Brownsville boy lands role in Pittsburgh Opera
There are some late nights in Christian Sesek’s future. Sesek of Brownsville has landed a part in the Pittsburgh Opera and UPMC sponsored production of “Billy Budd” at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh.
It stars Nathan Gunn as Billy Budd opposite Greer Grimsley as Claggart. The four presentations will take place at 2 p.m. May 6 at 2 p.m., 7 p.m. May 8 and 8 p.m. May 10 and 12.
Sesek is very excited about the prospect of appearing on the big stage in his first opera.
“I am a ‘powder monkey,'” he said. “I am a ship’s apprentice, a ‘go-fer’ on the ship. I am supposed to carry powder to the cannons.”
He is glad to have a speaking role.
“In the ‘shanty scene’ I have to go on stage and shout out words and scrub the deck with the adults,” he said. “And I have to act scared, we always have to act scared like someone is going to hit us with a whip.”
“Billy Budd” is a novella, penned by Herman Melville about 1886, but not published until it was found among Melville’s notes in 1924. ‘
“Billy Budd” is set aboard ship (H.M.S. Indomitable) in 1795. Captain Edward Fairfax Vere recalls the mutiny that occurred on the H.M.S. Nore years before. Sesek, an 11-year-old 5th grade honor student at St. Mary Nativity School in Uniontown, loves social studies and hopes to go to either Notre Dame or the University of Pittsburgh after high school graduation.
For him, this appearance is just one more step toward his dream.
“When he was 2 years old, he became extremely infatuated with the video of ‘Annie,'” said his mother, Stephanie Doloback-Sesek. “I think it was the one with Carol Burnett in it. … He wore out the tape.”
Christian Sesek’s dream involves the theater “lights of Broadway.”
“My goal is to play Daddy Warbucks on Broadway in (the remake of) ‘Annie,”‘ he said. “You know, I saw “Annie” when it came to Pittsburgh. And my mother said that someday we will visit New York City.”
Toward that end, the young Sesek is building a theatrical resume. Since he was 5 years old, he has appeared in productions all over the local area. He spent several years with Alabaster Productions, under the watchful eye of Mary McCormick. With the Alabaster troupe he toured locally in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” a fantasy children’s story written in 1950 by C.S. Lewis.
He has also been involved with Noreen Price Productions. He’s appeared in several Flatwoods Productions, including “Annie.”
His resume includes singing. He’s performed in chorus, duet and solos at dinner theaters, community days and other special events in both Fayette and Westmoreland counties. He’s earned first place in vocal competitions at both the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale and at the Herald-Standard Ampitheatre. He’s also appeared at numerous religious services and fund-raisers.
Sesek has been studying voice at the Cramer Studios in Uniontown. He has tried his hand at the drums, but decided that the piano was a better fit. He is also gaining direction at the Civic Light Opera Academy in Pittsburgh, studying acting, singing and dancing. That’s where he noted a casting call for “Billy Budd.”
“Well,” said Sesek, who loves playing basketball and soccer, “It is a lot of hard work and takes a lot of dedication. Sometimes it’s really hard to get up in the morning, but I can managed it.
“I think this is all such a good experience. … And for me it is really fun.”
For more information, contact the Pittsburgh Opera office at 801 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, call 412-289-0912, visit the Web site at www.pittsburghopera.org.