He’s stuck in the lamest place in the world! Appleton, Indiana! And what’s worse? His Bar Mitzvah is upon him, his parents just got divorced, he’s the new kid at a new school, AND he’s about to turn 13! In the final installment of “A Little More Homework”, the TheatreBloom exclusive interview series that sat down with the cast of Third Wall Productions’ 13: The Musical, we chat with Pierce Elliott about playing Evan.
Thanks for sitting down with us, Pierce, if you’d like to introduce yourself, we’ll get started!
Pierce Elliott: Okay, so I am Pierce Elliot. I am in 7th grade, I go to Cockeysville Middle School, and I play Evan Goldman. I’m almost 13.
Have you ever performed in theatre before?
Pierce: Yes. I have done a bunch of theatre camps and stuff. I did Wizard of Oz, Shrek, Music Man, and Seussical with Charm City Players. I’ve done a lot of ensemble. This is my first leading role. I’m excited!
What’s your favorite part about playing a lead role?
Pierce: When I was in the ensemble everyone had to do the same thing. Now that I’m doing a role I get to do all sorts of different things. I get to sit up on someone’s shoulders in this show. I love having solos and stuff.
How are you and Evan similar and how are you and he different?
Pierce: So we both want to be popular and have a bunch of friends. We both moved to new schools. We both have very similar personalities. But I would go about some of the stuff he does very differently. Maybe I would end up not getting punched in the nose the way he does. Oh and Evan is having his Bar Mitzvah because he’s Jewish. I am not Jewish. I am atheist.
That’s got to be pretty scary, getting stage-punched in the nose.
Pierce: I’m not too nervous about that. I have to kiss somebody. That’s what I’m nervous about. I’ve never kissed anybody before!
Do you think it’s important to be popular?
Pierce: No. I don’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be popular. If there’s a social class system, I’m probably in the middle. I have friends but I’m not a “popular” kid.
What’s your favorite subject at school?
Pierce: Language Arts. I like reading and writing. I actually like all the subjects as long as they aren’t math. I do not like math.
This show talks about bullying. How do you feel about bullying?
Pierce: I feel like there are two different kinds of bullying. There’s the kind that’s mean-spirited and then there’s teasing. I think the mean-spirited bullying is definitely wrong and no one should do that. But the teasing, I mean I tease people all the time and I get teased. We do that to have fun. So that’s okay, but not the other kind.
What is the biggest challenge for you being in this show?
Pierce: I think some of the topics are a little different than shows I’ve done before. It’s just different overall from shows I’ve done before. And it’s really fun.
What’s your favorite song?
Pierce: “All Hail the Brain” and “Terminal Illness.” They’re awesome songs.
What’s your favorite part in the show?
Pierce: Favorite moment? Favorite part? Definitely not where I have to kiss— well I don’t want to say— it’s a surprise at the end. But that’s not my favorite part. I really like the moment when I first meet Archie. That’s really fun.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Pierce: I want to be an actor and stuff but more realistically— actually, I don’t know. I wanted to be an architect but then I realized that would be a lot of math and I definitely don’t like math so I decided I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m not really sure. So an actor.
What’s the most difficult part about being a seventh grader?
Pierce: The homework! I’m in advanced classes so I have a lot more homework than everyone else. It’s tough. And then I come here and do this!
Do you have friends in your real life that are like Archie and Patrice?
Pierce: Not really? I have an Archie, I guess. No Patrice. I’m not running around trying to match people up and get people to go on dates with each the way Evan does.
What has being a part of this show taught you about yourself?
Pierce: I’ve learned that I’m a lot more confident. I used to be really nervous about singing in front of people but now I’m singing whole solo songs. I’ve also learned that I trust myself more, like my judgment and stuff. I’m more outgoing now too.
When you’re not in school or doing theatre, what do you like to do with your free time?
Pierce: I swim. I like to do nothing in my bed. I love to read. My favorite book is Harry Potter. I’m super excited about Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them. Can’t wait for that movie to come out. I play tennis. I took a break from it though. But I like it.
What do you think people will learn from seeing this show?
Pierce: Like I said, that labels don’t really matter. Also to not really care what anyone thinks about you. That’s all Evan cares about. He wants to be popular and he wants people to like him, but Archie and Patrice? They don’t care what people think about them. They’re just them.
Why do you want people to come and see you in this musical?
Pierce: I feel like a bigger crowd will be amazing. It will provide so much more energy, which will be great for me so that I can really portray the message of the show— which is that labels don’t really matter. It’s fine if you’re a geek or a popular kid!
13: The Musical opens on May 13, 2016 and plays through May 22, 2016 with Third Wall Productions at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah— 5801 Hartford Road in Baltimore’s Hamilton neighborhood. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 443-838-4064 or purchasing them online.
To read Part 1 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Taylor Casalena, click here.
To read Part 2 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Jake Clark, click here.
To read Part 3 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Andi Rudai, click here.
To read Part 4 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Morgan Hewitt, click here.
To read Part 5 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Margaret Hamilton, click here.
To read Part 6 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Christopher Owens, click here.
To read Part 7 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Carly Victor, click here.
To read Part 8 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Ma’issa Wright-Kerr, click here.
To read Part 9 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Aidan Slowey, click here.
To read Part 10 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Maren Wright-Kerr, click here.
To read Part 11 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Anike Sonuga, click here.
To read Part 12 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Anastasia Johns, click here.
To read Part 13 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Jack Schwartz, click here.
To read Part 14 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Jaylen Fontaine, click here.
To read Part 15 of “A Little More Homework” featuring Grace Volpe, click here.
