Gibson Bartlett: 'I have always been a choir kid.'
Gibson Bartlett started singing in choir when he was a child and that eventually led to his love of theater.
“I have always been a choir kid. I started singing in fourth grade, and it was my gateway to the arts. I started theater my freshman year of high school in our production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ playing the breakout role of Hobo number two. I was really drawn to the sense of community. I think that speaks to both theater and the arts in general, since there are no star players or benchwarmers; everybody is working toward a common goal and because of that, you can find a strong sense of camaraderie and dedication. I had never been in a production before high school, but I found a love for the stage.
“There is no better rush than looking out from the stage onto a sea of faces in the audience. It’s a cliche among lots of performers, but it’s cliche for a reason. Getting to connect with a crowd is such a special feeling. You’re their guide as they transport into an entirely new reality. Choir has allowed me to perform at some really special places. I’ve been to many conferences in Washington, D.C., but my favorite performance was probably with the Tennessee All-State Men’s Choir. Right now, I am a week away from my senior musical with my school. I play Chad in Tennessee High School’s production of ‘All Shook Up!’
“I love to sing. There is something so magical about being the window between notes and rhythms on the written page and a beautiful story radiated through sound. My favorite styles change so often, but I’m especially fond of Renaissance pieces, pop a capella tunes, and of course musical theater hits,” he says.
Gibson gets his acting influences from popular culture.
“I draw most of my influences from on-screen productions. I grew up watching all kinds of sitcoms and mockumentary style comedy shows which helped develop my understanding of comedy. (‘The Office,’ ‘Parks & Rec,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Theater Class’). I like to think I’m a funny person off stage too, but my favorite theatrical moments are the tongue-in-cheek one-liners I can deliver in a style reminiscent of satire TV.
“I am definitely drawn to comedies and musical theater. This is because I generally try not to take myself too seriously. I have a deep respect for dramas, but theater for me is always about letting loose and having fun. Of course, my background is in music, so musical theater is the perfect intersection of my interests. As far as my learning style, I am all business in rehearsal. It sort of counteracts my usually snarky lighthearted disposition, but when there is work to be done, I stay very focused on my art.
“Theater is about extracting the heart and soul of a character from the written page and bringing it all to life through dramatic expression. If all you’re going to do is read lines from a script, it’s closer to story time at the library than a theatrical production. (No shade to story time at the library) In choir, you want to be a reflection of the artist’s work without much room for interpretation, but theater is so special because you can combine your own style with what is most representative of the story.
“Admittedly, I have a bit of a grudge toward many male roles in musicals because my voice has more of a baritone range than tenor. (My friends and I like to joke that so many musicals star the ‘freak of nature’ All-State Tenor 1’s who can let out super high notes like it’s nothing) This often means I have to stick it out as an ‘impostenor,’ but right now I’m super thrilled to be playing the rovin’ roustabout Chad in ‘All Shook Up.’ And, of course, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the iconic Hobo number two,” Gibson says.
He is a member of Tennessee High School’s Madrigals choir, a capella group Side Note and the Highlands Youth Ensemble. He has qualified for the Tennessee All-State Choir for three years and participated in the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.
He is a senior at Tennessee High School and is the son of Fred and Elizabeth Bartlett. He will attend Harvard College in the fall and study English. “Of course, I am so thrilled for the amazing artistic opportunities that college life will bring. I’m particularly interested in Harvard’s a capella groups, satire publications, and theatrical productions,” he says.
