Megan Chacalos, a Wheeling Park alum, is inspiring numerous Appalachian performers with her success in New York City producing, acting, and even achieving TikTok fame. She is a perfect example to so many Wheeling performers that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
During her time at Wheeling Park, Megan was extremely involved in numerous activities, ranging from the performing arts to representing her school and classmates.
Megan said, “Oh gosh, what didn’t I do in high school? I was the Park Player President, part of the Thespian Society, Speech Team (3 individual state championships in H.I., Duo, & Sales), Orchestra, Young Patriots, a Class Officer, National Honor Society Officer, French Club, and in Key Club.”
One of her coaches during her time on the team, Coach Kayla Nelson, expresses how Megan was as both a performer and competitor on the team, delving into her best performance and qualities.
“She was in my very first class of Introduction to Speech and Theater. One of the first things I noticed about Megan was her incredible sense of humor and comedic timing. She starred as Juliet in her class’s freshman play, The Suessification of Romeo and Juliet. From that performance, you could see that Megan had talent, and after that, each project (for speech and debate) she approached with determination to better herself and her skills. The most memorable speech performance Megan did was her Sales for Hostess Brand baked goods. She had incredible word play throughout the speech and gave her judges a treat from her display,” said Nelson.
Some of the other shows she performed in during her time in the Park Players include It’s a Wonderful Life, Anything Goes, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Beauty and the Beast, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Footloose. If you wanted to find Megan, you had to go to the stage.
“I spent A LOT of time in both the Beneke and the PAC. I was a freshman when the PAC was first opened, so we had a lot of fun exploring both theaters. Countless hours were spent by myself laying on the stage late into the evenings. Being on stage, even without an audience, really gave me a chance to hone my craft in an inspiring environment. Mr. Cornforth would kick me out around 8 or 9pm, but by that point I had already read a new play, learned a new monologue, memorized song lyrics, or choreographed a tap routine. I was addicted to being in the theater,” said Megan.
Her father, WPHS science teacher Mr. Chacalos, noticed her love of the theater from an early age.
“I think she always knew she wanted to do it. Down at Warwood, she helped write a musical for the eighth grade and they performed it, both during school and in the evening. When she came up here, she really dove in headfirst,” said Chacalos.
Megan has Wheeling Park to thank for a lot of her success, drive, and abilities in performance.
“I loved growing up in Wheeling. I loved going to WPHS. The theatre/speech department was extremely competitive. We’d have week long audition cycles- seventy to eighty kids would be auditioning for a show with a twelve person cast. I learned to hustle for what I wanted and it always resulted in my name ending up on the cast list. That hustle mentality really set me up for success in my adult life in the Broadway realm. I don’t think I would have been successful if I hadn’t been taught in the Park theatre program,” said Megan.
Megan’s family has always been consistently supportive of her throughout her endeavors, always taking the time to see her performances and help her when she needs it.
“They always come up and see me when I’m performing. If they can’t make it, I’ll send videos! My parents have always been extremely supportive. Growing up, they were happy to support my dreams as long as I presented a doable plan. That plan? Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships; and going to WVU for my BFA in Acting. I went to school on a full ride, which set me up for a debt free start in NYC. Plus, I come back to Wheeling a lot. I love taking “city breaks” every couple of months where I’ll hide away on the Chacalos property for two weeks to reset and reground myself. There’s always something magical about sleeping in my Broadway-themed childhood bedroom,” said Megan.
Mr. Chacalos said, “I hate to say it, but whatever Megan needs, Megan gets. At WVU, she decided she wanted to be a model too. She applied for a couple of things and ended up being down in Miami during Fashion Week, and of course I flew down with her. Then, she wanted to be a princess down at Disney, and they had auditions in Chicago, and she did that too. Megan gets support from her family, we have four kids altogether and they all support her too.”
However, you probably know her best as the “Olive Oil Girl,” having reached TikTok fame from telling a story from her childhood.
