Mary Lou Conaway lives just 3 miles from where she grew up in Parkville. A Mt. Iron HS grad, she was involved with the speech and drama activities in Mask and Gavel. While earning her AA degree at Mesabi State Junior College, she changed majors from instrumental music to Speech and Theater, then earned a BS in Speech and Theater Arts at Bemidji State College. After marriage, family and careers away from the arts she loves, she has returned to theater having directed both NSW productions of "Love Letters" and "The Tin Woman" and acting in the mystery dinner theater "Revenge at the Reunion" and 'War of the Worlds.'

Carol has no doubt that "All the world's a stage.," and has acted in and occasionally directed shows on stages in Buhl School, Concordia College, Winnipeg and rural Manitoba, the Middle East, Hibbing, Virginia, and the Duluth Playhouse. Carol has participated on stage in several Northern Stage Works productions. She's grateful to Northern Stage Works and the Lyric staff and volunteers for celebrating the arts.