After decades behind the camera at ABC7 and teaching video production at College of the Canyons (COC), longtime Santa Clarita resident Frank Alli is stepping in front of an audience for the first time, in the production of The Olympians.

Alli, a TV news cameraman and editor at ABC7, is no stranger to storytelling.

He spent over two decades capturing breaking news and sports in Los Angeles, covering everything from wildfires to high-stakes games. Before that, he taught video production at College of the Canyons for eight years, encouraging his students to take creative risks and push beyond their comfort zones.

Now, he’s following his own advice.

“If I’m encouraging people to do things that scare them, then I have to do the same,” Alli said. “I’ve always kind of wanted to try performing, and that was the catalyst. I started taking acting classes at L.A. Valley College, and The Olympians is my first real time performing in front of an audience.”

Olive Branch Theatricals

Presented at the Olive Branch Theatricals in Santa Clarita, The Olympians is a comedic musical centered around women reclaiming power from the gods of Mount Olympus.

Alli’s performance playing dual roles as King of Sparta and Zeus, marked a milestone for both himself and the theater; it was the venue’s first sold-out show, coinciding with its one-year anniversary.

For Alli, the experience has been not only about acting, but also about community.

The production reconnected him with friends from Santa Barbara, former colleagues from the news world, including fellow castmate and CBS2 assignment editor Annette Duran, and memories from as far back as the 1980s.

“This show is actually connecting me to different chapters of my life,” he said. “It’s been a beautiful reminder of the people who’ve supported me throughout the years.”

Though his character doesn’t sing or dance, “which is probably better for the audience,” he joked, Alli has fully embraced the craft, applying the same discipline he’s used in journalism to his acting.

“As a photojournalist, I tell other people’s stories truthfully and accurately. Acting is just another form of storytelling,” he said. “I do my research, and I try to bring authenticity to the roles I play. I owe that to the playwright, and to the audience.”

A New Jersey native, Alli studied video at Seattle Central Community College and launched his career in Spokane, later working in Sacramento and ultimately Los Angeles. His life journey has taken him from printing presses to newscasts to the stage, and now he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

“I might be the oldest guy in the cast, but I’m learning just like everyone else,” he said with a laugh. “Being around these young actors keeps me energized. I’m learning breath control, voice preservation—things I never thought about before. But that’s the key: just keep learning and have fun.”

His advice to others?

“Try things that scare you. You don’t have to do them perfectly, just do them,” he said. “Put one foot in front of the other and see where it leads you.”

Alli and the cast of The Olympians will continue performances through the rest of the month at Olive Branch Theatricals, inviting the Santa Clarita community to come laugh, cheer, and be inspired.

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