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. In this story, copy editor Serenity Li profiles the younger sibling and what she has been able to accomplish at such 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.
The filmmaker did not respond to an interview request as of press time Friday, Nov. 15.
“I was really excited when Justin asked me and honored that he had thought of me for his project.” Van Hook 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 Van Hook said when she was 7, a college group from Colorado College cast her in their 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 the sophomore, 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.”
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’s role was Lavender Glottlestop, Matilda’s best friend, and the production was 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 dangers of Hollywood that are caused from a childhood in the spotlight like famous child actors Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears. She has had many conversations with her parents regarding the “what if’s” of the dangers of Hollywood if she decides to pursue that business, she said.
“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 relies on defining where her worth lies – in her faith and not in her fame – to fight temptations of chasing after renown and increasing her risks of falling into a demise like arrest or addiction.
“I think 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.”
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.
“I did not know that she had acted – in fact that was the first time I’ve ever encountered her,” said junior Joseph Loyola, who knows Kensie Van Hook as they were in the same cast of “Bye Bye Birdie.” “I was definitely surprised and impressed about her acting skills; she’s such a natural.”
Although Loyola has never officially met the sophomore or gotten to know her personally, he’s grown to respect her as a super talented actress, he said.
“[Bye Bye Birdie] was my first show ever; I thought it was really good, [and] a lot of people really liked it; [Kensie] is a wonderful performer as herself, but especially as Kim she does a really awesome job,” Loyola said.
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 both juniors at the Fellowship for Christian Athletes club.
In fact, her 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 such as political science and sociology to help pursue a higher education and intellectual career. 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 still wants to be on Broadway or in a film at least once in her life for one of her good friends who passed away 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’s favorite actress is Ann-Margret, the original Kim McAfee from the “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.
The sophomore actress said she also finds it cool that they are both gingers and share a faith in God.
“[Ann-Margret is] like 82 and rides a motorcycle with daisies on it, and I think that she is just the coolest person ever,” she said.
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 [perform at other Sunny Hills shows] and will be a part of ‘Pride and Prejudice,’” Kensie Van Hook said.
The sophomore actress will also participate in the SH spring semester musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and plans to perform in SH shows 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.
