Highlands Little Theatre - Christopher Hayes

P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525

Christopher Hayes - Superstar
By: Roy Riedy

Chris Hayes' name was first seen by Highlands Little Theatre members in the theatre's June, 2004, newsletter when his name appeared as the actor chosen to play Jesus in Tammie Pollard's August, 2004, production of Webber and Rice's incomparable musical, Jesus Christ, Supertar.

The program for the August show provided the following information about the young actor: Chris, now a Sebring resident, studied voice at Columbus State University in Georgia as a bass/baritone as well as piano, guitar, and percussion. He has a degree in Deaf Studies and American Sign Language from the University of Arizona and is an advocate for deaf causes and deaf education reform. In his spare time Chris enjoys homebrewing and photography. His parents live in Georgia, and he has a sister living in Utah.

Still, the most extraordinary fact about this talented singer and actor is that he has never acted before. His lack of experience did not prove to be an liability for at the Nineteenth Zenon Ceremonies held in early October, 2004, he won the highly valued honor of being awarded the Best Leading Actor of the Thirtieth Season.

For the first time in Zenon history, this award was offered to two leading actors, Christopher Hayes and Jerry Pollard another fact that confirms the strength and ability of the two leading men.

Mr. Hayes had done in five months what many HLT members still labor to achieve, win a Zenon, a tangible sign of excellence. Congratulations Chris, in less than a half a year you validated that you were a Superstar.

During the Thirty-first season Chris was involved in four of the five main stage presentations. In Frank Oberhausen's November, 2004 revival of The Music Man, Mr. Hayes directed the featured quartet and played the part of Jacey Squires; in Peter Pollard's January, 2005, production of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, he played the small but effective part of the doorman Mohammed. In March, Chris played the title role, Phineas Taylor Barnum in Kathy MacNeill's production of the musical Barnum and finished off the season in Melanie Boulay and Jennifer Westergom's Zenon-seizing revival of the musical Cabaret in the role of Clifford Bradshaw.

Just before the opening of Cabaret, Mr. Hayes was awarded the August 2005, Gracie Award for his responsibility as one of the co-chairpersons of Anthony's Lounge.

At the 20th Zenon Awards at the end of the 31st Season, Chris received three important nominations: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role of Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret; Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role of P.T. Barnum in Barnum; and a Production/Technical Discretionary Zenon for his musical direction of the Barbershop Quartet in The Music Man, not a bad start for a fellow who was just completing his first full year at HLT.

During the Thirty-second season Chris worked on four more shows, three main stage and one "extra" revue. Mr. Hayes was an understudy for the character of Mike Talman in Denise Miriani's January, 2006, chiller, Wait Until Dark; in March he played the part of Caleb Pontipee, one of the seven brothers, in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers directed by Joe Willis; and in April Chris was one of the singers in the "extra" revue Broadway In Concert which was directed by Melanie Boulay and Jennifer Westergom.

Chris played the leading role of Danny Zuko in Tammie Pollard's August presentation of the musical Grease, and was awared his second Zenon, Best Actor in a Leading Role, for his extraordinary singing and acting in the tremendously successful play.

Congratulations Chris on your many successes, you have certainly left your mark on the past three seasons at HLT and I have no doubt that we will find more marks happening in the years to come. You are a wonderful asset and the Little Theatre is all the better for you being a member. Thanks for coming to Highlands County and becoming a member of Highlands Little Theater.

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