For senior Lila Kelley, the road to her nomination for a Gene Kelly Award started back in third grade.

“I went to St. Gabriel, a small private school, and our director at the time just walked up to me and was like, `You’re actually in the Lullaby League for The Wizard of Oz,’ ” Kelley said. “I was kind of thrown into it. But as soon as I did it, I loved it, and I’ve been performing ever since.”

Kelley has participated in every Baldwin show since her freshman year, and today she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Mrs. Wormwood in Baldwin’s musical, Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical. 

Kelley said she was shocked by her nomination.

“I’ve been saying all week I feel like with the Gene Kellys, the people who are nominated are the people who have these big, stellar voices, and I just am not that person,” Kelley said. “I come from an acting background, not a singing background.”

This was the first musical directed by physics teacher Alexander Bowman. Kelley said she liked having Bowman, English teacher Cassidy Cooper, and music teacher Kris Tranter as the heads of the musical this year. 

Kelley especially enjoyed playing Wormwood, a crazy but fun character who loves to dance.

“I went to Ms. Cooper and Mr. Bowman before auditions and was like, `I don’t care where you put me. I just want to boogie,’ ” Kelley said.

The Gene Kelly Awards ceremony will be held on May 27. 

“This (year) is the last time I’m performing for who knows how long,” Kelley said. “I’m going to school for film and television directing, so still kind of the same thing but not on-stage performing.”