From Broadway In Bangor, Maine To Broadway In New York City! ‘Bapst’ Grad About To Make Big Debut!

As someone who spent their fair share of time up on the stage in the Sekera Auditorium at John Bapst Memorial High School (pretty sure my last name is still carved somewhere in the cement backstage), I'm always delighted to see a fellow Fine Arts alum making their dreams come true.

One such former Crusader has taken his love of theater from the stage at 100 Broadway in Bangor to the Broadway stage at the Lyric Theatre in midtown Manhattan in New York.

Aidan Close graduated from John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Maine, in the spring of 2019.

According to Matt Smith, Director of Communications for John Bapst, Close took advantage of almost all of the Fine Arts classes and activities he was presented with while studying in Bangor.

"Aidan was in all 8 theater productions (fall play and spring musical) during his time here. He also participated in Drum Line, Chorale/Chorus, and the District V Honors Festival Chorus."

Smith says Close starred in "The Crucible" as Giles Corey, in "Young Frankenstein" as The Hermit, as the March Hare in "Dorothy In Wonderland", as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence in the school's version of "Little Women." He was Michael Banks in the Bapst production of "Mary Poppins", Evan Goldman in their version of the musical "13", the Prince in "Cinderella," and even starred as the lead role in "Macbeth."

But as many who get bitten by the theater bug often do, Close says he had dreams of performing on bigger stages, for bigger audiences.

"I would spend hours and hours listening to Broadway musicals, watching behind-the-scenes videos, and fantasizing about getting asked the very question that you've just asked me now. How does it feel? To even be asked the question is a marvelous gift."

Close wasn't originally from Maine, and actually ended up at John Bapst when he moved to the state from Maryland. In a recent interview with the MD Theatre Guide, Close said he had been involved with theater when he was younger, but after the move to Maine, he became shy. It was his roles in High School that helped him get back into acting.

"...performing felt like an uphill battle. I climbed, however, through middle school and high school, becoming more and more comfortable through productions like 'The Crucible,' 'Little Women,' and ultimately (full circle) 'Macbeth.' I was gaining confidence and becoming more comfortable in a time where those things are often lacking. My love got rekindled through these shows, but I did not truly fall in love until college."

Close went on to study theater at Boston University, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, and finally the Prague Shakespeare Company.

Close says he was in a coffee shop when he found out he'd gotten the part that would launch his career to the next level.

"A few months after graduating college, I moved to New York, and within a few months, I had my first audition for this show; 3 months and 7 callbacks later, I got offered the role of Scorpius on a phone call in the back of a cafe. Such a pinch me, life-changing, immediately numbing moment. Then I couldn't tell anyone for 6 months (which utterly destroyed my mom, who wanted to tell everyone), and then I started rehearsals, moved to Chicago, and started the tour. The tour, which spanned three cities in its first year, just ended this past Sunday (the 7th of September) and was the greatest year of my life. I am so, so lucky and so, so honored. In May, I was offered to transfer to Broadway and I felt my life change again. Again, growing up in Maine, this all felt so far away -- even with the Internet making it seem so tantalizingly close -- that until I'm on that stage, it will still feel out of reach. It doesn't feel real yet, but I really hope it is."

Close will make his "Broadwayoadway" debut as Scorpious Malfoy in November.

Smith said Close gifted a "Cursed Child" opening night poster, signed by the entire cast, to John Bapst for the Fine Arts raffle last January.

Director of Vocal Music at John Bapst High School, Colin Graebert, says he remembers Aidan Close as a good kid, overall.

"I only had Aidan for his senior year, but I can tell you that he was always eager to hold himself to a high quality level and was a very pleasant and kind human!"

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John Bapst English Teacher, Sheila Bennett, says Close was not only great to watch, but great to work with.

"Aidan, as a high school performer, was incredibly generous with his fellow performers. He delighted in their successes as much as his own and was a wonder to watch, even at such a young age. I can't say I'm surprised at his success so far, considering what a dedicated performer he is, but I can say I can't wait to see what's next for him and his limitless talent."

Melissa Burns, a Fine Arts teacher who directed Close in the musical "13," says he made the experience a memorable one.

"One of my favorite memories of Aidan was when we were working on the fun musical '13.' His excitement for playing Evan Goldman was contagious... he even organized script-reading parties at the cast members' homes on weekends! This was the second experience in my 20+ years of directing, where just about every student had the script memorized long before my mandated "due date" to be off script, which, of course, made directing them so much easier! All the while, he gave pointers to others and helped them understand the layers behind the lines. He was simply FABULOUS to work on each and every production we did together!"

Close says it was his time in Maine, specifically his time with a local theater company, that helped get him ready to take that leap to the big time.

"Also, none of this would be possible without the Dramatic Academy over on Main Street. PTC was instrumental in fostering my creativity, excitement, and preparedness for college and beyond. Seriously, they're not paying me to say that: it's just true, I wouldn't be here today if not for the classes and mentors I had there."

Close will star alongside original Harry Potter film star Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the movies, when the play returns to the Lyric Theater in New York on November 11th.

You can find ticket information (should you want to take a little Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday to the Big Apple to check it out) by clicking here.

Break a leg, Aidan. We're rooting for you!