When looking at Isaac Josephthal, you might assume that he is your average 17-year-old teenager who is eager to graduate from high school in June.
While he may be eager to graduate, Isaac is no average teenager.
Josephthal was chosen to be the only student actor in the 11-person professional cast of "Lyle the Crocodile" at the Children's Theatre of Charlotte this spring.
Once Josephthal committed to being in "Lyle the Crocodile" he also committed to long days and a rigorous schedule that would have most teens begging for mercy.
"My schedule is really packed right now," said Josephthal, who would leave his house in the Templeton Bay neighborhood in Mooresville by 7 a.m. to get to Charlotte for two productions of "Lyle the Crocodile" in the morning.
After the "Lyle" rehearsals, he would go to Woodlawn School in Davidson to caught up on his assignments and meet with his teachers. Now after school, he completes some homework and then it is back to the theater for evening rehearsals for his role in "Lord of the Flies."
Josephthal, is used to the long hours and has been keeping an actor's schedule for more than half of his life.
"I have been acting since the second grade when I was cast as the little drummer boy in Southlake Christian Academy's 'The Little Drummer Boy,'" said Josephthal.
"From there I auditioned for Mooresville Children's Theatre production of 'Fiddler on the Roof.'"
Josephthal also has worked at Davidson Community Players and Theatre Charlotte.
While the hours are long and the work is challenging, Josephthal says being in shows like "Lyle the Crocodile" has many rewards.
"The best part of working on a show like 'Lyle' is the kids," said Josephthal. "When we do school shows in the morning the kids go absolutely nuts. They love everything about the production because it is so oriented for them.
"When they laugh it makes this process very rewarding."
Josephthal is getting ready to graduate from Woodlawn School in June. From there he has plans to attend college in the fall to further his career in theater.
"I've narrowed it down to either The Boston Conservatory for a BFA in musical theater or Tisch School of the Arts at NYU for a BFA in acting," said Josephthal. "Either school will be an amazing experience for me; I just have to figure out the right plan for me."
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