Coronado High grad opens professional acting career in ‘Cats’

For most college graduates, the summer after commencement is a time to send out resumes, work at a temp job to make ends meet and, then, just hope for the best.

But newly minted college graduate Chaz Wolcott will remember the summer after his commencement -- this very summer, in fact -- as the summer when he became an official, full-time, no-fooling professional actor.

A few weeks ago, and only two days after his college commencement, Wolcott landed the role of Mr. Mistoffelees in the national touring company of "Cats."

That tour begins a four-performance run today at the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort. And, for Wolcott -- who's also a 2006 graduate of Coronado High School -- the performances will mark the first time since high school that he has performed here.

Wolcott was born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Henderson with his family at the age of 11. He became interested in dance at a young age thanks, in part, to his dance-teacher parents.

In fact, Wolcott adds with a laugh, they "taught me the cha-cha when I was 1. They said I was cha-cha-ing before I was walking."

By 2½, Wolcott was taking dance lessons. During his youth, while attending Greenspun Junior High and Coronado High School and studying at The Dance Zone in Henderson, Wolcott performed in shows and competed in dance events both locally and regionally, and even earned an acting credit for a 2001 episode of "The King of Queens."

After graduating from Coronado, Wolcott enrolled in Oklahoma City University. A few weeks ago, he was graduated with a bachelor's degree in dance performance.

A few months ago, during spring break, Wolcott traveled to New York City and auditioned for "Cats." Wolcott did well -- he received several callbacks -- but still was surprised when producers called two days after his commencement to say they needed an immediate replacement for an injured actor.

A mere three days after that, Wolcott joined the company in Minneapolis.

"So, I was kind of planning on teaching and doing little side jobs here and there, and ended up coming out here for six to eight weeks," Wolcott says.

Wolcott's first performance was in Detroit. And, when his own opening night came, Wolcott was probably more ready for it than even he might have thought.

Wolcott had seen "Cats" himself when he was 8 and, he says, "we used to watch the movie very often."

In addition, he continues, "I had done 'Cats' over the summer three years ago at the Music Theatre of Wichita in Wichita, Kansas. So, I was familiar with the show."

And, having played Mr. Mistoffelees -- the "conjuring cat" in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical -- Wolcott already knew the lines and the part's basic choreography.

While each production varies a bit, Wolcott notes, all of this experience "was definitely a huge advantage so I could get into the role really quickly."

Playing Mistoffelees in "Cats" is, Wolcott says, "definitely the dream role in a dream show." And while he's playing the part only until the production's original Mistoffelees returns, Wolcott is excited that his run will include the shows in Las Vegas.

"It was the first city I noticed we were going to when I got this job," he says, "and I was so excited because a lot of friends and family are there.

"My family knows I'm doing stuff, but they haven't really been able to see me. I haven't performed in Vegas since I graduated from high school, so it's just kind of humbling to be able to come back."

After his tenure in the show ends, Wolcott plans to continue pursuing a career in musical theater, with, he says, Broadway as "the ultimate goal." But, already, Wolcott is learning that his new career in the theater may bring with it some unexpected benefits.

Wolcott recalls that, after finishing his first show, "this little boy -- who, coincidentally, looks kind of like me when I was little -- came up to me and was just fascinated to meet Mr. Mistoffelees. He was, like, 'You were the best thing I've ever seen in my life.' "

The boy asked if he could take picture with Wolcott. Wolcott told the boy that he'd be honored.

"There were tears coming down my face," he recalls. "I was beating myself up at the little mistakes I made, and I just realized this little kid's day was lit up by it. It was a real honor."

"I think," Wolcott says, "that was a pretty cool first day."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.