By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
It didn’t take Paul Morgan long to figure out what he wanted to be and where he wanted to go.
“I was in my first musical when I was in fourth grade and I fell in love with being on that big stage,” the Bellmont High junior will tell you.
The young guy is, of course, very active on the BHS stage and he is also involved in the Creative Arts Council’s (CAC) theatre productions in Bluffton.
“This is the theatre in Bluffton that I love,” Paul says. “I started with the summer intensive theatre camp when I was in sixth grade, but now I do musicals and plays there throughout the year.”
Paul – “Paulie” as he is known to many – has had roles in several summer CAC musicals “directed by the amazing Ted Smith.”
He’s been Scar in “The Lion King Jr.”, Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast”, the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz Jr.” and Shrek in “Shrek Jr.”
Morgan, 17, just got added good news: the CAC is going to do “Newsies Jr.”
“I’m so excited for this one,” he exclaims.
The “Jr.” productions are a shorter version of the full musical.
“This fall,” Paul said, “I will be doing my very first ‘play’ at CAC, ‘Tom Sawyer”; I will be Injin Joe, I’m excited for this new experience.”
“I have made so many friends at CAC, and have so many mentors there that teach me so much from acting, dancing, sets, and teamwork. It’s is really a great place.”
That’s not to say he isn’t active in productions at Bellmont.
“This school year will be packed with the show choir Brave Generation, aka BG’s,” Morgan noted, plus a spring musical, the BHS talent show, “and we end the year with ‘Sparkle’, our last show choir show, a sendoff for the seniors.”
He has already done several musicals at Bellmont, including “Mary Poppins”, “Annie”, the “The Little Mermaid” (as Flounder), “The Addams Family” (Lurch), “Susical the Musical” (the General), and “Little Women” (Mr. Brooks).
“I love my director, Jaime Macklin,” the young guy says. “She is so talented herself and she passes all of her knowledge and experience down to all the kids.”
“She makes us work hard and not slack off. I appreciate her so much.”
“Last winter I was in (a full production of) ‘A White Christmas’. I was in the ensemble and I loved it. Mrs. Macklin was in this one, too; it was such an honor doing a musical with her.”
And just in case anyone thought Bellmont and Bluffton was as far as his quest takes him, this young entertainer has been involved in the Summit City Theatre in Fort Wayne.
“I was part of the original cast of ‘A Christmas Carol’ as the Turkey Boy,” Paulie noted. “What a great experience that was. I’m excited to do more work with Summit City; it’s a great theatre, too! So much talent, I just love watching and learning from all of these people.”
Morgan said he is always thankful for any part he lands. Every single part – whether it be ensemble, the lead or just being a tree – he will work hard.
“Every role, every part is important in a musical/ play/show; you just always have to give it your all and you will shine on that big stage.”
After high school, Paulie would like to go to a school for musical theatre and acting.
“I also want to get certified with a trade so I will have steady income; I’m still thinking on what trade I want to do!.” he explained.
“But my end game, my dream, is to be in musicals on Broadway and to be in the movies.”
“No dream is too big. My parents always tell me to love what you do, and do what you love, but just make sure you can support yourself.”
“My saying is, life is an adventure not a package tour.”
Morgan points out his parents, Leon and Annie, are his biggest fans “and support my dreams … I love them so much.”
He also points to another couple of supporters, grandmas Diane Meyer and Judi Kruger.
And not to be forgotten, certainly, is younger brother Frank. “He’s 15 and my best friend,” Paulie said.
“Frank does a lot of musicals as well and is in show choir; he is so good. We make little short films at home and they are pretty funny. We both love to sing and we love to make people laugh.”
Paulie is a big fan of movies and loves the horror films. So what could be better than working at Monster Pizza in Decatur?
“The bosses and my co-workers are great, and we have the best pizza – so it’s a perfect fit for me,” says the young guy living the dream.
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