Her career arc leads to 'Joan'

Andrea Ross is a busy high school student; she has the lead role in Wheelock Family Theatre's ''Saint Joan.'' (Bill Greene/Globe Staff)

It's been stressful for young Andrea Ross, juggling high school while taking on the lead role as Joan of Arc in George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan," which starts previews tonight at the Wheelock Family Theatre.

"Oh, I'm definitely feeling it right now with college applications, lots of tests, and trying to memorize my script," the 17-year-old says. "But it's all right because I know the busier I am, the more of a schedule I have, the better it is for me to get things done. Plus, I am really excited about doing the show."

It's a meaty role for the 17-year-old, who in 2005 became the youngest person ever to win Boston's Elliot Norton Award for outstanding actress, for her performances in "A Little Night Music," "The Sound of Music," and "Ramona Quimby." Ross's career has also been championed by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who launched her as his protegée with the 2007 debut album "Moon River."

Boston theatergoers have watched Ross mature.

"It definitely weird and very cool," she says of her ascent. "It's been a whirlwind. Over the years I've had to grow into various characters. And when I was younger I felt like someday I'll get out of these young roles and sink my teeth into something good. This is such a great role. I hope it goes to show how much I've grown up."

In "Saint Joan," Ross plays a French national heroine, and arguably the world's first feminist teen rebel. Born a peasant nearly 600 years ago, Joan of Arc fearlessly challenged Middle Age conventions. Saying she was led by divine intervention, she was outspoken, wore men's clothing, and led key military victories to drive the English out of France during the Hundred Years' War. She was burned at the stake before she was 20.

"The role is not something you can just walk into. I had to do pretty good research beforehand," Ross says. "There is an arc - no pun intended - from where she starts off as a peasant girl to seeing how she moved and persuaded these high-class, high-society people, changing the course of the war. Joan is so loyal to her conviction in the face of such bad times it really shows if you are true to yourself, you will succeed one way or another."

Information: 617-879-2300, www.wheelock.edu/wft/ index.asp

Holiday sale
Tomorrow, more than 5,500 half-priced seats will go on sale for holiday shows at MayorsHolidaySpecial.com. Users can choose from shows including "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical," Boston Ballet's "Nutcracker," Holiday Pops, Handel & Haydn Society's "Messiah," and "Black Nativity." Each production offers a limited number of half-price tickets, so act fast.

Megan Tench can be reached at mtench@globe.com.