Movie stars are often seen as the characters they portray on the big screen or the glamorous stars walking down the red carpet. But when we take a step back and truly think about it, who are these actors? Who are these musicians? Summed up simply, they are theater kids.
Now think back to your middle school or high school experience, were you in the ensemble of the musical or auditioning for the lead role in the spring play? Were you busy playing varsity sports all year round and never made it to a production? Did you make fun of the kids who sang in the hallways and seemed to have just a little too much flair for the dramatic?
Well, those awkward, too-often-teased teenagers are now the leading men and women of Hollywood. Now more than ever it seems that “theater kids” are taking the stage, both figuratively and literally.
One of the most notable actors at the moment, Timothee Chalamet, has a digital footprint that memorializes his teenage self. But while some see old versions of themselves and cringe, Chalamet embraces high school antics. In fact, the director of the Wonka film, Paul King, actually took his musical YouTube videos into consideration while proposing Chalamet for the lead role of Willy Wonka.
One of the quickest rising stars at the moment, Rachel Zegler, has a track record like no other. As a 17-year-old from Northern New Jersey, she began auditioning for the role of Maria in West Side Story back in 2018. Without any TV and film experience under her belt, the one and only Steven Spielberg took a chance on her and cast her, quite perfectly, I might add.
Since her debut performance she has been cast as Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and starred as Lucy Gray in the newest addition to the Hunger Games franchise, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Oh and of course, landed the role of Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1937 classic.
In the music sphere we’ve got the woman who can do it all: Renee Rapp. Her first major production was on the Broadway stage, where she absorbed the role of Regina George in Tina Fey’s musical, Mean Girls. Although, the really intense theater nerds may have known her from The Jimmy’s; a national high school musical theater award competition. The videos of her performance at the 2018 Jimmy’s, and of course her winning the competition brought her to the forefront of young theater fame.
While musical theater fans have known the Rachel’s and Renee’s from internet fame, the general public wasn’t privy to their talent until recently.
Rapp shifted into the mainstream with her role as Leighton Murray in Mindy Kaling’s comedy series, The Sex Lives of College Girls. While portraying this character on screen, Rapp continued to pursue her other passion of creating music off-screen. She released her debut EP, Everything to Everyone in 2022, and her first album Snow Angel soon after in August 2023. Touring internationally at the moment, Rapp’s stage presence and unbelievable vocal strength makes her musical success undeniable.
Now another Jimmy’s winner, Andrew Barth Feldman, the youngest Evan Hansen to grace the Broadway stage at just 16 years old, has made a name for himself on and off the stage. This past summer he was thrust into the spotlight for his role as Percy in the comedy, No Hard Feelings. Starring alongside him is the quirky, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence. The two of them in tandem were able to deliver the comedy performance of the summer.
All of these up-and-coming stars are in their 20’s, just to put their freshness to the industry into perspective. While the theater departments are often overlooked and pushed to the side, this is where our actors and singers get their start. The stage is their foundation, their home as they hone their skills as creatives and learn to perfect the art that propels them into a successful musical career.
Comments