[NEohioPAL] Berko commentary: big, THE MUSICAL @ Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory

[Roy Berko]

big, THE MUSICAL a good experience for the starry eyed at
FPAC
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
 
Lorain
County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times            
 
--Cool Cleveland.com—
 
As could be expected, the curtain call for big, THE MUSICAL,
at the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory, was met by a standing
ovation.  Why not?  The opening night audience was filled
with parents, grandparents and friends of the youthful cast.  A cast who is devoting their summer to
perfecting their performance skills in possible hopes of becoming the next
great theatrical star.  
 
Was it “better than Broadway” as some of the attendees
gushed?  Of course, not.  These are pre-tweens, tweens and teens
with limited experience and untapped talent.  Was there a future star on stage?  Possibly.  Professionals have to start somewhere, and places like Fred Sternfeld’s
FPAC gives them the opportunity to get training from experienced actors,
directors, musical directors and choreographers.
 
Do some of these kids shine and display that they are above
the rest?  Yes.  Dani Apple, a past PFACer is a case in
point.  I first saw a very young
Dani on stage at Kalliope Music Theatre in Cleveland Heights.  It was obvious she had “it,” whatever
that means.  She has lots of local
credits, did a spot in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and she just finished
another season at Stage Door Manor, one of the best national summer theatre
programs.  She so impressed that
she was extensively written about in Theater Geek: The Real Life Drama of a Summer at Stagedoor Manor,
a novel about the camp.  Stage Door
has produced the likes of Natalie Portman, Zach Braff, John Cryer and Lea Michell.  Is Dani the next to get her name up on
the footlights?  Who knows.
 
As the former Artistic Director of Berkshire Center for the
Arts and Theater International (Leysin, Switzerland), I’ve watched former
campers go on to great things.  Cheryl
Arutt, a Berkshire find, was dubbed "queen of the After School Specials,” did hundreds of commercials, numerous television shows,
and went on to win the Youth in Film Award for her performance in the film Bobby and Sarah.
 
I’ve also seen others decide that the Great White Way is not
for them.  Myson, a very talented performer, who started in theatre at age 4, and was cast
and cast again, decided that he’d rather be a psychologist.  How does he use his theatrical talents?  He sings the national anthem at
the Indians’ games and does musical gigs.
 
I saw Crissy Wilzak in a high school production of MY FAIR
LADY.  She was a rose in a field of
weeds.  Working with her for two
years and then watching her go off to Kent State for further training, it was
no surprise to follow her career that included being in the original casts of
CHORUS LINE, 1940’s RADIO HOUR and SEESAW, as well as television’s MORK AND
MINDY.  Rex Nockingust tried out
for a production of CAROUSEL I was directing.  After hearing half a song and ten lines of dialogue, I sent
all the other competitors for Enoch Snow, Jr. home…I had witnessed a potential
superstar.  He went on to play
numerous parts locally and nationally, including the coveted off-Broadway role
of Matt in THE FANTASTICKS.  
 
Yes, there are those special people who, with good training
and a lot of luck, reach their star goals.  Was there anyone in FPAC’s big, THE MUSICAL who might reach
the pinnacle?  Maybe.  Recent high school grad, Sean
Grandillo, has, to my eyes and ears, probably the best shot.  Not to say there was no one else on
stage who wasn’t very good (okay grandmas and dads of others in the cast, put
down the poison pens), but Sean seems to be the whole package…acting, singing,
dancing, stage presence, and the immeasurable “it” factor.  This is surprising as he only “found”
theatre last year.  
 
How far will Sean go?  Well, he’s on the right track, having picked a solid college musical
theatre program for this fall, has his presence on a YouTube site, and has the
FPAC experience.  Next steps…more
training, tryouts, getting an agent, and stumbling on the one person who can
open the doors for his future.  And, believe it or not, the latter is probably the most important.  For Crissy Wilzak it was going on a student
trip to NY while a student at Lorain County Community College, sitting in the
front row of HAIR, meeting a cast member, getting introduced to a Broadway
director, and eventually getting a chance to be in his off-Broadway production
of CHORUS LINE.  The rest, so they
say, is history.   
 
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:
  big, THE MUSICAL, is
a pleasant summer musical experience, well fitting the educational purpose of
the FPCA.  It’s a nice way to see
local talent in its budding stage, support their efforts, and for you, at the
end of the show, to give the cast and crew the thrill of an ovation and
encourage their dreams--realistic or not.
 
big, THE MUSICAL runs through  August 21 at the Mayfield Village Civic Center, at the
corner of Wilson Mills and SOM Center Roads in Mayfield Village.  For
tickets call 440-338-3171.  For more information about the play go to
www.fairmountcener.org/facpresents.html. 
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and www.NeOHIOpal
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