“Over the years I’ve realized my love for performing doesn’t have to be limited only to the stage, I can have an audience whenever I’d like by filming and posting. When TikTok came about, I knew I’d have a good time and a part of me knew I’d find an audience. I didn’t realize I’d go as viral as I did, but as soon as I posted that olive oil story, I knew within the first minute- ‘Oh my goodness, I’m about to go viral.’ I felt it,” said Megan.
In addition to acting and being viral on TikTok, Megan also produces shows.
“Honestly, I fell into it by accident. My reputation preceded me and I fell into the best day job an actor can have. Broadway Producing? I’ve always ‘produced’ my own shows growing up, but it’s been really great to learn how to actually produce professionally. Now I can still produce my own shows, but the right way on bigger stages! We produce everything from Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional productions, etc. To give a few examples; this past Broadway season we were on the GYPSY revival and SMASH. On top of that, we’re also members of the American Theatre Wing, Tony Award Voters, and countless other theatre boards in the city. When it comes to upcoming projects, we’re currently working on a new musical, The King’s Critique,” said Megan.
When she came back to Wheeling for her show, Megan Chacalos: Kinda Famous, she had a clear vision in mind, and even used the funds to help with the flooding that devastated the area earlier that same summer.
“The main purpose is to provide a hometown performance for my supporters, my community, and my family who can’t always make it to NYC to see me perform. I love bringing joy and nothing beats a hometown audience. I was in the middle of rehearsing Kinda Famous when I heard about the devastating floods. Right then and there, I knew I had to help give back. My way of doing that? Donating my proceeds. Between my ticket sales and online donations, I made about $1000, so each organization got $500. I wish it had been more, but I’m proud of what we raised,” said Megan.
Mr. Chacalos also said, “It was a lot of stand-up, and she sang a couple of songs. That all took off last year when she, I hate to say it, became known as ‘The Olive Oil Girl’. She’s in New York and people will say ‘Hey, you’re the Olive Oil Girl’ when she’s on the street, so that’s kind of neat.”
Overall, Megan has had a substantial impact on so many Wheeling performers, and even Appalachia performers as a whole. So many people look up to her and now know it is possible to make it as a performer from such a small area.
Current WPHS Park Players Treasurer, Landon McKeegan, said, “Megan has inspired me so much as an artist just by being herself, and seeing someone in the industry from my hometown is really impactful to me. She reminds me that big dreams can start in small places, and it makes the dream feel less distant and more real. It’s even more inspiring that after achieving so much, she always kept her humor and positivity that so many people love to see.”
WPHS alumni also look up to her, and are currently working towards those dreams with their college educations.
2025 graduate Alex Fabrizio said, “I didn’t really know who Megan was until my junior year of high school, but after Ohio County Schools did a spotlight post on her, I just knew she’s doing it. I can do it. That really jump-started my college search, like looking into schools in Arizona and New York, but mainly New York because I wanted to show people that Appalachia is real. We have so many talented individuals that can make it in this industry. I really owe her for giving me a lot of that willpower. It really helped me visualize that I could do it, no matter where I came from; you don’t have to be from a big place like Los Angeles or New York City.”
Another alum, 2024 graduate Taylor Andrews, said, “I’ve actually been fortunate enough that I’ve gotten to work with Megan. I did audition coaching with her senior year of high school and was also in a cabaret with her the summer between senior year and freshman year of college. West Virginia is a hard place to become super successful in theatre from, so the fact that she’s made such a successful, fun career for herself had me in awe. Wheeling is genuinely so lucky to be able to say that she grew up here. She’s served as an amazing reminder to me that success doesn’t hinge off of where you’re born, but on the type of person you allow yourself to become.”
With Megan being the inspiration that she is, she has some advice for anyone with big aspirations to really make it in the theater world, especially those from her own home of Wheeling, W.Va.
“Performing is an achievable career path. It doesn’t matter whether or not you grew up outside of NYC. It doesn’t matter whether or not you go to one of the best theatre college programs in the country. All that matters is your own willingness to put in the work. You need to be able to think five steps ahead, you need to hustle, and your biggest cheerleader has to be you,” said Megan.
In short: your smalltown home is not a weakness, it is only a strength. Anything can be achieved if you keep at it, and Megan Chacalos is a perfect example of that Wheeling (and now NYC) excellence!
