Young Bigfork actor takes the stage in 'High School Musical'

It's been a while since fans of the Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre have seen one of the theater's veteran performers, Casey Brown, who was known for his role as the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz and Harold Hill in the Music Man Jr.

Two years have passed since the 17-year-old junior graced the Bigfork stage, but that doesn't mean he's left the spotlight completely. Although he said that the BPCT had a profound impact on his life and inspired his passion for theatre, Brown has spent those last two years with the Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish.

In fact, Brown is set to hit the stage again on Sunday, when he will perform as Ryan in a lead role in ATP's production of the Disney hit, "High School Musical." Brown will perform for three consecutive nights, April 19-21, at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday and 7-8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Brown will join 40 other young Flathead thespians — students from every major high school in the Valley — in forming the cast of High School Musical, as part of ATP's after-school education and outreach program.

"We wanted, especially with a show of this size, to showcase talent from the entire Valley," co-director Luke Walrath said.

And, although a lot of talent has auditioned for Alpine Theater Project productions over the years, some — like Brown — have taken their involvement in the theatre to another level.

"I've worked with Casey off and on for about two years, now," Walrath said. "Casey is one of these students who is 17 going on 40. His maturity is wildly beyond what his age is, and so is his work ethic. That's why we keep coming back to Casey again and again.

"It's very rare to find a high school student with the kind of focus that he has. He's the first to show up and the last to leave. He does his homework, and he always does everything that we ask of him. He's the kind of kid that every director wants to have in their production."

However, Brown's contribution to the Alpine Theatre Project can be seen in more than just his work ethic. The best part, Walrath says, is that with Brown you get the work ethic and the talent in one brilliant package.

"He's a great actor," Walrath said. "He's very, very confident on stage. He has no fear once he gets out there. He'll try anything, and if it doesn't work, he'll try something else. That's what we look for when we're doing the casting. It's the passion and the commitment that we want, and Casey has that. He understands how much it takes to actually put a production on."

Brown got to know ATP director Betsy Morrison several years ago, when they worked together at the Bigfork Playhouse as part of the children's theatre. So in 2007, when he was looking to expand into another theatre company, it seemed appropriate to work with Morrison again as part of the Alpine Theatre Project.

Brown first performed with ATP for The Sound of Music, in 2006. He was able to work as assistant stage manager in that first year and then as an acting intern in 2007.

"It's been amazing," Brown said of the experience. "ATP is a wonderful theater company. They are so professional. It's been one of best experiences of my life, so far. I've gotten to work with David Ackroyd, and I got to be Olympia Dukakis' assistant, when she was here. Getting to work with Olympia and watch her perform was absolutely amazing. It was really amazing to get to work with that caliber of performer in Whitefish. I definitely learned a lot."

Brown said he's looking forward to being on stage for "High School Musical" but described it as completely differently from the kinds of productions he is usually involved in.

"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "It's a lot more fun than what I usually do. There's a lot of singing and dancing, so it's been challenging and a lot of work, but it has definitely been fun."

Brown recalled his days with BPCT with fondness. He was in third grade when he first became involved with the theatre, in 2001, and he become so enamored with it that he continued to do three or four shows each year until 2007, when he transferred to Flathead High School.

"I would not be where I am without BPCT," Brown said. "I wouldn't have found what I love and what I do if it hadn't been for the BPCT. It teaches you so much more than theater. It teaches life skills. Brach teaches you so much professionalism. Brach Thomson taught me everything that I know, thus far, as far as the theatre. That asset for the community of Bigfork is unparalleled, and it has by far been the most profound impact on my life as an actor. I consider myself lucky to have grown up in a town that offered that."

Brown said he misses performing on the Bigfork stage and, consequently, made plans to perform with the summer playhouse when school is out. Having recently been accepted into the resident honors program at the University of Southern California for acting, he plans on pursuing the vocation full time in the future.

"Without question, it is my greatest passion," he said. "I've been told if you can see yourself doing anything else do it, but I definitely can't."

For those who don't want to wait until this summer and would like to see Brown perform in High School Musical at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, tickets can be purchased online at www.alpinetheatreproject.org or by calling the ATP Box Office at 860-SHOW (7469). Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for students and $7 for children.

Brown will be joined on stage by another young Bigfork thespian, Brett Sward. Sward, who played basketball for Bigfork Middle School, will play the part of Zeke, a basketball player, in "High School Musical."