Sharon Noah Parets lands big role in ‘Oliver’
By Wei-Huan Chen
wchen@wickedlocal.com
SHARON - Noah Parets started dancing when he was 7.
Since then, he’s sung at Fenway Park, been featured on NPR and has taken home multiple titles at the American Dance Awards Nationals. Audiences across the country got to know him from his title role on Broadway’s "Billy Elliot: The Musical."
Now 14-year-old Sharon High School freshman has landed another major role - as the Artful Dodger in Providence-based Trinity Repertory Theatre’s production of "Oliver!" directed by Academy Award nominated actor Richard Jenkins.
The show opened Feb. 20 and runs to March 30 at Trinity Rep’s Chace Theater. Tickets are on sale now at
www.trinityrep.com, by calling 401-351-4242.
Just months after returning from New York City, where he starred in an original operetta set in 1930s Germany called "The Dark I Know," Parets has been busy balancing school and dance, driving to Providence almost every day for rehearsals.
This production isn’t the one everyone is used to, said Parets.
"[Jenkins] really knew what he wanted to do—a down-to-earth, gritty version of ‘Oliver!’ It’s not all about the glamour, but more about the message," said Parets.
Parets said he was picked for the role of Artful Dodger because of his dance background. The Dodger is a pickpocket, known for his wit and cunning.
Seeing the 1968 film version of the musical was just scratching the surface of understanding this character. With the help of Jenkins, Parets has worked hard to delve deep into his character, "trying to create my own Artful Dodger," he said.
"He’s a confident, yet mischievous teenager who’s very survival-based," said Parets.
Parets said he doesn’t exactly relate to the hardscrabble lives depicted in "Oliver!" But that’s just as well, because he has loving parents who have supported his dancing career since day one.
He believes dancing for boys is becoming more socially acceptable.
"Not a lot of boys do it, but it’s becoming more accepted. I just seem to see more and more boys that are dancers and it’s really amazing," said Parets.
But there are challenges to being a kid star. Parets wakes up every morning at 7 a.m. and is in school and rehearsals until 8:30 p.m., when he finally has a chance to do homework. Things get even more hectic during weeks with performances, which sometimes take place on weekday afternoons.
"Balancing everything, it’s pretty tough. We have matinees during week, so I’m missing a lot of school," he said. "All my teachers know, and make slight exceptions and give me extensions on projects. I’m really into putting the effort toward making up for missed work."
The musical part of his life has its own set of hurdles as well. As Parets gets older, he’ll inevitably grow taller and his voice will drop, making him unsuitable for the majority of kid roles in musicals.
"After that, they usually just find adults," he said. "I approach it with an open mind. It’s really about what they’re looking for. You just might not be right for the show, you just don’t have to right look or size. It’s about being in the right place at the right time."
That’s not going to affect his passion for dancing, singing and acting on stage.
"You never know," said Parets. "As you get older, it’s harder to find opportunities. I would love to be an actor and to be on stage. I just really love what I do."
