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March 15, 2002/Nisan2, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 26
Scottsdale teenager earns role in 'The Wiz'
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
A local teen is following the yellow brick road on his path to become an actor.
Fourteen-year-old Or Skol-nik of Scottsdale has been studying with Valley Youth Theatre for the past year and has worked his way from workshop participant to a member of a VYT performance troupe to a featured role in VYT's current musical production, "The Wiz."
Skolnik, who hopes to become an actor, values the instruction he's received at VYT.
"It's good training," says Skolnik. "It gives me a great opportunity to learn singing and dancing. ... It's a lot of fun."
Jim Gradillas, director of education and outreach at VYT, has worked with Skolnik over the last year in both workshops and as a member of the performance troupe. He says he's impressed with the hard work Skolnik has put into bettering himself as an actor.
"I knew when he first took a regular workshop, and he was just starting out, that he was very dedicated," recalls Gradillas. "He's so willing to learn and willing to do whatever it takes to be an actor."
Skolnik also holds a role in a touring production of "The Stinky Cheese Man," and was recently cast in VYT's "Jack in the Beanstalk," which will be directed by Gradillas.
Born in New York, Skolnik also lived in Israel before moving to the Valley two years ago.
Skolnik's mother, Rachel, homeschools Or and his brother Yoni, 11. Much of Or Skolnik's school day is spent working on the Internet and reading books about subjects that interest him. He most recently read, "O Jerusalem."
"The thing I enjoy (studying) lately is the modern history of the past century," says Skolnik. "It's lots of fun to read about that."
The Skolnik family, with father Arik, belongs to Temple Chai.
Details
What: "The Wiz"
Where: Valley Youth Theatre, 525 N. First St., Phoenix
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2 & 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 8-24
Cost: $10
Call: 602-253-8188, ext. 2
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