Katonah Siblings Appearing Off-Broadway

Growing up in Katonah might be considered a classic small town experience. But Emma Galvin, former Katonah resident and currently "lives" in the ultimate American small town: the off-Broadway production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."

And Emma is not the only Galvin currently appearing on an off-Broadway stage. Her younger brother, 16-year-old Noah, who is currently a sophomore at John Jay High School, is no slouch. He's featured in a new musical "Burnt Part Boys," now in previews at Playwright's Horizon.

Emma, a 23-year-old graduate of Carnegie Mellon, plays Rebecca (aged 9 in Act I; aged 14 in Act II) in the acclaimed production currently running at the Barrow Street Theatre in NYC.

With direction by David Cromer, the show has received critical acclaim and is the longest running production of "Our Town" in history. "It's a complete honor to be part of this production," Emma said. "Working with David Cromer is amazing. He's the hot new director in New York."

Learning the part wasn't hard for the young actress. She actually played the same role in a John Jay High School production of "Our Town" when she was in ninth grade, but she said she's far more affected by the play's themes now.

"The play is really so huge," she said. "It's full of mammoth ideas you could think about for the rest of your life.

"Night after night, people take in these words and think about their lives" Emma continued. "It's an incredible feeling to know you are affecting people. At the curtain call, you can see people sobbing. For me, if I have a chance to affect one person or get them to think about one thing, it reminds me of why I'm an actor."

Noah said "Burnt Part Boys" resonates with him in a similar way. The show, loosely based on the movie "Stand and Deliver," features four teenagers seeking answers about a West Virginia coal mining accident. Noah noted that recent events have made the show even more meaningful to cast members.

"Because this real mining accident just happened, 'Burnt Part Boys' is really relevant to what's going on right now and that's important," he said. The show runs through June 13.

Noah's professional experience includes the Broadway national tour of Les Miserables when he was 10. "I got my start at Bedford Community Theatre," Noah said. "Les Miz came right after that. I was on tour for 7 ½ months and fell in love it," he said of the working actor's life.

Does he miss regular life as a kid? Yes and no, he said. "I miss being in school and having lunch period to hang out with my friends, but I enjoy my life."

Brother and sister appeared on stage together this past winter— as 12-year-old twins—in an off-off Broadway play, "The Power of Birds."  "To be in a show, in the city with my sister was so much fun," Noah said.

Now both are so busy, each doing eight shows a week, that free time— and visits to Katonah— are hard to come by. "My life is 'Our Town,'" Emma said. "For a show like this," she said of "Our Town," "you spend so much time together, you're like a family."

Noah agreed. "Since we're both in the city, I get to see Emma and that's nice," Noah said. "But this cast [of "Burnt Part Boys"] is awesome and we've become close. When this is over," he continued, "I'll probably go back to teen-aged life in Katonah.

Just another kid from a small town.