Show & Tell: Stephanie Killian of ‘Legwarmers’

Q: You lived all over the world before moving to Las Vegas.

A: My parents are both in the military, the Air Force, so I kind of had the grand tour of the world. I’ve lived in, like, nine places during my life . … Then my mom got stationed here in Las Vegas, at Nellis.

Q: What did you expect Las Vegas to be like?

A: I told my friends I was moving to Las Vegas and we all had these notions, like, “You’re going to live in a hotel and you’re gonna gamble before breakfast.” And, of course, I was probably 15, and I hadn’t seen any movies about Las Vegas. (Laughs) Well, maybe “Casino,” which may be a terrible one to see.

Q: You were starting your freshman year (at Coronado High School) when you arrived. You were already performing by then?

A: I’ve been performing my entire life. My mom actually auditioned me for my first community theater show when I was 5 years old. She played Miss Hannigan in “Annie” and I played Molly, the orphan.

Q: And you liked it?

A: I always showed an interest in singing. … When I was younger, I was a tomboy, but once I started dancing I was such a prima donna (laughs). You’d get those $80 costumes, and I knew how to do my eyeliner by age 11.

Q: What were your goals at that time?

A: I always planned on (being) the triple-threat. … Once – this is really embarrassing (laughs) – my mom made this really elaborate Cher-inspired mermaid costume. It was very shiny fabric, bell-bottomed out to make the fin, and it had this mesh-and-seashell bra. … It was so Cher, and I sang “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid.”

Q: What was your first professional job?

A: I did my first paid show when I was a sophomore in high school. At Town Square, they had a theater called the Shear Madness Theater, and I auditioned and got to be in “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” I got paid $30 a show.

Q: You’re too young to have experienced the ’80s.

A: My parents remember. My dad asked me what the show is called, and I said, “Legwarmers” and (that) it’s about the ’80s, and he was, like, “Ohhh.”

Q: So what do you think of the ’80s?

A: To be honest, being in dance, we always wore costumes from different times, and the ’80s is always one people go back to, with “Flashdance” and all that. (Laughs) I cannot even tell you, I am so jealous. Why don’t we dress like that?