It's Happening: Kavon Newman Lands Key Role in Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
By Julie Perine on August 19, 2018
Bridgeport’s Pam Pinti Krall has provided hundreds of young students with vocal coaching and seen many reach impressive milestones. She
is absolutely over the moon about a role that 7-year-old Kavon Newman has landed.
is absolutely over the moon about a role that 7-year-old Kavon Newman has landed.
Kavon is freshly home from New York City, where he auditioned for and was cast in the role of Ben in The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Forty-three boys, some with professional acting experience, auditioned for the key role.
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Krall believes Kavon is on his way to stardom and said he is expected to sign with Carson-Adler Agency, a top NYC talent agency that represents clients including Ariana Grande and Ben Affleck. He has also made a visit to Nickelodeon Studios which has expressed interest in the West Virginia boy.
“There’s just something special about him,” Krall said.
After coaching him vocally for less than a year, she said she knew he was star material and recommended him for a Destination Broadway workshop in Morgantown this past January.
“He auditioned and was one of 80 kids from the U.S. picked to go to New York City for a Broadway Intensive with actors, dancers, music directors in the business,” said Kavon’s mom, Melissa Whitehair.
Held late-July in The Big Apple, Destination Broadway is designed to help students reach their full potential as performers. The program ended with a showcase at Fordham University Lincoln Center as the young performers showed off their hard work.
“His group did songs from ‘Peter Pan’ and Kavon had the lead,” Whitehair said. “At this final show, there were casting directors from Broadway and Nickelodeon, as well as talent agents. He got calls from all of them!”
Kavon’s first audition with Radio City Music Hall was Wednesday. He received a call back for a second audition and on Thursday landed the role.
Running back and forth to New York City from their Doddridge County home has been both exhausting and exhilarating, Whitehair said. Along with the Destination Broadway experience and auditions, she and Kavon have attended a couple of Broadway shows, “Anastasia” and “School of Rock.” Kavon describes the entire New York scene as 
“awesome.”
“awesome.”
“To say he is so excited is an understatement,” Whitehair said.
Her little boy has always been wowed by the entertainment business.
“He loves The Muppets and has been a natural on the stage,” she said. “He started dancing with Doddridge dancers (taught by Casey Snyder) when he was 4. Just this past year, he started voice lessons with Pam and piano with
Deann Locasto.”
Kavon got his first stage experience earlier this year when he performed in Mountaineer Creative Arts Council’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” He was hooked right away, Whitehair said.
“I truly believe his talent is a natural God-given talent,” she said. “He just shines on stage.”
Whitehair thanks members of the community for their support during this most exciting time.
Watch for announcements of Kavon’s roles and appearances.
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