Rutland boy has stars in his eyes – and voice
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Taylor Ampatiellos, a 12-year-old Rutland Middle School student, will perform the title role in selections fro Rachel Portman's "The Little Prince," to be presented this weekend by Opera Theatre of Weston. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Toolbox
By Jim Lowe Staff Writer - Published: August 14, 2009
Taylor Ampatiellos knows well what he wants to do when he "grows up." The 12-year-old Rutland Middle School student wants to be singing on stage.
"I would want to be either a Broadway actor or possibly a movie actor – and, if not, maybe a professional singer – and if none of that works, a scientist," Ampatiellos said. "It just depends on how it goes."
And he's off to a great start, already appearing regularly in professional theater. Last year, the boy soprano played Gavroche in the Weston Playhouse production of "Les Miserables," and was cast as Willie in the Hallmark Channel's holiday movie, "Moonlight and Mistletoe." That is in addition to many community and school theater performances.
This weekend, local audiences will have the opportunity to see and hear Ampatiellos in the starring role of "The Little Prince," when Opera Theatre of Weston presents selections of the children's opera as a preview for its full production in January 2010. Performances of these selections are on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 2 p.m., at the Londonderry Congregational Church, and Sunday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m., at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland.
"The Little Prince," Rachel Portman's opera based on the Antoine de Saint-Exupery children's classic, tells of a little boy from another planet traveling the universe to find a means to save his home planet and his beloved Rose. A pilot whose plane has just crash-landed meets the little prince and the two share a journey to learn the secrets of life that will help him save his planet. Although this is a children's story, there is the real menace, darkness and death that make up real life.
"He has a rose that he loves very much," Ampatiellos said of his character. "The rose tells him that if you want to treat me well, go to other planets to find the secrets of life and come back when you're ready."
The Little Prince visits the planets of a King, a Vain Man, a Drunkard, a Business Man and a Lamplighter, among others
"He thinks that grownups are sort of odd and strange," Ampatiellos said. "Finally, he gets to earth and meets this pilot. They sort of bond and he tells his story to the pilot."
Ampatiellos, who will enter the eighth grade in the fall, has been singing as long as he can remember.
"I would just listen to songs on the radio and start humming them," he said.
Ampatiellos was so keen on singing that his mother signed him up for voice lessons when he was 8 with Rip Jackson, music minister at Rutland's Grace Congregational Church.
"It's a fun way to express yourself," Ampatiellos said. "It's fun going through different songs, different points of view – and acting the part. And it's just a great thing to have under your belt."
Particularly if you want a career doing it, which Ampatiellos does.
The only real difficulty for Ampatiellos is the hours and hours of practicing, "because you have to practice the same song over and over until you get it right," he said. "Some songs are more difficult than others."
Ampatiellos' stage choice is – without hesitation – Broadway.
"Definitely Broadway," he said. "I like opera too. I like any kind of singing. But, if I was choosing my career, and what songs I would sing for the rest of my life, probably Broadway."
Ampatiellos also performs classical music at church, and is sometimes hired for funerals.
As a soprano, the next big change will be when his voice changes – and that will nark a big change in the roles he can play.
"My voice teacher says that since I'm a vegetarian, it's possible I will change later," Ampatiellos said. "I'm a little worried, because the real performance is way in January – and that's a while."
Ampatiellos likes working with professionals because he now feels that he is one of them.
"They're more experienced," he said. "Sometimes you can almost relate to them better. During school plays, I'm one of the only ones with theater experience, so it's harder relate with them than people that are just like you."
Still, Ampatiellos has his cronies, peers that he can relate to from the Rutland Youth Theatre.
"It's a group that sticks together. You know you'll see them in another play," he said, adding, "Theater people have a better sense of humor."