Commencement is just around the corner and senior Kyle Wheeler (aka K-MAN) will be the first to graduate with a BA in Musical Theater, one of the newest majors to be introduced to the JSC curriculum.
“Aw, man. I was shocked when I heard it,” Wheeler says. “I mean, I had a little bit of an inkling because the program is so new, but when I heard word from Russ [Longtin] that I was going to be the first one to get it, I was like, ‘Are you nuts? Is it really me?’ It’s like… wow.”
Although Wheeler feels he possesses a “big personality and a big heart,” acting hasn’t always been part of his plan.
“It took time to realize. During the first course of my life, I was nothing but a game show addict, watching lots of TV and game shows,” Wheeler says. “But the first [theatrical] show I ever saw, ‘Once Upon a Mattress’—I think I was a sophomore in high school—I was watching it up onstage, and I was like, ‘Wow. That’s really intense up there. I wonder what it’d be like to do that.’ And then Les Misérables came around and I said, ‘I’m going to give this a shot. Why not?’”
So Wheeler did just that. He auditioned, and although he was a novice, he got cast as part of the show. But stepping onstage for the first time was a nerve-racking experience.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God! I don’t want to mess up the first line!’ It was scary.” Pausing for a moment, he smiles: “Here’s a little inside scoop. The scariest moment I remember from that was from one of the shows during the run. I was supposed to step up to the barricade, sing my line, and—I swear to God, it’s on the tape—you look at me, and I step up and I was going, ‘Wooooaaahhhh!’” He waves his arms wildly in the air, as if losing his balance, and continues. “Thank God I did not fall! I got that line out. I didn’t even have a mic and I could hear myself perfectly.”
Despite the anxiety of just starting out, acting has since become almost as essential as sleeping and breathing to Wheeler, who says that “being able to perform onstage in front of lots of people” makes him feel “alive.”
For Wheeler, the theater is all about passion. “It’s like a musical orgasm, so to speak… if you think of it that way,” he says. “It gives you so much joy. So much passion. You see somebody up on stage, you’re like, ‘That guy’s really passionate about what he does,’ and that’s what I like doing.”
Wheeler has worked hard for it. All theater degrees are demanding, and the musical theater degree is no different. Geared toward preparing students to compete in the musical theater market, the major requires 55 credits of combined theater, music and dance courses, an internship, and onstage participation in Dibden performances in addition to the mandatory General Education courses completed by all students.
Since arriving in fall ‘03, Wheeler has been part of three shows to grace the Dibden stage. He performed in “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and recently participated in his senior project, “Dirty Little Secrets,” a compilation of musical numbers performed by students on Monday, April 28. Also, Wheeler performed in “How to Succeed in Business” at the Hyde Park Opera House in the summer of 2007.
His favorite show that he’s participated in, however, was “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Barre Players in April, 2006.
“I wore a bra, and I was sober,” he says, laughing. “[It was my favorite because] there were a lot of open people and it gave me freedom to play around with things.”
In the five years he has spent at JSC, Wheeler’s favorite aspect has been the performance-based courses while his biggest challenge has been “just trying to pass every class.”
But throughout his college career, if there’s anyone who’s kept him motivated when times were tough, it’s been his father.
“He’s definitely a big motivator in my life,” Wheeler says. “He’s come to every one of my performances, and every single time he says, ‘Son, no matter what you do, I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you.’” He pauses before continuing. “That’s better than any of the money in the world to me, to have my father’s approval.”
But undoubtedly, for Wheeler, the most difficult part of this whole experience will be letting go.
“I’m going to miss everybody. But it just hasn’t quite hit me yet. I mean, my whole college career’s going to be over in two weeks,” he says. “It’s strange to say it, but sometimes I don’t want to leave. But I know I’ve got to make my mark out there … and I just wanted to say thank you to everybody who believed in me and never gave up on me.”
Regardless of the bitter sweetness of commencement approaching and the eventual moment when he will leave JSC behind, Wheeler has a lot to take from his collegiate experience.
“Five years of good memories. I take that back. Five years of great memories,” he says, smiling. “Good friends and the satisfaction of knowing that I did it. I got my degree. Just to know that I’ve made history. I never saw that coming. It’s a nice feeling to have, but even the bigger satisfaction is that I did it. I did it.”