Party. Celebration.
One cannot think of two more appropriate words to use than that when it comes to learning that a local Baltimore actress is performing in Ceilidh. The brand new, North-American-debut performance of this whimsical, engaging theatrical party is opening on September 6th 2025 in the M&T Bank Exchange and it has wonders for audiences of all ages— not the least of which is Parker Bailey Steven, a Baltimore-‘native’, performing in the ensemble. We’ve sat down in a phone exclusive with her to chat about the experience and we’re thrilled to share it with you!
Good morning, Stevie! So thrilled to be on the phone with you!
Parker Bailey Steven: And with you! It’s crazy, isn’t it?
It really is. When they sent that press release, I guess I didn’t look closely enough to see that you were in it! And Baltimore at large is so thrilled to see one of our own as a part of it!
Stevie: It’s honestly incredible, it’s insane, it’s a gift. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, you know?
Absolutely. So how did this come about? You heard they were doing a Scottish show, thought ‘that’s got my name on it’, and off you went?
Stevie: Sort of, yeah! I think it’s actually a very funny story. I was scrolling on Instagram and I got an ad telling me to buy tickets for this event. And I went, “hang on a second, what is this?” And I thought that I needed to look immediately and see if there was a casting call. So I did, and there was, but I wasn’t able to make that date because I already had tickets to take my mum to see The Great Gatsby ballet at The Lyric. I sort of resigned to the fact that it wasn’t meant to be. And then for the next 24 hours, I just could not stop thinking about it. And thinking about how this was screaming my name. Do you know what I mean? It’s a Scottish thing. In Baltimore. That needed actor-musicians. That’s just right up my alley.
Honestly that does have you written all over it, Stevie.
Stevie: I know! So I thought, “I’m just going to google it and see if I can figure out who’s doing it.” So I found the Instagram for the casting directors and in that time period from when I first heard about it to when I found their Instagram, they had posted a graphic saying “we need actor-musicians; please email us.” So I sent an email and that is the start of the story!
I love that for you. What are the odds? That feels so very fated!
Stevie: I said to one of my castmates that it felt very much cosmic. That the stars just aligned.
That is so wonderful.
Stevie: Thank you. You know this year was the first year where I had decided to see if I could go professional. It’s wild because this is my first audition, my first callback, and my first job, so it’s insane! I’m so lucky that I got this opportunity and that it ended up being the right thing!
It sounds like it really is a perfect fit for you. How has this been, as far as rehearsal processes go, for a big professional show that’s being workshopped and developed in this space as it goes, compared to maybe some of the shows you’ve worked on in the past?
Stevie: That’s a great question! I think that when you go from doing a lot of community work I think there are maybe misconceptions about what you’re going to get into when you move professional. But I can say that this has genuinely been the most welcoming and— what’s the right word for it?
Accepting?
Stevie: Yeah, accepting, welcoming, and stress-free environment for me to be thrust into it. I think you always worry that it’s going to be— not that. You worry that it’s going to be really scary. And I think all of go through anxieties like this but this has genuinely just been so welcoming. I could not have asked for a better team of people to do this with. And from the absolute get-go too. Everyone involved are just absolute rock stars. They’re wonderful people. They’re insanely talented, everyone is amazing, truly amazing.
What has been your favorite part during this rehearsal process so far?
Stevie: All of it. I really truly love every facet of it. I think what’s really nice is being able to do these traditional dances that most of us in Scottland, if not all of us, grew up learning them. So then to be an adult, getting to do my dream job whilst also bringing my culture, which I’m so proud of, to my home that I’ve now lived in for 20 years, it’s this beautiful celebration of every facet of my life all together. I get to play instruments on stage, I get to dance, I get to be Scottish! And that’s my favorite thing about myself.
Oh my gosh, I love that! That is excellent. What would you say has been the biggest challenge for you having been a part of this experience?
