Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Daly

Hannah Daly is an alumna of the Children’s Theatre of Maine.

Hannah Daly is a Portland-based actress and educator. She graduated with a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University, and is a proud graduate of the university program at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, England and the Tepper Semester in NYC. As an actress, she has worked extensively in the New England theater, film & television, and commercial markets. As an Associate Artist and Teaching Artist at Portland Stage, she performs and teaches regularly in the TFK Play Me A Story program, as well as teaching in their summer camp programming. 

What plays did you do with Children’s Theatre of Maine?

I was in Charlotte’s Web, Seussical, Miss Nelson is Missing, and Madeline’s Rescue, all at the little Marginal Way theater. I remember them all with such happiness! 

What did children’s theatre mean to you?

The Children’s Theatre of Maine (and theatre in general) taught me how to be part of a team and take care of the people on my team. As a younger kid, the older cast members were my heroes, and I wanted to emulate them in every way I could, from their performances onstage to how they treated each other and us. They took care of me, laughed with me, and never made me feel like anything less than an essential part of the CTM family. They helped me come out of my shell and grow my confidence every day. When it came my turn to be the big kid in the room, I wanted to do the same for my younger cast mates - I hope I did! Now as a teaching artist and an adult actor who often works with child actors, I still remember how much it meant to me to be treated as an equal by my role models, and strive to give that experience to all the young actors with whom I work. Thank you, former big kids of CTM! 

What message do you have for the future generation of young actors?

You are so fortunate to have the new Maddy’s Theatre and its educators in your life. Embrace it and dive in headfirst! Be silly, try new things, go out on a limb. Life is full of places and situations where you have to be quiet and “normal” - children’s theatre is not one of them, thank goodness! Taking artistic risks is when you will learn the most about yourself as an actor, and Reba & co. are the perfect people to guide you and cheer you on in that endeavor. Be loud, be weird, be kind!

Hannah Daly (left) played the Narrator in a production of Charlotte’s Web with her sister, Nora, as Wilbur at the Children’s Theatre of Maine.