43
Poland native singing down a dream
Photo
Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Poland native Krista Gierlach (left), who starred in Sheely's Furniture commercials, relocated to California to pursue the dream of becoming an entertainer. She visits Poland each summer and Christmas.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted .Krista Gierlach, formally known as the Sheely's girl, left her native town of Poland to explore a life in the spotlight in California. She has performed in various plays with the John Burroughs High School Vocal Music Association and is seeking a career as an entertainer.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Poland native Krista Gierlach heats up the stage as she portrays the Queen of Hearts in the classic "Alice in Wonderland." She is a part of the John Burroughs High School Music Association, the Powerhouse, and performed with the group April 7 on Oprah.
Photo
Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Krista Gierlach, now 17, made her first on-screen appearance in Sheely's Furniture commercials in 2002. She is pursuing a career in entertainment as a singer and song writer.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
From Sheely’s commercials to Oprah, this high-schooler is in pursuit of a dream.
Poland native Krista Gierlach, now 17, has spread her wings and landed in California. While in Poland, she attended Dobbins Elementary and McKinley Middle School.
Gierlach was placed in the spotlight at a young age and has always loved being a part of the entertainment industry. She performed in several plays with Youngstown’s Easy Street Productions where she starred in the play Annie for two years, as Pepper, and participated in four years of the annual production “Miracle on Easy Street.”
Her involvement with Easy Street ultimately led to her auditioning for a Sheely’s Furniture and Appliance Store commercial in 2002 at the age of 8.
Gierlach’s mother, Debbie, said she knew Gierlach was destined for the entertainment business.
Upon finishing the filming for her first Sheely’s commercial, a young Gierlach was disappointed.
“She looked at us sadly and said, ‘I don’t want to be done,’” Debbie said. “At that point we knew the entertainment business was something she loved.”
Gierlach relocated to California in 2004 to pursue her dream career in entertainment.
Her stage name is Krista Swan. She chose Swan as her last name because it is half of her mother’s maiden name, Swaneck. Gierlach currently attends John Burroughs High School, in Burbank, Calif., and is an active participant in the show choir, The Powerhouse.
“We come together like a sports team, but we sing,” Gierlach said.
The Powerhouse was surprised April 1 by cast members from the television show “Glee” presenting them with an invitation to perform on Oprah.
Gierlach said since it was April Fools Day, she briefly thought it may have been a joke, but quickly realized that it was an opportunity of a lifetime.
The show choir only had one day to rehearse and performed its rendition of Madonna’s “Vogue” for Oprah on April 7.
“It was such an incredible experience, I can’t even tell you how excited we were,” she said. “I felt blessed.”
Gierlach loves working and performing with the group, but she has bigger goals for herself. She plans to attend college studying journalism, but really is pursuing a career as a singer and songwriter.
Gierlach has recently written and recorded her first song titled “Oxygen.” Her parents say they are proud of her and will support her in any way they can.
“Her father and I feel it has been an honor to raise such a wonderful daughter on both a crazy and fun journey,” Debbie said.
Poland Township holds a special place in Gierlach’s heart. She loves the fast pace of the big city, but said she misses the peace and quiet of the country.
“Poland is always going to be home to me,” she said. “It is a part of me and I make sure I visit every year.”