Stevie: That’s a good question too. The biggest challenge… being completely honest? Probably self-limiting thoughts. I feel that a lot of us sometimes doubt ourselves. But I will tell you this has very quickly changed my own outlook, it’s given me a sense of peace and confidence that maybe I didn’t know I needed. And it’s truly because of everyone there. I think the thing that you have to remind yourself at the end of the day is that you’re working with professionals who know what they’re doing. And you wouldn’t be in that room working with them if they didn’t trust you. I take their opinion very, very highly. So any time I try to get down on myself, I remind myself of the people who put me in that room, they put me in that room for a reason.
I really love hearing that and thank you for sharing that. We are all often our own harshest critics. What is it that you want people to take away from coming out and being a part of the Ceilidh experience?
Stevie: Honestly at the absolute core, the only thing that I want truly is for people to just come and have fun. Come have a good time. Come see what it’s like to grow up in Scottish culture and experience this revelry that we get to experience. I’m just so excited to be able to share something that is so innate to Scottish culture but also something that is such a universal experience of how song and dance and camaraderie really can unite people.
I know these musical numbers are a little different, like one of the ones that we got to encounter at the press junket, “Strip the Willow” as they’re more instrumental in cases, but is there a number that speaks to you on a deeper level than some of the others perhaps?
Stevie: That’s a hard one. I think every single song is so well written and chosen for each individual moment. Let me think about this. Do I have a favorite song. I have different answers depending on what’s happening. My favorite song to play is probably the song called “Something Like This”, which is an original song written by Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour, the writers of the show. That’s probably my favorite song to play. My favorite dance is the “Gay Gardens” I’m very partial to that as well. Those are probably two that speak to me. It’s really hard to pick one because they’re all so good. And you got to see us do the song “Ramnee Ceilidh” at the press event and that’s probably at the top of the list. Everything about it— the tune itself is an incredible tune— and getting to play it with everyone is just such a brilliant, fun moment for all of us. That’s probably going to take the cake above all else, honestly.
You’ve mentioned playing an instrument in this show. What are you playing?
Stevie: I play guitar. It’s lots of fun!
And you are somewhat of a seasoned guitar play before coming into this, correct?
Stevie: Oh yeah, I’ve been playing guitar for many, many years at this point.
Have you found it easy or difficult or challenging or some combination thereof to be running around the performance space whilst playing your guitar and singing and dancing? What’s that experience been like for you?
Stevie: It’s honestly just so much fun. Obviously it takes a lot of work and practice where you can get to a point and be able to do all of them seamlessly all at once. But it is so much fun. I really think it’s like any other performance in that it’s muscle memory. Your brain will take over and do it after a while. It was, at first a bit daunting, but absolutely it’s the best, it’s so much fun. To get to do all the things you love in one moment? It’s truly a gift.
What has been your biggest personal takeaway from this experience, your big personal learning lesson from getting to be a part of Ceilidh?
Stevie: I think that it doesn’t matter how different each and every individual human being is, there is a thread that weaves us all and that can be accessed and found in many different ways but I think that the joy, the sorrow, the emotions, anything that you feel when you’re with a group of people either listening to music, playing music, dancing, and just sharing in an experience together is really what can get us through anything.
Why do you want people to come out and attend Ceilidh?
Stevie: I think it is so unique and so fun; it’s not something that’s been seen before. And it truly is an experience like no other. I think that it would be very, very hard to come out and not have a good time at this show. I think the beauty of Ceilidh is that it meets the audience right where you are. You don’t have to be anything or anyone. Just come as you are and you will have a good time!
I think you are 100% right about that and I am very much looking forward to it. Now for the final question, if you had to sum up your experience of working on Ceilidh using just one word, what one word do you use?
Stevie: Magic.
Ceilidh starts performances on September 6th 2025 and plays through October 12th 2025 in the M&T Bank Exchange— 401 West Fayette Street in the Bromo Arts District of Baltimore, MD. Tickets are available in advance online.
To read the coverage article on Ceilidh, click here.