Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Little Big Man: Broadway star Joseph Madeiros hangs out with kids from the Children's Musical Theater.
Boy Becomes Toy Executive
'big, the musical' is all fun and games
By Jessica Lyons
There's a simple reason why 13-year-old Matt Sobel grins when he talks about his role in big, the musical. He gets to play with lots of toys--Silly String, life-size pianos, over-stuffed teddy bears and swivel chairs.
"It's fun because I get to be a kid," says Matt, an aspiring Willow Glen actor and a self-described future Mark from Rent.
Right now, however, Matt has a different role to worry about. He's playing Billy in San Jose Children's Musical Theater's production of big, the musical. The production is based on the 1988 feature film Big, which stars Tom Hanks as Josh, a 12-year-old who wishes he were a grownup. Josh shares his wish with Zoltar, a carnival fortune teller, and wakes up the following morning in the body of a 30-year-old man. In a series of funny plot twists, Josh becomes a top executive for a toy company and creates the ideal Christmas toy.
Matt, a tall boy with bright eyes and a slightly mischievous smile, plays the character Billy, who is the best friend of young Josh and the conscience of adult Josh. But Matt is hardly worrying.
"We're always playing with toys," Matt says. "Even though we're rehearsing, it's always like we're playing jokes."
Matt and a crew of about 150 Children's Musical Theater actors, ranging in age from 9 to early 20s, recently rehearsed the first act from the musical.
"Remember, we're corporate. We're devoid of any personality, which you are both doing wonderfully," director Kevin R. Hauge instructs two actors, singing as they welcome Josh and Billy to the toy store, and dancing in stiff, robotic moves.
"We make brokers go delirious, when it comes to toys we're serious," sing the toy executives, portrayed by the older actors, who are 14 to 20 years old and CMT alums.
"That's why we selected the show--because it's a perfect match for us," director Hauge says. "Our 35 alumni fit nicely into the roles of the executives, while we really tell the story through the joy and the eyes of youth."
big, the musical debuts in Silicon Valley on Dec. 10 at the Montgomery Theater. Willow Glen actors include Jeromy Dell, Ali Gangi, Christina Hagaman, Taylor Kirk, Quinn McClure, Cuyler Meade, Rhiana Meade, Ericka Pieracci, Michael Ramirez, Matt Sobel and Heather Stokes.
Hauge says the show is a holiday alternative. "Come November, we all have the those same choices," Hauge says. "Do we want to see The Nutcracker or The Christmas Story this year? We want to give the wild card, that alternative. With big, we've done that."
Brothers Alex and Jesse Brightman share the role of young Josh, the musical's hero. "[This] is really fun because if we miss something, we can ask each other," says Alex, 12.
But sometimes constructive criticism about how to interpret the role of Josh can start more than its share of sibling rivalry. "Sometimes it starts fights," admits Jesse, 11.
"But that's what you get from being so close to someone," Alex finishes. "Basically, it's a lot of fun."
The brothers say they like the Tom Hanks movie, but they enjoy the musical even more. They immediately bought the CD after seeing the big, the musical on Broadway. "We listen to the music a lot," Jesse says. "Actually, we've memorized it--like Rent."
During a Friday afternoon practice, the two brothers and other cast members meet Daniel Jenkens, the actor who played adult Josh on Broadway during the show's eight-month run.
The curly haired actor, wearing khakis and a green T-shirt, looks like a younger, blond version of Tom Hanks. Jenkens tells the group of CMT performers, alums and parents that finding his inner child to play the role of a boy stuck in an adult body wasn't much of a stretch.
"I went about one-fourth of an inch deep and found my hidden 12-year-old," he says. "It wasn't that hard for me. The goofy, silly playful stuff was very accessible."
For Willow Glen actor Ali Gangi, however, playing the role of sophisticated Susan, who pursues adult Josh, was more of a stretch. Gangi, a 23-year-old CMT alumna, says her favorite scene is when Josh and Susan are playing with the Ring-a-Ding boxing toy (giant boxing gloves) and beat each other up. The seduction scenes were more difficult.
"It is challenging," she says. "I'm really goofy, so trying to be this serious and sexy type was difficult. I wanted to do the goofy stuff Josh was doing."
Gangi says the best thing about her role as Susan is watching her character's transformation. "At the beginning, Susan's this really tight business woman. By the end, she has transformed into a happy, easy-going person," she says.
It must be the toys.
'big, the musical' runs Dec. 10 to 19 at the Montgomery Theater at Market and San Carlos streets. Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under. For information or to purchase tickets, call 408.288.5437, or visit San Jose Children's Musical Theater online at www.sjcmt.org.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
