Sometimes, at Stuart, boys are brought in from other schools to participate in the musical. This year, Mamma Mia! welcomes three boys from three different schools to the cast. Playing the role of Sam Charmichael is Nick Callan (Princeton Learning Cooperative Class of ’23); playing the role of Bill Anderson is Michael Arnwine (Princeton Day School Class of ’24); and playing the role of Sky Rymand is Ryan Lagay (Hun School Class of ’24). Phoenix Feldman sat down with Nick, Bill, and Sky to talk about their experiences.

Phoenix: How long have you been doing theater at Stuart?

Michael: I’ve been doing musicals at Stuart since I was in Oliver! in the 6th grade. 

Ryan: I started in the Middle School Performing Arts Camp in the summer of 6th grade in Cinderella.

Nick: My first official Stuart play was last year, but I’ve been doing plays in Cor Unum since 2nd grade!

Phoenix: What roles have you played at Stuart?

Michael: I was Dr. Grimwig and Chorus in Oliver!, Lord Crumptious and Chorus in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Lucinda in Into the Woods, Monsignor O’Hara in Sister Act, and Bill Austin in Mamma Mia!

Ryan: I’ve been Prince Charming, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Sweaty Eddie in Sister Act, and Sky Rymand in Mamma Mia!

Nick: At Stuart, I’ve been Young Simba in The Lion King, Robin Hood in Robin Hood, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, a Warbler in Pippin, Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls, the orphanage director in Oliver!, and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. For Stuart, I’ve been Curtis in Sister Act and Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!

Phoenix: What is your favorite role that you’ve played?

Michael: My favorite role was my time as Dr. Grimwig in Oliver!, as I made so many great memories, though my time as Bill Austin in Mamma Mia! comes as a close second. 

Ryan: My favorite role was either Sweaty Eddie in Sister Act or Sky Rymand in Mamma Mia!

Nick: My favorite role was Feste in Twelfth Night. 

Phoenix: What is your favorite show that you’ve been in?

Michael: My favorite show is either Oliver! or Mamma Mia!; the former was really nostalgic, while I love the music in the latter. 

Ryan: My favorite show that I’ve been in is Into the Woods where I played Rapunzel’s Prince. 

Nick:  I was at Blair freshman year, and we had just completed casting for the spring play – I was Feste in Twelfth Night – when Covid hit. It was the strangest theater experience I’ve ever had, but it also kept me sane in the early days of the pandemic. Every day after “school,” we got together and read the play in character. For our “show,” we hosted a live reading with funny props and live music – courtesy of the actors who also played instruments. It was hilariously bad and that was sort of the point.