Around Broadneck: Fourth grader lands role in Broadway musical's local stop

Tomorrow marks opening night for Gabriel Needle, a Windsor Farm Elementary School fourth-grader who plays one of the "sewer kids" in the musical "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

The musical opens tomorrow night for 16 performances at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center in Baltimore.

It runs in Baltimore through Jan. 18. Gabriel, known as Gabe, 9, plays his part during the second act.

The car in the story is a fantastic vehicle that can drive, fly and float. The Pottses, an eccentric, inventive family, rescues the car from a scrap yard. Throughout the story, the family encounters many adventures trying to protect it from the dastardly Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria, according to the Broadway Across America Web site at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Gabe portrays one member of a band of ruffians who hides from the Vulgarians by living underground in the sewers.

He wouldn't be in the show - or jumping in and out of sewers - if a cousin hadn't spotted a casting call in an e-mail she received two days before the audition.

"There was an audition for 92 kids on Nov. 9 at the Maryland Science Center," Gabe said. "I sang a song I performed during summer camp at the Musical Artists Theater at Chesapeake Arts Center."

"It's a perfect song for him," said Debbie, his mother, who is a nurse practitioner for Maryland Primary Care. "He sang 'I Can't Wait To Be King!' from 'The Lion King.'"

"I was nervous and excited," Gabe confessed.

It was Gabe's first foray into the professional theater world. "It was an all-day audition," Debbie said. "They wanted them to look like real children, ages 8 to 12 years. But, sure enough, there were big hair bows and makeup galore."

Gabe was taught a dance and got to sing his favorite song on a stage. A week later he received a phone call and e-mail giving him the good news that he'd gotten a part.

His mom scrambled to get a work permit for Gabe. She had to fax copies of the permit and various parental permission forms to the production office. "It's all been very exciting," she said.

Six children were chosen, plus two more learned they would be alternates in case one of the six is too ill to perform. Gabe credits two of his Windsor Farm teachers for preparing him for the show. John Campbell is his music instructor and Shavuan Hawkins doubles as his homeroom teacher and dance instructor. He also gave kudos to his mom; his dad Mark Needle, who works with Lienau AV Associates, Inc.; and big brother Adam, 11.

"Chitty Chitty" is a production of Big League Productions, Inc. The musical is based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli, producer of all the early James Bond movies.

For the show, Richard M. Sherman and his brother Robert B. Sherman, the original songwriters, added six new songs. In the United States, the musical arrived on Broadway in April 2005.

The touring version of the show opened November 15 in Fort Myers, Fla. During its run, which ends in early June, "Chitty Chitty" will land in 23 towns, including Baltimore. The next stop after Baltimore is Dayton, Ohio, followed by Huntsville, Ala., Boston and Chicago.

Kira Stockdale, part of the production staff, travels ahead of the show's local openings to cast talent in each town for the non-lead roles. She oversaw the audition Gabe attended and notified the lucky ones they had been selected.

Gabe received his script and music the new-fashioned way - as an e-mail attachment. He was told to memorize and practice the song "Teamwork!" that he'll perform.

His first time in rehearsal will be at noon tomorrow - a scant eight hours before the curtain rises. After his choreography and those of the other five local kids are blocked and their sound check is tested, they will be fitted for their costumes. At 5 p.m., they'll get a break for dinner.

By 9 p.m., an hour after the curtain has risen, they are due backstage again to get into their costumes for their appearance in the last scenes of the show.

The "sewer kids" parents will be standing by the backstage door waiting for their children to emerge after the curtain drops for the evening. Parents are not allowed backstage.

Katie Walters, 29, is a "child wrangler" who travels with "Chitty Chitty." She previously wrangled on a "Miss Saigon" tour.

"I contact the kids and parents that are hired and I coordinate the rehearsal prior to arriving in each venue. I don't travel ahead, I just set things up," Ms. Walters said in response to e-mailed questions. "The kids are my responsibility from the moment they are dropped off at the theater until they get picked up after the show. I am responsible for them getting to where they need to be when they need to be there safely. Safety - and making sure they are on track with their show - are my priorities."

Two of the leading characters, Jeremy and Jemima Potts, are children.

Two actors rotate as Jeremy and two young actresses as Jemima. Ms. Walters pointed out that those children are traveling with the show, accompanied by a tutor, to ensure they keep up with school work. The little bit of class time Gabe is missing will be remedied with projects provided by his homeroom teacher.

Ms. Walters said the local kids have costumes, which are tattered and torn, for their roles as "sewer kids."

"They look as if they've been living in an underground hiding place for a long time."

Gabe can't wait until tomorrow night.

For show times and ticket information, visit www.chittyontour.com or call the box office during business hours at 410-547-7328.

Wendi Winters is a freelance writer living on the Broadneck Peninsula. If you have a story idea or news to share, please e-mail her at Wendi@QuantumStep.com.