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Theater Scene

Andrew Stebbins and

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOUTH VALLEY SYMPHONY

P

intello Comedy Theater ( PCT ) has a zany , yet traditional musical opening this month . A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum is a tribute to the classic roman farces and features the music of Stephen Sondheim . It will also be featuring one of our local young actors , Andrew Stebbins . If that last name sounds a little familiar it is probably because you have seen his father Jayson on pretty much every stage between Gilroy and Morgan Hill . The bulk of Andrew ’ s performance history is based with South Valley Civic Theater ( SVCT ) in Morgan Hill and this will be his first time on a stage in Gilroy .
Andrew started in theater the way most kids do , in elementary school . The first play he was in was a little play called “ Lemonade !” starring as the Cat and the Fiddle for a first grade class at Oakwood Elementary in Morgan Hill . He did add that “ It wasn ’ t a choice to be in this play , mainly it was a required class , but I do remember it being fun .”
Not having many hobbies outside of video games and Legos growing up he was feeling a need to do something more constructive and social . “ What definitely helped was seeing my dad on stage . He was a major motivator in my decision to start acting . I wanted to do the same amazing things he did up on stage , so I went for it .” After making that decision he went to an audition for the 2012 production of The Wizard Of Oz and got cast as the Mayor of Munchkin Land . After that he decided that he really did enjoy the experience .
Since then Andrew has been in about twelve plays total spanning from first grade elementary school to last year in the production of “ Footloose The Musical ” for SVCT .
He did add that “ Technically I ’ ve been in thirteen if you count the one I ’ m in now , but the curtain hasn ’ t gone up on that one yet .” Andrew has also been part of the production staff for several of the plays at Gilroy High School over the last four years .
In 2015 he landed what he feels is the favorite of all of the roles he has played so far . He was cast as the lead in Shrek The Musical at SVCT . “ It was such a rare and unique opportunity for me to not only be the lead for the first time but also to do a bit of voice work through the accent the role required . It was my most challenging role to date but that adds to its memorability . That show also let me work with all of the wonderful people I ’ ve grown to know and be friends with through theater .”
“ Being on stage brings me away from all of the troubles that everyday life puts on me . Sure each play brings its own share of hardships , but with time they ’ re easier to swallow . It ’ s liberating to go out on stage and frankly act like a complete idiot at times . What makes it the most enjoyable , for me at least , is going out and just entertaining people . Knowing that
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2017 gmhtoday . com