CRESTVIEW — The lead actor in Northwest Florida State College’s summer musical didn’t intend to go into theatre. It just happened.
Crestview resident Shelby Steverson, who graduated from Troy University in May, planned to pursue a degree in music education when he joined its famous marching band.
The 2011 Crestview High alumnus took his experience from years in band and chorus and proudly donned the Sound of the South uniform.
A college musical ironically called “Band Geeks” changed all that. But the lure of the stage actually started his senior year at Crestview High.
‘A BIG STINK’
Call it peer pressure or whatever, Steverson auditioned for and was cast in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” the CHS drama program’s spring musical.
Fellow cast members urged him to try out for “Big River” that summer at Northwest Florida State.
At Troy, despite his determined concentration on playing in the band, the stage continued to tempt him.
“Just for funsies I decided to do one more musical at college,” Steverson said. “That caused a major scheduling problem with the music department and it caused a big stink.
“I left music and just ran to the theatre department and it just worked out for me.”
PSEUDOLUS
With a bachelor’s of science and communication arts degree with an emphasis on theatre, Steverson returned to Crestview.
Looking for a performance opportunity, he tried out for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at the Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center. And landed the lead of Pseudolus, one of classic Broadway’s most famous characters.
Making it his own was no stretch for Steverson, despite following the example of renowned actors including Zero Mostel, who originated Pseudolus in 1962 and in the 1966 film, Phil Silvers, Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg.
“I see who did it before me and I take their good stuff and then I try to throw my own thing in there,” Steverson said. “That’s really scientific, I know,” he added, laughing.
FUTURE PLANS
When the show completes its July 13-16 run, Steverson will return to his alma mater.
“After ‘Forum’ I’m going to go back to Troy to teach for a few weeks at a theatre camp called Summer Spotlight,” he said.
Then he plans to seek a job, save money and send headshots and résumés around the country, hoping to audition in “major cattle-calls,” he said.
“I want to move somewhere to be closer to auditions, but I don’t know where that is yet,” Steverson said.
But first his Pseudolus will lead, as Stephen Sondheim’s opening number goes, “Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: A comedy tonight!”
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CRESTVIEW’S ‘FORUM’ CAST
With lead actor Shelby Steverson, several other significant roles in Northwest Florida State College’s production of “A Funny Thing happened on the Way to the Forum” are also played by Crestview actors.
Erronius: A befuddled elderly neighbor, Nick Trolian
Miles Gloriosus: A pompous Roman soldier, Wesley Barlow
Tintinabila: A voluptuous courtesan, Eli Rogers
WANT TO GO?
What: Northwest Florida State College Division of Humanities, Fine and performing Arts production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
When: 7:30 p.m. July 13-16
Where: Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center, NWFSC Niceville main campus
Tickets: $25 each; youths 18 and younger, $20; NWFSC students get one free ticket with ID
With lead actor Shelby Steverson, several other significant roles in Northwest Florida State College’s production of “A Funny Thing happened on the Way to the Forum” are also played by Crestview actors.
Erronius: A befuddled elderly neighbor, Nick Trolian
Miles Gloriosus: A pompous Roman soldier, Wesley Barlow
Tintinabila: A voluptuous courtesan, Eli Rogers
WANT TO GO?
What: Northwest Florida State College Division of Humanities, Fine and performing Arts production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
When: 7:30 p.m. July 13-16
Where: Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center, NWFSC Niceville main campus
Tickets: $25 each; youths 18 and younger, $20; NWFSC students get one free ticket with ID
CRESTVIEW'S 'FORUM' CAST
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A funny thing happened: CHS band, chorus, drama alum lands musical's lead role