See that dapper kiddo on the left? Believe it or not, that’s me in a 2017 production of Grease! The Musical with Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre, the theatre company for which most of my performing career I’ve worked with. This was my first major role as Johnny Casino, leading my band The Gamblers in the song “Born to Hand Jive”. It’s one of those classic rock dance competition gimmick songs, as the main characters compete to win, and it was my first time singing alone on stage. It was a distinctly difficult experience for multiple reasons.
One, I was 11 years old, and in a serious artistic rut. Before, in performances such as John in Peter Pan and Harold Hill in The Music Man, I had been able to comfortably sing a high tenor part. But now, puberty had arrived, and my castrati range would be reduced further and further until the most impressive part of my voice was its low-end range. At this point, my voice was deepening, yes, but not enough! I was caught between being able to sing high and low, which I felt meant I couldn’t sing at all! The notes were simply too low for me to hit, and if I were to key them up, it wouldn’t sound pretty. This meant I suffered a massive lack of confidence, which resulted in a distinct lack of swagger and the confidence the role demanded. Two, I was extremely sick! During the late-night, intensive, and often exhausting tech week, I began to suffer from an intense ear infection in one of my ears. To me, these were nothing new, and I couldn’t tell you how many times these things got me. Either way, when it became time to perform three shows in three days, I was not feeling good. Aside from Johnny Casino, I played a few background roles that were a little less demanding, but needless to say, standing there in a spotlight, trying to sing a song you don’t think you’re good enough for while struggling to fight the effects of antibiotics and four Advil was not the most fun I’ve had on stage. Perhaps the deranged dizziness and nausea made me seem more like Elvis, but no tape of this exists, so I can’t say if it turned out that way.
At the end of the day, Grease was one of my favorite productions I’ve been a part of. Being so young in a cast with mostly high schoolers inspired me to continue my passion for theatre throughout the following years, up until today! My proudest work was as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, a role which perfectly suited my voice, and has infinitely helped my confidence in the way I sound! Even though it got pretty sweaty up there, just as with my dizzy, hazy Johnny Casino, I continued. As they say, the show must go on! Do you have any memories of unhinged performances that you were a part of? Share down below!