Buffalo Grove Teen Turns 'Hero' On Stage

Jonah Rawitz has never taken an acting class, but that hasn’t prevented him from making his mark on stage.

The 14-year-old Buffalo Grove resident has earned roles in a number of theatrical productions over the past four years, leading up to his latest role in the new musical “Hero,” which opens next month at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

He made his debut in a production of "Oklahoma!," which was soon followed by roles in "Les Miserables" and "A Christmas Carol" at the Marriott Theater, "Turn of the Century" at Goodman Theatre, “The Big Meal” at American Theater Company and, most recently, “Sweeney Todd" at Drury Lane.

When he lands a role, Jonah said he’s able to get school assignments in advance and make up for lost classroom time — he’s an eighth-grader at — by working on his assignments during rehearsal breaks at the theater.

This time, the theater schedule works perfectly with his academic role — rehearsals begin just as the school year ends. “I’m already learning my lines and getting them down, so we can work more on the emotion and motivation of what we’re saying” when theater rehearsals begin, he said.

Jonah figures he’ll spend eight hours a day, six days a week at the theater during his summer vacation. He’ll play “Nate” in six shows each week, and will join the ensemble for two additional performances.

"Hero" tells the story of a young artist who lives at home with his dad, Al, who runs the family comic book shop. Jonah's character, Nate, considers Al his father figure. His role includes singing and speaking parts.

“He’s very mature for his age, or he tries to act mature, even though he doesn’t always get it,” Jonah said of his character. But when Nate spends time with Al, he feels more at ease and behaves as a child.

Does Jonah, who juggles a grownup schedule with a slew other activities, relate to his character?

“We’re kind of different,” he said. “He likes to skateboard, and I’m not much of a skateboarder.” And, he added, unlike his character, “I try to be myself most of the time.”

Jonah said he is not sure yet if he’ll have to skateboard on stage. If he does, it will soon be one more accomplishment he can add to his resume.

“If I do, I look forward to learning something new,” he said, without a trace of apprehension in his voice.

Balancing act

In addition to school and theater work, Jonah manages to fit a variety of other interests into his life.

“I like to play basketball a lot, and I like to write my own music,” he said. Jonah, who plays the piano, has his own YouTube channel where he uploads performances of his original work as well as cover songs.

“I like to make short films with my friends and write scripts,” he added. His public service announcement about bullying, which he created for a health class project, will be aired at Twin Groves’ graduation ceremony, he said.

Jonah said he hopes to participate in high school productions — he’ll be a freshman at in the fall — as well as continue his work with area theater companies when “a great opportunity” arises.

And beyond that?

“I’d definitely like to be a part of theater,” he said. “I’m also interested in film and writing music.”

A family affair

It’s not hard to see where this teen gets his inspiration: his mom, Lauren Rawitz, is a director at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights, and his three siblings, Noah, Naomi and Talia, have all acted, either in school or community theater productions or on stage at Metropolis or Marriott.

The four Rawitzes represent the third generation of their family to be bitten by the theater bug. Lauren Rawitz, who has worked the Metropolis for the past eight years, said her career was inspired by her father.

“He’s a children’s dentist, but all his life, on the side he did theater,” she said. “I think you get the bug and it sticks with you."

Her brother, Andy Berman, was also bitten by the bug; he’s a writer, producer and director for the TV series “Psych.”

Jonah said his mother has never pressured him to follow in the family's footsteps; Lauren said she simply wants him to do what makes him happy.

“It’s wonderful if he gets happiness from it, she said. “I see Jonah, and he’s just filled with joy when he comes home [from the theater].”

HERO previews June 20 at the Marriott and runs June 27 through Aug. 19. Tickets are $40-$48. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com or www.HeroMusical.com or more information.