at the age of twelve. Later that year, Andrew started to play the Handbells, and was selected for the choir's "Select Bell Choir" called The Carillon Bell Choir. Andy remained in the group for the last two years of his middle school career until he graduated in June of 2011. Later in the summer of 2009, at the age of thirteen, Andrew returned to the Willy Wonka series starring as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, at the Mainstage Theatre on the New Episcopal Academy Campus, during the new school's inaugural opening season. Andy was selected for the "Select Singing Choir" at Valley Forge Middle School named The Valley Forge Singers (V.F.S.). Andrew remained in the group for the last two years of his middle school career until he graduated in June of 2011. Andy performed for the group twice in the Choir Music Festival: Music in the Parks in Hershey, PA and led the V.F.S. to a first place victory in 2010 and a second place victory in 2011.

Andrew went on to be the Head Butler in the Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical Cinderella, playing again at the Valley Forge Playhouse, at the age of thirteen, during the spring of 2009. In November of 2009, Andy was confirmed in the Catholic Church as Andrew Kirill �Stephen' McKeough, taking the Confirmation name of Stephen. In June of 2010, at age thirteen, Andrew started reenacting in Colonial Williamsburg, portraying the character of John Carter, an upper class boy from a British family. Andrew still continues to reenact in Williamsburg, Valley Forge, and Philadelphia. When he was fourteen, in the summer of 2010, performed the classic role of Young Simba in Disney's The Lion King, which was on tour, at the Academy of Music, in Philadelphia. During the summer of 2011, Andrew played the title role of Billy Elliot in the musical Billy Elliot at the Canon Theatre in Toronto, Canada.

In the fall of 2011, now at the age of fifteen, Andy entered Conestoga High School. He joined the choir under the direction of Mrs. Suzanne Dickinger, and the Handbell choir, under the Direction of longtime friend and colleague Mr. Chason Goldfinger. During the year he started to play the piano. Over Thanksgiving 2011, Andy played the piano and harpsichord at Colonial Williamsburg, in Williamsburg, Virginia. There he met professional piano player Robert Hodge. To this day, the McKeough's and Hodge's have remained good family friends. In December of 2011, Andrew was lucky to work with Sutton Foster and the cast of Anything Goes on Broadway.

In 2012, at the age of fifteen; Andrew worked on �Stoga Music Theatre's production of TITANIC � The Musical at the Hobson C. Wagner Memorial Theatre during the R.M.S. Titanic's: 100th Year Anniversary. Andrew acted as the shows Historian. Andrew was nominated for three Cappie Awards for his part in the musical. In the spring, Andrew got the opportunity to work with Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, and the cast of Nice Work if You Can Get It on Broadway. Before the summer started, Andrew started to take vocal, acting, audition, and dance lessons by actress and director Jennie Eisenhower.

During the summer of 2012, Andy departed on a three week tour of Europe with The American Music Abroad Bronze Tour 2012. The tour would take Andrew to Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and then back to Switzerland. Once Andy turned sixteen, in July of 2012, Andrew got his Drivers Permit in the state of Pennsylvania.

During his sophomore year at Conestoga, Andy worked with the cast of the Tony Award winning best musical Once on Broadway. Andy also became a sound executive on �Stoga Music Theatre's production of Pride and Prejudice during the fall of 2012. During his 2012-2013 United States Tour, Andy made stops in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Williamsburg, Virginia; Orlando, Florida; including an international stop in Cancún, México; and many more locations! While in Williamsburg, Virginia, Andrew once again played the piano and harpsichord in Colonial Williamsburg. When in Florida, Andrew concluded a tour in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, during the winter of 2012. The performance included Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid movies) narrating the Story of Christmas in The 2012 Candlelight Processional, and was under the conduction of Dr. John V. Sinclair.

In January of 2013, Andrew became one of the first in his class to get his Junior Driver's Permit in the State of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 2013, Andrew competed in the Chester County Regional National History Day Competition at Immaculata University. Andrew, playing, the character that he is known for in Colonial Williamsburg, John Carter, went on to take First Place in the competition and moved on to the State Competition Rounds. The competition will be held in May of 2013! Andrew returned again as a sound executive during �Stoga Music Theatre's production of The Pajama Game, which premiered on February 27th, 2013 at the Hobson C. Wagner Memorial Theatre. On Saturday, April 6th, 2013, during one of Andrew's regular trips to Broadway, Andy went to see the musical Kinky Boots. During his viewing of the musical he recognized one of the actresses. The actress was Annaleigh Ashford, who plays the lead role of Lauren in Kinky Boots. Coincidentally Anna was Andrew's former theater coach, which helped him become who he is today. After the show he made contact with Anna; and is proud that he, and his family, will be visiting New York, in May of 2013, to see Kinky Boots again. Andy and his family will also have a private backstage tour by Anna.

Andrew is currently sixteen years old and is now in his sophomore year of High School at Conestoga High School and continues to be in the Vocal and Handbell Choirs. Andy also is taking vocal, acting, audition, and dance lessons by actress and director Jennie Eisenhower. Andrew is still continuing his 2012-2013 United States Tour, and will be announcing TWO NEW concert tours later this year, so look for him when he comes to a location near you!