August 6, 2007

Redlands native makes a quick leap to Broadway
DARCIE FLANSBURG, Staff Writer

Noah Rivera started performing in theatrical productions around the Inland Empire as a child. Now, at 24 years old, he is performing in "Wicked" on Broadway.

Born in Pasadena, Rivera was introduced to theater by his mother, Boo Rivera, who said he was a bit of a ham as a child, making theater a natural fit.

"If nothing else, doing theater makes great audience members later," Boo said, not realizing that Noah would eventually make his hobby into a career.

Boo said Noah's first theater experience was "very spur of the moment."

Boo said she found an audition announcement for "Oliver!" at the Fontana Mummers only hours before the call.

"I thought it was a great opportunity," she said, noting that Noah really enjoyed watching the movie as a child.

Two hours before the audition Boo and Noah ran down to the video store to rent the movie again, watching and re-watching the "Consider Yourself" song for preparation.

Noah made it into the ensemble of the production and hasn't stopped doing theater since.

Home-schooled as a child, he attended Arrowhead Christian Academy for middle and high school, after Boo took a job at the school. Boo introduced musical theater to the school and Noah performed in every production offered, acting in Junior University's summer musicals while not performing in school.

He then went to California State University, Fullerton, for his bachelor of fine arts degree in theater, but attended the school for only three years before taking a position as a swing in "Hairspray" in Las Vegas, which established him as an equity actor, part of a labor union representing American actors.

As a swing, he covered seven different roles for the production, prepared to step in as an at any moment.

The production lasted only from February to May in 2006, according to Boo. Noah, however, quickly picked up another equity role in "Wicked" on Broadway in New York, days after "Hairspray" ended. He has been performing in "Wicked" since July 5, 2006, an a member of the ensemble, the understudy for the role of Boq and the Tin Man double.

"We're still sold out every night. And we still get a standing ovation every single night," he said. "We are fortunate to be in a stable show. Since I've been here, I have seen shows open and close."

He said he doesn't know how long he will be performing in "Wicked," auditioning for various other shows when he can.

He was recently called back for a major production of "Jersey Boys" as Frankie Valli, but was told he was a bit too young.

Boo said Noah is resilient, recognizing that in this profession there are a lot of letdowns.

For the future, he doesn't have any particular roles he wishes to play as long as he can perform.

"I love playing different characters," he said. "Any role that I can get my hands on I'll be happy with."

Noah also acknowledges the difficulty of performing roles that are not quite as natural for him.

"If I don't really feel connected to the character, it would be hard to stay with it for a long time," he said.

When Noah isn't singing, dancing or performing, he is usually hanging out with friends, playing in the playoffs with the "Wicked" softball team, looking for auditions or polishing up on his talent with dance classes and singing lessons.

He said he probably wouldn't have pushed himself as much if hadn't been for his mother.

"She's the one who asked me if I wanted to start (doing theater) to begin with," he said. "And it got to the point where it seemed like I wasn't going to do anything else."

Boo said Noah has really pushed himself to be a well-rounded actor in his later years. While at Cal State Fullerton, he took any class that he thought would help with his career. From tumbling and fencing classes to acting and singing classes, he was determined.

And his determination and good spirit has taken him far. Boo said Noah has told her about colleagues he has met who took 10 years to get onto Broadway, while it took him only one shot.

"He's constantly trying to improve himself," Boo said. "I think he's very talented."