CAZENOVIA — Bobby McDowell, a fifth grader at Cazenovia Middle School, will make his Syracuse Stage debut this spring in the upcoming production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”
McDowell, 11, has been cast in the role of Wally Webb, the little brother of Emily Webb, one of the show’s main characters.
In the third act of the play, Wally appears among a group of “dead souls,” having died young as the result of a ruptured appendix on a Boy Scout trip.
McDowell has previously performed in the Syracuse Children’s Theater’s “The Lion King JR.,” the Fayetteville Recreation Program’s “Newsies JR.,” and plays at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Cazenovia.
“I became interested in theater when I watched my older cousins in plays and musicals and it inspired me,” said McDowell.
The young actor auditioned for “Our Town” on Jan. 28, 2023.
“I was sick and not feeling well that day, but I wanted to push through and try my best,” McDowell recalled. “I went up the stairs for the audition and went into the room where I said my lines in front of two people in the room and the director over Zoom.”
McDowell found out he landed the role the following week when he got home from school.
“It was so exciting,” he said. “I couldn’t even believe it at first.”
McDowell is one of six Central New York children who will be performing in Syracuse Stage’s “Our Town.” Each of their roles is double cast, so McDowell will be playing Wally in half of the shows.
The production will also feature Syracuse-based stage, television, and film actor Jim True-Frost, who will play the seminal role of the Stage Manager. He is most known for his portrayal of Roland “Prez” Pryzbylewski in all five seasons of the HBO series “The Wire,” James Woodrow in HBO’s “Treme,” and film roles such as David Bailey in “Cameron Crowe’s “Singles.”
According to McDowell, rehearsals started at the beginning of March and have been held almost every day, except Mondays.
“I have loved the experience of being able to learn more about acting and theater from Director Bob Hupp and the rest of the cast and crew,” McDowell said.
Wilder described his timeless drama, “Our Town,” as, “an attempt to find value above all price for the smallest events in our daily life.”
The play tells the story of the fictional small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, at the turn of the 20th century through the everyday lives of its citizens.
“Wilder’s enduring classic asks us to stop and ponder what truly matters, and to consider that for a great many of us the answers will be the same,” the Syracuse Stage website states.
“Our Town” runs March 29 through April 16 at Syracuse Stage.
McDowell will perform in the evening preview on March 29 and the evening shows on April 1, April 2, April 4, April 8, April 13, and April 14. He will also be in the daytime performances on April 2, April 4, April 5, April 8, and April 16.
“Bobby’s dad and I are very proud of him and so excited to see him perform as Wally Webb,” said McDowell’s mother, Sara. “We are grateful to Syracuse Stage for giving him this opportunity.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit syracusestage.org/ourtown.
