Max Schragger, of Lawrence, is set to play the role of Tom of Warwick in Camelot May 3, 2015.
By Jacquelyn Pillsbury
Earlier this year, 2nd grader Max Schragger submitted a video audition for the role of Tom of Warwick in the May 3, 2015 State Theatre production of the 2014/2015 national tour of Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot, and promptly forgot all about it.
As his mother, Elissa Grodd Schragger, explained “Baseball season started, soccer season started, then Passover.”
In other words: life happened.
“I told him it was great you are doing this (auditioning for Camelot), but the reality is there are a lot of kids who want to do this,” Schragger said. “We saw Matilda this year (on Broadway) and said it is kids like this who audition (and get the parts).”
Yet, in mid-April, the Schragger family learned that Max had, in fact, been chosen to play the role.
“I was surprised because I didn’t think I’d get it, and kind of happy,” Max said.
The family had first learned about the audition through an email blast from the State Theatre in New Brunswick. The theater was looking for a boys to audition who were between the ages of 8–12 and shorter than five feet tall; Max, 8, is four feet tall.
“I said ‘Max, look at this’ and he said he’d do it,” Schragger said. “I downloaded the information and followed the instructions.”
For the audition video, Max was to recite the lines from his 5-minute scene. He has been reviewing his lines with family friend April Yvette Thompson, a former classmate of Schragger and professional actress working in New York City.
Max’s experience with Camelot will be a whirlwind of activity, all taking place on May 3.
“There is one rehearsal, in and out in one day because it is a national tour. He will be fitted with his costume, and practice his scene with (King) Arthur,” Schragger said.
Camelot is currently on a national tour. On Friday, May 1, they will be performing in the Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a different boy playing Tom of Warwick before loading up the trucks, and moving the cast and crew to New Brunswick for Sunday’s performance. A few days later, on Thursday, May 7, they repeat the process in Bangor, Maine at the Cross Insurance Center.
Schragger said they use local talent for the role of Tom of Warwick. “This excites the community because there is ownership of the show.”
It’s the first production Max will perform outside of Lawrenceville Elementary School, where he is a student.
Schragger fondly recalls when Max was in kindergarten, Rebecca Young, his music teacher, was retiring. A few months earlier he received a guitar as a Hanukkah present and started to take lessons.
“At his Kindergarten concert he wrote, performed, and sang a song using 3-4 chords called ‘Good-bye Mrs. Young,’” Schragger said. “He played a chord and sang a line. It was a surprise for her.”
When he’s not singing or auditioning, Max enjoys playing Minecraft, baseball, soccer and guitar. In March, he shaved his head as a member of LES teacher Jeffrey Berry’s team for St. Baldrick’s Foundation event held at Amalfi’s Restaurant. In the three years Max has been on the team, he has raised over $4,300 for childhood cancer. He also dyed his hair a bright color in anticipation of the shaving.
Max will have a lot of support at his professional stage debut. His almost 10-year old sister, Haley, is interested in music and athletics as well. She will be seeing her brother perform, along with their parents, grandparents, uncle, aunt, cousins, his babysitter, and maybe his teacher. His cousins act in Hopewell schools and community. Mrs. Schragger adds “The show seems to be selling out, which is great for the State Theatre.”
She was grateful the theater blocked out seats for the family as they only learned in mid-April that he was cast in the play. By that point, there were not many seats available. As of press time, limited seats are still available.
Lerner and Loewe’s version of Camelot is a new take on the classic tale of King Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot. Tom of Warwick appears at the end of the musical, just as King Arthur has lost hope in his dreams. He is destined to become a knight. Though a young boy, he wants to fight for what is right, and give Arthur hope for the future. Mrs. Schragger adds “the show ends on a happy note after all the drama of the second act.” Her son’s role is that hope.
Camelot is the winner of four Tony Awards, three Academy Awards. It features a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and Music by Frederick Lowe and is based on the King Arthur legend adapted from the T.H. White novel The Once and Future King. This all-new production is directed by Michael McFadden and features Scenic Design by Kevin Depinet, Lighting Design by Mike Baldassari, and Sound Design by Craig Cassidy.
Broadway’s sweeping tale of passion, pageantry, and betrayal features Camelot’s classics “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood,” and the title song, “Camelot.”
For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at (732) 246-SHOW (7469), or go online to StateTheatreNJ.org.
The State Theatre ticket office is located at 15 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. Tickets start at $35. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
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