How did this South Jersey native get 'Wicked?'

Brett Stoelker caught the acting bug when he was in fifth grade in Washington Township.

He thought it would be a good excuse to get out of class for a while, and, well, he loved it.

“The next thing I knew, I was in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ as Grumpy,” said Stoelker, a 2003 Washington Township High School grad. “Ended up performing in middle school, and then of course, at WTHS. We did ‘Phantom of the Country Opera’, ‘The Music Man’, ‘Footloose’, and ‘The Pajama Game.’”

These days, Stoelker is continuing to make a name for himself in the world of theater. He has been on the national tour of “Pretty Woman”, “Les Miserables”, “Rock of Ages”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and various other select regional performances.

Stoelker, a singer and actor, is currently part of the ensemble on the national tour of “Wicked,” as well as understudy for three central characters. “Wicked” is currently playing at the Academy of Music on the Kimmel Cultural Campus through November 26.

“Wicked,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and based on the book by Winnie Holzman, is a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz." It follows the lives of two young witches who form an unlikely bond — the blonde and beautiful Glinda and the green-skinned Elphaba. The musical follows their friendship and explains how Glinda became the Good Witch and Elphaba the Wicked Witch.

“My mom told me I've been singing since before I could talk, and I believe that,” Stoelker said. “It was always a drive that I had inside. I could never shake it. Fast forward a few years and I still love everything about performing. Not only the being on stage aspect, but mostly the incredible theatrical community.”

Six questions for Stoelker:

Question: What does it feel like being part of the national touring company for ‘Wicked?’ That has to feel like a dream come true.

A: Absolutely! Without question. When you work alongside the best talent in the industry, how can you not feel incredible? Wicked was a dream come true, unequivocally. It was a show that I had my sights on for a long time, kept knocking on that door and finally got inside.

Q: How about having the opportunity to be part of something that is happening so close home?

A: Sharing this experience with family and friends is always one of the most exciting aspects of performing. Everyone knows 'Wicked,' but not everyone has seen it. I'm always thrilled to show the magic of theater with my family and friends, but truly excited for them to see the wonderful world of Wicked.

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Q: Talk about your roles in ‘Wicked’ and how challenging it is to be the understudy for three parts. That means you have to learn every line for three characters.

A: In the ensemble, my track (aka role) is known as Elvis. I wear an awesome wig that resembles The King. I also understudy Fiyero, The Witch's Father, and the Ozian Official. Yes, learning an understudy track is like learning the show for the first time, only with different staging, songs, and dialogue. There is plenty of work to be done with it, but it is incredibly rewarding. You never know when you might go on for one of those tracks, so always being ready is paramount.

Q: What advice do you have for someone trying to break into the industry?

A: Have a thick skin. This business is unbelievably rewarding. The theatrical community is truly the greatest. But know that pursuing this industry, the level of rejection is significant! So wear it like a badge of honor, and when you do get the ‘You booked it!’ email, you know that you earned it.

Q: Do you still live in the area?

A: Based out of NYC! There is nothing like living in the Big Apple. Truly has everything you could ever want, shows and theater at your fingertips, the greatest food, and an absolutely wonderful community.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you're off?

A: Love sitting around playing video games, picking up the guitar and learning new songs, recording music. I'm also a total gym rat. Really enjoy exploring the local vibe of whatever city we happen to be passing through. That being said, I cannot wait to check out the Philly scene. It's been WAY too long! In fact, I think my cheesesteak is ready.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Q&A with South Jersey's Brett Stoelker, member of ensemble in 'Wicked'