One is big-hearted, the other is brilliant, yet they're both outsiders who form "Freak the Mighty."
Rodman Philbrick鈥檚 1993 young adult novel has been transformed into a musical, which begins previews on Friday at Cleveland Play House. Netza Jimenez and Cornelius Kittrell star as the duo who, armed with a battered dictionary and their friendship, become unlikely heroes. Shaker Heights native Anita Hollander plays multiple roles, from a TV reporter to a sorceress.
鈥淚 go from blonde to gray, silver hair to red hair within the process of under two hours,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also happen to have one leg. So, sometimes I have two legs in the show and sometimes I have one leg in the show. I'm doing things in this show that I haven't ever done in my life, as far as somebody lifting me into the air.鈥�
The Broadway vet took a cue from her vaudevillian grandmother and entered showbiz at age eight, in a production of 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� at the in Warrensville Heights.
鈥淭hey cast locally with kids and I was Gretl's understudy,鈥� she said. 鈥淸The actress] was kind enough to get German measles for one weekend, so I went on!鈥�
When the play returned soon after, Hollander鈥檚 two-inch growth spurt landed her the part of Marta. From there, she honed her craft with the Cleveland Orchestra Children鈥檚 Chorus, Cleveland Play House, Case Western Reserve University and the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Her work included sharing the stage with a pre-鈥淲illy Wonka鈥� Peter Ostrum and even launching her own shows in her backyard.
鈥淚 would stomp into the kitchen and tell my mother, 鈥榃hy aren't these people acting more professionally?鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淭hey were 6-year-olds, but I was expecting better.鈥�
Decades later, she鈥檚 returning to her hometown to participate in the rebirth of 鈥溾�� as a musical. The production includes Cleveland Public Theatre alum Nicole Sumlin, Tony Award-winning writer Anthony Drewe ("Mary Poppins") and Junkyard Dog Productions, the team behind "Come From Away." The score was written by Baldwin Wallace University alum Ryan Fielding Garrett.
鈥淣obody ever feels totally comfortable when you open a show because it's all brand new,鈥� Hollander said. 鈥淭he script keeps changing and the lyrics change and the music changes. So, you never know if something's going to get thrown in during previews while you're performing the actual show in front of an audience. I don't think I'd have it any other way. This is what I signed-on for.鈥�
Hollander lost a leg to cancer at age 26, and is now the SAG-AFTRA National Chair of Performers with Disabilities.
鈥淚've been advocating for performers with disabilities on stage, screen, broadcasting, recording, advertising, commercials,鈥� she said. "Here's how I sold it: Look at the benefits of hiring actual performers with disabilities. Your audience grows, because people want to see themselves reflected authentically and truthfully on stage and screen.鈥�
Hollander estimated that roles for disabled actors have roughly tripled since COVID.
"Shows started really showing up with us as doctors, not patients; teachers, not students," she said. "We became 鈥� bad guys as well as good guys."
During the run of the musical, CPH will have two sensory-friendly areas available in the lobby: One for sensory seekers and another for quiet and calm, billed as a relaxing room. The June 20 matinee is a relaxed, sensory-friendly performance. Ushers will carry paddles to warn viewers of loud moments or bright lights.
鈥淔reak the Mighty鈥� is in previews before a run from May 29-June 21 at the Allen Theatre. It鈥檚 a coproduction with Seattle Rep, which hosts the production next season.
