THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604180155
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORIE GOMEZ, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Rehearsals, lessons, auditions and curtain calls are routine for Van Hughes, a seventh grader at Greenbrier Christian Academy. Luckily, his mother, Pat Hughes, doesn't mind doubling as Van's appointment secretary, because this talented Chesapeake entertainer is in high demand.
His latest performance was as one of the children of Carrie and Enoch Snow in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ``Carousel,'' that just completed its run at Virginia Opera. As part of the chorus Van sang the memorable, ``You'll Never Walk Alone,'' at the end of the production. At the same time he was rehearsing for an upcoming Hurrah Players production, and he had recently returned from a call-back audition at Opryland in Nashville. On top of that, he studies voice, guitar and saxophone, and still manages to stay on the honor roll at Greenbrier. But this busy schedule doesn't bother Van, whose outgoing personality gives him the drive and the energy to do what he loves best - entertain.
``He's walked around with a microphone since he was 2 years old,'' Pat Hughes said, ``but I never pushed him.'' While she, husband Bob, and little Van were living in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, they saw many USO shows which came down to entertain the people living on the U.S. Naval base. Early on, Van began to mimic the entertainers he saw. ``He wanted to sing to all the other kids - to put on little shows,'' his mother said. ``He'd entertain anyone who came to the house. He's been doing that ever since.''
When the family returned to the United States, Pat took Van to the Tidewater Dinner Theater. ``That was it,'' she said. ``He quoted all the show and sang all the songs all the way home.'' Van remembered thinking, ``I could do everything they did.'' And he set about doing just that.
Van was 8 years old when he started performing locally. He began in a summer production of ``Trouble in Happyville'' at Old Dominion University. He went on to work with the Hurrah Players, performing in productions such as ``Pinocchio,'' and ``Snow White Goes West.''
``Professionals would come see the show and ask me to audition for them, and one thing would lead to another,'' Van said. Soon he was adding Virginia Stage Company, Commonwealth Musical Stage, the Founders Inn Dinner Theater and the Virginia Opera to his performer's resume. He has also found ample work in radio, television and films and in voice-overs for the Family Channel and Fox network's Kids Club.
However, the young entertainer knows that there is another important element to having a talent as well. That's why Van takes time out from his professional work to perform at local senior centers. At Pat's suggestion, Van put together a half-hour show that he could take on the road. ``He kept saying he wanted to be an entertainer, so I told him to put a show together for the seniors and see how they liked him,'' Pat said. ``So he put a little show together, and these elderly women just went crazy, especially when he did Elvis,'' she added with a laugh.
While Van is naturally at ease performing in front of people, voice coach Emma Gregg Harris said that the singing took a little more work. ``When he came to me, Van was just like a rock waiting to be chiseled down into a beautiful diamond,'' Harris said. And in the years that she has given Van lessons and coaching, she said the beautiful diamond has appeared, just as she knew it would.
Harris is quick to point out that talent alone is not enough to make a performer successful. ``He is fantastic,'' she said. ``Plus, he has such a warm personality. He's humble and a well-mannered young man. This is what's going to take him places.'' Harris said that she has coached talented singers who she knew would never be successful because they were egotistical or ill-mannered. However, she quickly added, ``Van is not like that. He has his feet on the ground, and he puts his heart into everything he does.''
Virginia Opera chorus master Peter Pasztor also has high praise for Van, who was chosen as one of the six Snow children in ``Carousel'' out of about 60 children who auditioned. The Virginia Opera already knew Van from working with him in other productions, including ``Carmen'' and ``Simon Bolivar.''
``Choosing Van was easy,'' Pasztor said. ``Just the way he comes into the room when he auditions. He is so relaxed and yet very energetic and friendly. He doesn't seem nervous at all. He comes in and does a terrific audition and you think, we absolutely just have to have him.''
Van takes such praise in stride. He gives a lot of credit to his supportive parents who take him to auditions and competitions around the state and across the country and who attend most performances. ``If my dad's not there my mom is usually there for all my shows,'' he said. Their feedback is very important to him.
Right now, like most kids his age, 12-year-old Van is looking forward to summer vacation. He said he'll probably limit himself to one show this summer so he can take a break. He's learning to ride his new skateboard, and he enjoys swimming and playing with his dog. ``But I know what will happen if he gets a call about another audition,'' Pat said. ``He'll say, `OK, let's go.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Van Hughes' latest performance was in the Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical ``Carousel.'
by CNB