<p>I don’t know if anyone has heard yet, BUT Matt Shingledecker (the phantom) was cast as the next Melchior in the Broadway musical Spring Awakening!!!</p>
<p>wowreally - I was hoping someone would post this! The Elon kids are really excited about Matt going straight to Broadway!!!</p>
<p>Way to go, Matt, if you happen to read this.......we're all so proud of you!</p>
<p>That's fantastic news, is he a recent grad?</p>
<p>Actually, I think he's a senior.</p>
<p>If I'm remembering correctly, he and another boy sang "Lily's Eyes" during the information session at my D's Elon audition. Can anyone verify that I'm thinking of the right young man? If so, he'd be fantastic!! That's HUGE news for Elon, and a wonderful opportunity for him!</p>
<p>Yup! That was him!! I wonder when he will start...</p>
<p>He starts immediately in rehearsals, like next week I hear. And then he goes into the show in mid-May?? At least that's what the kids have been hearing. Everyone is very excited for him, and for Elon! There are also at least two current Elon students who have callbacks within the next couple of weeks in NYC for the SA tour.</p>
<p>I guess the school (Elon) will work with him so that he can complete his degree this spring? I'd have to guess they'll be more than happy to help in this case!</p>
<p>Congratulations Matt! We are all so proud of you!!! You will do a fantastic job! We will miss you at Elon.</p>
<p>This is not the first time Elon students / graduates have been on Broadway. I can think of at least 3 Elon grad's who are currently in Broadway musicals. There may be more. Many Elon graduates are also successfully working in other theatres and on tours. Current students are very successful getting summerstock work.</p>
<p>It's just very exciting for the students to have a friend who is a current student and who is heading immediately to Broadway!!!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, I was there when Matt and Johnny sang "Lily's Eyes" too! They both sounded FANTASTIC!! I'm so excited for you Matt! Spring Awakening is my favorite musical and I wish you all the best!!</p>
<p>Plus Taylor and Rafe have had great success in the callbacks, as far as I hear. Those Elon boys are hott picks for Spring Awakening right now!! I wish them all the best - everyone is sooo incredibly talented!!</p>
<p>Does anyone know how matt's reviews have been since his joining the broadway cast?</p>
<p>I heard from a friend of a friend that the guy playing the part now - for whom Shingledecker is the US - is getting mixed reviews. Apparently, he is a rocker who doesn't really have any acting experience so the singing is strong and the acting not as strong. I haven't heard that they have used the US yet - it has only been a few weeks since the new people took over I think.</p>
<p>I believe that Matt is performing in the ensemble right now and understudying, maybe more than one of the lead roles.</p>
<p>According to a friend, Matt has been on in several of the tracks he's covering, with more planned this summer. When he's not on as one of the featured roles, he's one of the seated ensemble members. </p>
<p>Kyle Riabko, the current Melchior, is a pop singer, not a rocker. He has had acting experience, on tv, not onstage. He's with the Broadway cast til full rehearsals for the tour begin, as he'll continue playing Melchior on tour.</p>
<p>Which part did Matt sing in Lily's Eyes? I remember hearing them :)</p>