Alumni Spotlight: Spencer Plachy (THS, '99)

Spencer Plachy, Tomball High School, 1999
Musical Theatre Actor; Toured as Scar in Disney's The Lion King in New York

Spencer Plachy is a collaborative storyteller and an accomplished actor who has graced the highest stages of New York and Houston. With his riveting performances and his authentic approach to acting, Plachy continues to captivate audiences in the world of theatre arts.

A proud native of Tomball, Plachy attended Tomball Elementary for his first two years, and later returned, attending Tomball Junior High for eighth grade, before spending his last four years at Tomball High School, graduating as part of the Class of 1999.

Plachy made the most of his high school years, performing in a variety of ways through baseball, football, choir, and theatre. He participated in One Act Play for three years, earning two Best Actor nominations as well as an Honorable Mention accolade. He placed second in District and 16th in Regional Choir, earned All-District Honorable Mention honors and was selected as a Team Captain in Football, and was named Mr. Debonair for Tomball High his senior year.

For Plachy, his memories of his high school days remain constant and strong.

“I recall so many close friendships that I had during those four years,” he said. “I still try to keep in touch with those guys. I do miss them a lot.”

Following his days as a Cougar, Plachy took his acting talents to Sam Houston State University, where at the encouragement of current THS Theatre Director Clint Cottom, he majored in Musical Theatre, later graduating in 2004.

“I had a great experience at Sam Houston State where I found further encouragement to pursue this career, and it has, thus far, endured!”

Plachy has played numerous roles over his illustrious 20+ year career in theatre, and attributes his time at THS for developing a real passion for theatre.

“I enjoy acting because it allows me to map out an emotional journey, from beginning to end,” he said. “While personal conflict, in real life, is something we almost want to avoid … acting is the intentional exploration and exploitation of those conflicts, within human relationships, from an objective perspective, and then tapping into those experiences in a controlled, rehearsed manner.”

Plachy most recently inspired audiences in Houston in his role as Dracula in Dracula at Classical Theatre Company. Immediately following the wrap of Dracula, Plachy is set to appear in a play called “Winter Solstice’ in Downtown Houston.

Most notably, Plachy spent more than two years touring with Disney's The Lion King as Scar. While living in New York City, he also appeared on Broadway in Romeo & Juliet, and in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. 

“I have been blessed to work with some highly accomplished, talented artists in this business,” Plachy said. “While I have made some good friends and professional connections, New York is relentless. The competition is enormously high and it forces you to get better and be prepared because everyone is so talented.”

He spent the 2008-09 season appearing in four productions at The Alley Theatre. Other regional roles have included Antony in Julius Caesar, Beau in Sandy Rustin’s The Cottage, Victor in Private Lives, Curly in the National Tour of Oklahoma!, and Chad in All Shook Up. He also appeared on the TV show Shades of Blue. 

Through these roles, Plachy has learned to not only appreciate the art of acting but musical theatre as well. 

“Musical theatre is one of the original American artforms,” Plachy said. “To infuse song and dance, seamlessly into the plot of a dramatic piece of live-storytelling … captures the romantic, dreamlike, larger-than-life picture that we carry in our hearts and minds, of all of our life’s potential.”

His career has opened doors and provided him incredible opportunities over the years. But one opportunity he recalls that changed his life for the better was meeting his wife, Laura (of now 11 years) during his pursuit of theatre.

“Our journey together has remained a dear constant, in a career pursuit that has many emotional highs, and emotional lows,” he said.

While Plachy continues to make Tomball proud and make the most of his career as an actor, he credits having developed hard work, persistence which ultimately has led to a very fulfilling career with so much joy.