This is the last of a three-part series that focuses on siblings Caleb (a senior) and Kensington (a sophomore) Van Hook and their vast experience performing in live musical and theatrical productions nationwide since they were children. The first story focused on the latest project the Van Hooks have been cast in and how they started in the live theater circuit. Part two profiled the older Van Hook sibling and his journey in becoming interested in performing live on stage and his goals after high school. In this story, copy editor Serenity Li spotlights the younger sibling and what she has been able to accomplish at a young age, such as a role in a movie short and the latest lead character of Kim McAfee in the adaptation of the Broadway comedy-musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.”

“The Ending of the Order of the Elephants.”

That’s quite a mouthful for anyone to say, especially for sophomore Kensie Van Hook, who was among the four actors featured in the 20-minute short produced last year by independent filmmaker Justin Lord.

The director was one of the youth group leaders at La Mirada’s Grace Evangelical Free Church, where Van Hook also attended at the time when she was in eighth grade, she said. Lord knew of Van Hook’s performances in different theater companies and was looking for teenage actresses for his project. Her parents reviewed the script first and were supportive the whole time, she said.

Lord said he was actually looking for a package deal when he was auditioning young actors for “The Ending of the Order of the Elephants.”

“I knew the film could never work unless I found two young actresses who could really act, not just the ‘I guess that’s good enough for kids’ kind of acting but real emotionally intuitive acting,” said the indie director, who responded via text message The Accolade’s request to be interviewed. “As a matter of fact, when I auditioned Kensie and her friend … for the parts, I was ready to abandon the whole project if they weren’t able to impress me. And – huzzah! – they impressed me!

To this day, Van Hook looks back to the whole auditioning and filming process in a humble manner.

“I was really excited when Justin asked me and honored that he had thought of me for his project,” she said. “There weren’t a lot of other young teenage girls he knew could act, so there wasn’t much competition, but I was still really grateful for the opportunity.”

Though the sophomore said when she was 7, a college group from Colorado College cast her in its short for a school assignment, this opportunity would be her first time getting to experience what it’s like to be a part of the Hollywood film-making industry.

“It was very mind-expanding – just seeing everything that went into it; they came in with all these different lights, and different setups and different cameras, and [I saw] all the ways that they make things happen,” said Van Hook, who will finish her stint this weekend playing one of the lead roles in the comedy-musical “Bye Bye Birdie” at Hope International University in Fullerton.

Lord cast her as Morgan Bash, a preteen who hosts her last tea party that she calls the “Order of the Elephant” in her back yard and argues with her friend about whether it is childish to continue it. Meanwhile, her babysitter has problems of his own as his girlfriend tries to clear up a misunderstanding between the two of them over a boy.

Filming began on Sept. 15, 2023, and lasted three days, Van Hook said. Lord and his cast spent most of their time at Van Hook’s house and back yard in Fullerton as well as at Sycamore Canyon Park in Diamond Bar.

That film and another of Lord’s premiered in the evening of Sunday, Jan. 21, at the Frida Cinema in Orange. She said she and her family also watched the film that night.

“Seeing my face on the big screen was incredible and inspired me to find ways to continue pursuing acting and story-telling,” the sophomore said. “A lot of members of the other film came up to me and my friend and were just super sweet and talking about how they were shocked at how young we were and how professional the film ended up being.”

Lord also touts Van Hook’s skills as a young actor.

“What struck me about Kensie’s performance was her ability to emote her character’s feelings through just her facial expression and the way she carried herself,” he said. “As soon as she comes onscreen, you wonder what’s going on inside her head, which is perfect for her role.

“And it’s a bizarre role, too; equal parts goofy and angsty, and Kensie carried every emotional beat easily. It was a total pleasure working with Kensie, and I hope I get the opportunity to direct her in a future project!”

Van Hook was 14 years old during filming of “Order of the Elephants,” and before that, she had been cast in 15 live productions as part of five children’s community theater groups and four community, high school and college theater groups. Since 2023, she has acted in 20 live performances. 

Though she took on so many roles since childhood, she said she primarily did it for her love of storytelling and that the only time she got paid was in the Colorado Springs’ Fine Arts Center production of Matilda the Musical based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl. Van Hook played Lavender Glottlestop, Matilda’s best friend, and the production ran from Dec. 8, 2018-Jan. 8, 2019.

“When I look back now, she was only 9 and in third grade,” Michelle Van Hook, the sophomore’s mother, said. “[I was] able to see her do 31 shows in a span of less than 30 days and to hit each one with as much energy and enthusiasm and passion as the one before no matter how tired she was.”

A CHILD CELEBRITY IN THE MAKING?

Because Kensie Van Hook has the option to continue in the theater or movie business, she is aware of the pitfalls of the Hollywood industry, especially how it has affected the careers of former child celebrities Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears.

