Whiz Kid: Owen Mannion

This Whiz Kid is seventh grader Owen Mannion, who is performing his way to the top at Media Theatre.

Name: Owen Mannion

Age: 12

School:

Accomplishment: Owen, of Broomall, is a busy actor on stage. He currently performs as Russ in which plays through Nov. 5. Immediately following that production, he will play the role of Kurt in The Sound of Music. The musical opens on Nov. 22. Several other productions he's been a part of include Narnia, Emperor’s New Clothes, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. and the Broadway Series productions The Wizard of Oz, Jekyll and Hyde, The Who’s Tommy, and  

Key to Awesomeness: Owen plays Rapunzel's father in Rapunzel: Here and Now and enjoys playing the role.

"I love it actually," shares Owen. "The direction I was given for it–it was right on. It shows my acting skills are overdramatic and it's a comedy. My favorite performance is the family trio song, 'It's going to be better.'"

Though he's in the midst of performances with Rapunzel: Here and Now, Owen is already excited to start rehearsing for The Sound of Music.

"The first time I watched it was when I was 5 with my grandmother," recalls Owen. "I liked it a lot. I'm already familiar with the songs after watching the musical."

It started about three years ago when he started performing song cantors. "I just loved it after that," he says. But his passion to perform may have ignited after watching Little Shop of Horrors with his dad.

"My dad showed me that and I begged my parents to see it Off-Broadway in Philadelphia," says Owen. "I was about 6. I was just passionate about it and I knew I wanted to be on stage when I was younger."

Though he still hasn't seen a Broadway show yet–his current 'must-see' musical is The Book of Mormon–Owen is not only hoping to catch a show someday but perform on the big stage one day.

"Of course I want to see a Broadway show but I also want to be on Broadway," shares Owen. "I'll do whatever it takes. When I'm on stage, I get this excitement and feel energetic, and just want to start as soon as I can."

And Owen's already proving that he's dedicated to pursue his dream. If he isn't rehearsing three days out of the week, the other days he's practicing with the middle school marching band as a drummer and everyday he's practicing piano, a new instrument he just picked up.

"I started playing piano about a year ago. I could play by ear so I wanted to learn how to read notes," says Owen. "I had a passion for it and I wanted to pursue it."

Though he doesn't get much stage fright, Owen admits he always has a fear that he may "mess up" on stage during a performance but takes his director's advice: "don't try to think about the words when you're trying to sing, that's only going to mess you up more."

Owen credits his parents for helping him strive for his dream and looks up to Gary Beach, the original actor who played Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. So far, one of his favorite musicals he's been in is Rent because "it's the most modern and because it has rock and everything."

But before Broadway, Owen hopes to join the musical once he enters high school. "I just love it so much."

Editor's note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select them as the Patch Whiz Kid.