There are pivotal moments in history that we can recall immediately. Maybe it was the moon landing or the speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr. or even the fall of the Berlin Wall. For West Virginia native Homer Hickman, one of those moments came when he watched Sputnik, the world’s first satellite, fly across the sky in 1957.  This event inspired him to reject his coal-mining root sand join the space race, which is documented in his memoir, Rocket Boys, later made into a movie, October Sky.

 

For Bridgeport High School senior Derek Hess, moments of inspiration have appeared one after another throughout his experiences with theatre.  He recently returned from the International Thespian Festival only to re-pack his suitcases and head to Southern West Virginia to portray Roy Lee in Rocket Boys The Musical.  

 

“It’s not often an actor has the opportunity to play a character who is not only real, but still alive,” said Hess.  “Roy Lee is a fun character who is an Elvis-wannabe, a lady’s man, and just funny overall.  He is one of the four main Rocket Boys in the show and I feel very privileged to play him.”

 

After seeing the opportunity to audition while attending the West Virginia State Thespian Festival, Hess tried out for Rocket Boys The Musical, but it seemed he was not cast in the show.  Last week, BHS Alumnus Sierra Shreves called him to let him know the part was his.

 

“We are practicing six hours a day every day in preparation for the show, which will be performed at the Grandview Ampitheater at 7:30p.m. July 18-22,” said Hess.  “The short amount of rehearsal time has pushed me to memorize lines, blocking, and music quickly.”

 

For Hess, who plans to be a theatre or film major next year in college, the show has also shown him what a career in theatre is truly like.  He has met people from New York, Illinois, and various parts of West Virginia and had the opportunity to talk with them about what is offered at the different colleges.  

 

Hess has earned accolades for a short film he wrote called, “A Night to Remember,” about underaged drinking, for his performances in BHS theatre shows, and for his musical talents. His portrayal of Roy Lee will unleash his talent on a much larger stage, namely known for annual performances of “Hatfields and McCoys” and “Honey in the Rock.”

 

Tickets for the West Virginia Theatre performance of “Rocket Boys The Musical” are available for $25 at theatrewestvirginia.com.