When I first learned that local actress and director Sheila Kelleher had written and staged her own original musical, I thought, “Wow, she did all of that by herself?” But talking with Sheila made it clear that her story is one of following detours, listening to herself, and trusting that things will turn out the way they’re supposed to be. We chatted about her musical, losing and regaining her creativity amidst an annulment and motherhood, the role of a director, and finding value in all of your life experiences.

Here’s what we talked about:

• The role of the director as the eyes of the audience
• Trusting the detours in life, because they are rarely mistakes
• Giving yourself deadlines and support from others
• Telling the best story you can, without worrying about what others think
• Everything has value because it teaches you something
• Following your interests to find what you love