July 21--Matthew Uzarraga swims circles around his castmates in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater -- not just because he plays Flounder, not just because he's only 12 years old, but also because his costume requires him to wear wheeled sneakers, also known as Heelys. They attract the envy and admiration of young spectators as much as his deft delivery of a joke and dance moves do.
"Ms. Rachel (Rockwell, the director and choreographer of 'The Little Mermaid') thought that since I would be the youngest character in the story, I should move around faster -- like a kid runs around adults," Matthew says.
So Heely practice became part of his pre-rehearsal process -- in grocery store aisles, through the halls of his home and beyond. He hit a few walls before his mom consulted tutorials on YouTube.
"That's how I learned how to spin, slow down and stop," Matthew said.
Slowing down is not his preference. Here, he tells Just Kidding about the life of an actor growing up in the western suburbs and going to work on Chicago's nationally known stages. This is an edited transcript.
Q: Where do you go to school, and how did you start acting?
A: I am home schooling. It gives us the flexibility to go as fast as we want, get more done in a shorter amount of time. It also gives us the opportunity to keep my little brother safer. He has severe food allergies. That's why we started home schooling in the first place. Also, they didn't offer enrichment programs at my school for kids my age at that time. The acting stuff kind of just happened after we started home schooling.
Q: How did you hear about this production?
A: I have a great agency, Stewart Talent in Chicago. They contacted my mom about the audition. I'd never even watched the movie before, because it was from my mom's time. So she pulled out an old DVD she had and let me watch it. After I saw how funny the story was, I said, yes, I'd like to audition for the role of Flounder.
Q: How does your costume, specifically the mohawk, work?
A: The mohawk has four toupee clips that clip into my hair. And then we use hair spray and wig pins to blend the top of my hair into the mohawk so it looks like it's really part of my hair. They also keep my hair trimmed a certain way so it blends with the mohawk. I have to keep my hair in this style until the show ends in August. The fin on my back is really cool too! I like how it attaches to my back with suspenders. It looks so cool but is easy to put on and take off.
Q: Is it hard to remember your lines and perform those dance moves?
A: Each show I do has specific choreography that they create and teach us all. This is my seventh professional show. Each time I start a new show, it feels easier to learn the dances. And I'm getting faster at learning them. The dancing is my favorite part. When I did my very first show, I was 8, and I remember I had a hard time learning those dance moves. My mom had to help me at home. Nowadays, once I get the hang of something, it's easy. I don't need her help dancing anymore. LOL. Memorizing lines is easy for me.
Q: What other professional shows have you done?
A: I was in the children's chorus of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at Paramount Theatre in Aurora (fall 2011). Then (spring 2013), I was in "Oliver!" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook. That summer I was cast as Young Shrek/Baby Bear in "Shrek the Musical" here at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Then (that fall) I understudied my little brother (Zachary, age 10) in the role of Tam in "Miss Saigon" at Paramount. Then it was "Les Mis" (spring 2014) at Drury Lane. I played Gavroche. Then (fall and winter 2014), I played Prince Chulalongkorn in "The King and I" at Marriott Theatre. That was great because I got to work with my little brother again. Now I am here playing Flounder.
Q: Do you act/perform during the school year?
A: Yes, I act/perform during the school year, as much as work permits allow. The rehearsal hours are usually shorter for shows during the fall, winter and spring. We do school throughout the year because it works out better for us. Sometimes my spring break will be at a different time than everyone else. Summer break too. The flexibility makes it easier to get my work done and get rest.
Q: Are you doing any camps this summer, or do you have no time?
A: No. No camps. This is plenty of extracurricular activity for me. When I am not here or doing schoolwork, I just like to relax at home, go to the movies, play outside or play video games with my brother and friends.
Q: Does this earn you money, and do you get to choose where it goes?
A: Yes, I make a little money. Most of it goes in the bank. I get to pick something to buy once in a while. But I have to talk to my parents about it. Also, we pick a charitable cause to help. We usually pick something through ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency, operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church). Through them, I've donated money to buy goats, chickens and clean water for poor villages. I think I also donated for vaccinations for kids. We look through the website and pick projects to help. Last year my brother and I sponsored a vacation Bible school program for a church. My mom tries to teach us to save, give and not just spend. Other than that, we use some of my earnings to travel to NYC whenever I get auditions and callbacks there. That's always expensive. I pay for my own dance, tumbling and acting classes too, when I have time to take those.
Q: What's next for you?
A: We are excited to take a bit of a break this fall and winter. That's the plan. If something big and exciting comes up, who knows. For now, our plan is to go back to dance, acting and tumbling classes, and see what happens. But I am hoping my brother and I can audition for the upcoming production of "The King and I" at Lyric Opera. That would be pretty awesome.
Q: What do you want to do when you grow up?
A: Sometimes I change my mind. But right now I think I want to keep performing. I'd love to book some television and movie roles. More commercials too. I think if I don't do this, I'd like to work with computers, designing apps or games. My brother and I have been learning how to code. And this fall we are taking courses in 3-D game design and app design. That would be cool to do!
The Little Mermaid runs through Aug. 16 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. Running time: 1 hour, 20 minutes. Tickets: $34 ($22 for children) at 312-595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.
