East Brunswick Youth Spreads Acting Wings

What began as means to overcome shyness has helped propel an East Brunswick kid to a major stage show in New Jersey this month.

Seventh-grader Tyler Pelton recently was chosen from a huge pool of talent auditioning for the Paper Mill Playhouse's upcoming production of the play Oliver!, beginning Nov. 21. Tyler was selected out of a pool of over 200 kids for the stage show.

"I'm a workhouse boy, so we kind of eat disgusting food and it's something I'd never dreamed about," Tyler said. "I realize I'm so lucky when I think about what those kids had to go through and how they had to live. It's discomforting, but I try to put myself into the character and really have fun with it. It's been great so far and everybody is so nice."

The play, which stars David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the iconic 90's Fox Network sitcom Married...With Children, will be performed eight times a week. The hectic schedule is no concern for Tyler, who fell in love with acting while attending Mill Road Day Camp.

"I've been acting since I was around 6-years-old at camp where they had a center where I would act," he said. "I was very shy and acting helped me grow up and sprout out of my comfort zone to put me in a place where joy is. I love interacting with the audience and seeing them react when I did a good job. It leaves me with an astonishing, lasting impression."

Before he could join the cast of Oliver!, Tyler faced the daunting task of standing out from hundreds of other talented young actors during the audition process. Luckily, Tyler was asked to sing the song "Food, Glorious Food," a number that he had prepared for.

"I read online that not everyone would even get auditioned, so I was really nervous, and on top of that I had a cold so I was kind of down on myself," Tyler said. "I thought I was going to do bad, but I had a great outcome."

After receiving the call that he was chosen for the play, Tyler's mom had a little fun with her son as she first told him he didn't make the cut, before seconds later revealing he would, in fact, be hitting the big stage.

"At first I didn't want to express my disappointment, but when she told me I got picked I just went crazy running around the house," he said. "I went ballistic, I was so excited."

In addition to Garrison, the play also features several veterans of Broadway shows. The talent level of his co-stars leaves Tyler in good company to continue to develop as an actor, having previously starred locally in several productions.

"So far this play is the biggest thing I've every done," he said. "I always heard the plays at Paper Mill Playhouse were amazing from my neighbors, but whenever I looked for auditions there I'd always just miss them. But this year I saw them on time and luckily I got in."