The sophomore said she has had many conversations with her parents regarding the “what if’s” in regards to pursuing that line of business in the future. And the main thing that will help her the most will be her religious conviction.

“That’s never been something that scares me away from [acting] because I think [if] Christ is my center, then I know that I can go into a world like that and a place like Hollywood, and as long as I’m staying true to my faith and true to my beliefs, I don’t really have to fear turning to something like drugs or whatever else it is,” Kensie Van Hook said.

The young actress also said she needs to remember what her true self worth is.

“It is tragic how many actors and actresses get famous and then just decline so far, but a lot of it is because they realize that fame isn’t enough – it’s not enough to satisfy them [or] give them worth, so they turn to all these other things,” the sophomore said. “I think as long as I know where my worth is and my value is in being a daughter of [Christ], then I don’t really have to fear that.”

Kensie Van Hook does acknowledge the moments of pride in her accomplishments and while it is good to be proud of them, her mother was always there to remind her that these accomplishments are a gift from God.

“If I get worried about a performance, [there] really just has to be a focus [that] there’s only an audience of one, and it’s not for my glory but just to glorify God and what He’s given me,” she said.

At Sunny Hills, many of her classmates would not know this aspect of her life unless they were also in the same children’s performance group. Junior Joseph Loyola said he first became aware of Kensie Van Hook’s acting history when he first met her in the same cast of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

“I did not know that she had acted – in fact that was the first time I’ve ever encountered her,” Loyola said. “I was definitely surprised and impressed about her acting skills; she’s such a natural.”

Many of her friends also involved in acting agree that she and her older brother, senior Caleb Van Hook, have what it takes to go far in the Hollywood or Broadway industry.

“I’m overly joyous [for him]; I know that he also wants to live in New York for a cool minute, [and] I know that New York would open many doors for him, specifically for Broadway, that will expand as he continues to grow and evolve into what he has passion for,” said senior Sammy Valenzuela, who met Caleb Van Hook when they were juniors at the Fellowship for Christian Athletes club on campus.

In fact, theater teacher Christian Penuelas said he views the Van Hooks as triple threats because few can sing, dance and act.

“They’re both triple threats, they can sing, they can act, they can dance, which is hard to find [in theater],” Penuelas said.

In terms of dancing, the two siblings are also enrolled in dance instructor Leiana Volen’s Dance 3 class in third period.

“[Kensie’s] able to adjust to whatever the emotional connection is to the dancing, which is a really hard thing for dancers to do,” Volen said. “I feel like I always tell my students, ‘I can’t teach you passion; I can teach you all the skills that you need to feel that, but you have to really feel that inside.’”

BROADWAY, HOLLYWOOD OR BUST?

For now, Kensie Van Hook said she has been exploring majors on a different spectrum from theater such as political science and sociology. However, that doesn’t mean she plans on turning any acting, dancing and singing opportunities down.

“I would love to have more opportunities for professional film work,” she said. “I love storytelling that can impact people’s lives and being a part of a movie or TV show would be a dream come true.”

Despite not aiming to major in theater, Kensie Van Hook said she still wants to perform on Broadway some day or star in a film at least once in her life for one of her good friends who died a year ago.

“[She] always told me she would see my name in Broadway lights; for her, I would love to still have theater in my life and pursue other acting experiences,” the sophomore said.

Kensie Van Hook said her favorite actress is Ann-Margret, the original Kim McAfee from the 1963 “Bye Bye Birdie” movie. The sophomore said she would love to meet her and even act alongside her if given the opportunity.

“I love her personality; she’s an amazing singer and actress and dancer, which I think is so rare,” she said. “[Ann-Margret is] like 82 and rides a motorcycle with daisies on it, and I think that she is just the coolest person ever.”

Because of her fondness for classic musicals, Kensie Van Hook said she has also heard of “Hello Dolly” and wouldn’t mind getting cast in an adaptation of that production someday.

“I’ve wanted to [act in Hello Dolly], to wear old old-style dresses and all the corsets – [or] like ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’; any of those would be really fun,” the sophomore said.

After “Bye Bye Birdie” finishes its run this weekend, she will go back to the classroom and get ready for the last few weeks of the fall semester – just like many of her classmates.

“I hope to … be a part of [SH’s] ‘Pride and Prejudice,’” Kensie Van Hook said.

The sophomore actress said she also plans to audition for the SH spring semester musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and any future productions in her upperclassman years as well.

In the meantime, Kensie Van Hook said she wouldn’t mind entertaining any offers to perform for the stage or the screen.

“Personally, I love both live and recorded performances and have a special place in my heart for both,” the sophomore said. “Whatever doors God may open in my future, whether film or stage acting, I would gladly pursue either as long as it brings glory to His name.”

Those interested in watching the Van Hooks’ last two performances of “Bye Bye Birdie” can purchase $15 tickets from the Spero website. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

This story was originally published on The Accolade on November 16, 2024.