‘Amahl’ role a first for teen actor

If you had asked a 3-year-old Wyett Regester what he was going to be when he grew up, his reply would have been, “an opera-singing clown.”

Today, at age 13, Wyett offers an explanation for that early career plan with a shrug and a lopsided grin.

“Being a clown was a dream of mine for a long time, and then opera-singing was – I don’t know, I just picked it up somewhere and decided: opera-singing clown,” he said matter- of-factly.

As he turns to his mother, Joanna, for help with navigating the question, she laughs and explains Wyett has been singing since a young age and when the family played music at home his singing style was very – well, dramatic.

“It just kind of stuck,” she said.

While the desire to become an opera-singing clown may have faded over the last ten years, Wyett’s love of singing and acting has not. He has had the opportunity to perform in several musical roles including Ali Hakim in “Oklahoma Jr.,” Kurt in “The Sound of Music,” Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” Michael in “Peter Pan Jr.” and Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol.”

This weekend he will deliver another performance, bringing that early career goal full circle in some sense, as he performs in his first opera. Wyett will play the lead character of Amahl in the Garvin County Choral Society and Sinfonietta’s performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.”

Wyett, who lives in Bethany, auditioned and was cast for the part after representatives from the Garvin County organization reached out to his vocal teacher to ask if she knew of anyone who might be interested in playing Amahl.

He has spent the last couple of months in rehearsals, both with the local cast and with voice teachers who have helped him learn the part.

“The music is more challenging than I am used to, which I’ve definitely enjoyed,” he said, adding he has also enjoyed working with rest of cast.

“At the beginning, there were a few songs I had some challenges with,” Wyett said. “When I first started doing it, because it’s my first opera, the music was a bit hard for me to understand, but once you get into the rhythm it’s pretty easy to understand all the separate pieces.”

The performance is in English and is right at an hour in length, which Wyett said makes it a good choice for first-time audience members, as well as performers.

Originally written by Gian Carlo Menotti for television in 1951, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” tells the story of the night the Three Kings, following the star to Bethlehem, stop for shelter at the home of Amahl, a poor, crippled shepherd boy who lives with his widowed mother. The shepherds and villagers hold a feast, dancers provide entertainment, a theft occurs in the night… and a miracle happens.

“It’s a very beautiful story. It’s a story of forgiveness and acceptance,” Wyett said, adding there is plenty of fun to be had, too. “It’s a humorous and powerful story.”

Wyett said the production is only the second in which he has had the opportunity to perform with a small, live orchestra, something he has relished.

“It’s really fun to have a conductor and a director and all these talented musicians. There’s a lot of talent in this show,” Wyett said. “So, it’s fun to be a part of that.”

The production also features local actors Melody Baggech, Jay Carlton, Alan Marshall, Kevin Eckard and Seth Riden; members of the Garvin County Chorale playing shepards and villagers; choreography by Devyn Butts; costumes by Valerie Parker; lighting by Lance Dierker; props by Kathleen Carlton; stage direction by Alan Marshall; and Jack Bowman as conductor.

“Amahl and the Night Visitors” will be performed Sunday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 320 N. Walnut Street, Pauls Valley. Advance tickets are $20 and are available online at GarvinCountySings.com, or at the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce, 112 E. Paul Ave., during normal business hours. Tickets at the door are $25 for adults. Under 20 are admitted free with RSVP. Reservations online are encouraged because seating is limited.