Whiz Kid: Welsh Valley Actor Nolan Gardner

Editor's note: This is a weekly series in which we will highlight the special accomplishments of neighborhood kids or teenagers.

Each week, we will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as our Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to danielle.vickery@patch.com.

This week's Patch Whiz Kid: Nolan Gardner, 14, of Villanova (the Lower Merion part)

School: Nolan is an eighth-grader at 

Accomplishment: Nolan plays Horton in Welsh Valley's production of "Seussical", which opens Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Key to awesomeness: This show is Nolan's fourth play. He got into acting at age 11, when a friend at summer camp in the Poconos told him about auditions for the camp's production of "The Wizard of Oz".

He got the part of the Cowardly Lion, and last year he landed the big, fat part of Augustus Gloop in "Willy Wonka and the Chocoloate Factory".

"Seussical" director Abigail Getty called Nolan "a great kid." As for the man behind Horton himself, he's not too nervous about the upcoming performances.

"It's an easy show," Nolan said, "because everything rhymes."