STEP VA Cast Spotlight: Cooper Hulvey, Christian Merrill, Leo Scrivani
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
by Brigid O'Leary
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA—They're knights, that's right! STEP VA Inc., the local 501(c)3 nonprofit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration” is staging “Shrek the Musical JR.” in just a few days and they have three brave knights on cast this year. The knights—played by Cooper Hulvey, Christian Merrill, and Leo Scrivani—will reflect the magic of the fairy tale, aging in place and then back again.
Hulvey returns this year after his STEP VA debut as both a featured dancer and a seagull in Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo Jr.” He chose to come back this year because the Spring Musical Experience gives him an opportunity to dance and that makes him “happy.” It makes his family happy, too, as it affords him an opportunity for “something we never thought possible for him.” His mom described the idea of Hulvey being in a musical as “it seemed like such a daunting thing for him to take on,” but has found that, “with STEP VA facilitating these opportunities, they make something that feels impossible a reality.”
His favorite song is “Freak Flag,” and when asked what has proven to be the most challenging thing about rehearsals, he indicated that he found “nothing hard.”
Hulvey is looking forward to the show and dancing with everyone.
Dancing alongside Hulvey will be Christian Merrill, also in his second show as part of the Spring Musical Experience. “Having fun with people, and dancing” are what Merrill said he was most looking forward to with the show, when asked earlier in the season.
Merrill is team “I'm a Believer,” by way of his favorite song, and while he enjoys the dancing, has also found that it can also be challenging—mostly because “Shrek the Musical JR.” is a high-energy show and the dancing, makes him tired.
Merrill played Chum, one of the three main sharks last year in the STEP VA version of “Finding Nemo Jr.” and once again is cast in a trio, this time of fearless knights.
The third member of the knighthood also has the most stage experience. Scrivani has been with the STEP VA Spring Musical Experience since “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” where he was a member of the Peanuts Gang. In “Seussical Jr.,” he played one of the most recognizable members of Whoville: Sam I Am. Last year, in Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo Jr.,” he had a solo between acts and was double cast as a shark and a seagull.
“It's fun,” he said when asked what brings him back to the Spring Musical Experience this year. His family explained that he “really enjoys being a part of the show because he gets to see his friends every week for a few hours which is a fun time for him.”
Earlier in the season, Scrivani said he was looking forward to singing and dancing, though like Merrill (and others), the dancing can also be a challenge. It is a challenge he takes on willingly. He also loves music in the show so much that, like a few others in the cast, can't pick one favorite song. He's also looking forward to seeing his friends in costume, because of how different everyone looks.
Come see just far a costume—and sometimes a little face paint—goes to make the whole cast into entirely different creatures at STEP VA's version of “Shrek the Musical JR.”: April 18 (6 p.m.) and April 19 (3 p.m.) at Courtland High School.
Tickets on sale at stepva.org.
