When Big Voices, Big Confidence Count

Inside a cramped practice room, high school senior Nick Cirillo gives a pep talk to a shy freshman in baggy pants who is minutes away from auditioning for his first high school musical.

Who will roar the loudest -- Chris, Nick, Cody or Nate?

(clockwise from top left: Courtesy Chris Wildy, Courtesy Nick Cirillo, Courtesy Cody Jones, Courtesy Nate Peterson)
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The audition song, "I'm a Mean Ole Lion," is a showy tune for a larger-than-life character who hides cowardice behind a façade of bluster.

The freshman seems dwarfed by his task. His delivery is tuneless. He mumbles the lyrics without enthusiasm. Cirillo is working hard to transform this mouse into a roaring lion.

"Just get into it, and add a growl, otherwise I'll be very disappointed," he told the freshman. "Whether you can sing the song or not, they will remember you if you get into it. Just snap and be the lion. That's musical theater. You can make up for anything just by being into it. So have fun!"

The coaching has mixed results. Cirillo gets some snapping fingers and a hesitant hiss, but not the roaring lion performance he was hoping for.

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With a sigh and an encouraging smile, he hit the play button on the boombox again and implored, "Try it again!"

As a veteran of the Westfield High School theater department, Cirillo is mentoring a group of uncertain first-timers. The teens are all auditioning for the role of the Lion in Westfield High School's production of "The Wiz," a Tony-award winning black musical based on L. Frank Baum's classic, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Desire and Passion

"I started off when I was a freshman auditioning for shows and not getting the roles that I really wanted, but you just need to make a name for yourself," he said. "I've wanted to be an actor all my life. Now I'm in the position where I'm a legitimate contender for the roles. I don't really fear anything. I'm not driven by fear. I'm driven by desire-- desire to do theater with my life. Desire to do that. Just completely passionate about that."

Cirillo exudes confidence and leadership. He's so certain he'll be working on Broadway someday that his e-mail address is "broadwaykid." Today, he'll settle for the role of Lion.