Orrville music teacher finds a prince of a role on stage
Grayson Abend
Grayson Abend, the vocal music teacher and director of choirs at Orrville Middle School and High School, has quickly become involved in the local community since moving to the area after graduating from Ohio State University in 2022. Abend, a music education major while at OSU, is starring in Summer Stage Wooster’s production of “The Little Mermaid,” playing Prince Eric.
Abend has been involved with theater in some way for much of his teen years and now his young adult life.
“I got started in drama in seventh grade,” Abend said. “All of my friends were doing it, and I wanted to give it a try. I enjoyed it so much that I almost majored in musical theater instead of music education. After graduating from high school, two of my friends and I started a community theater group in my hometown called Trinity Theatre Company. The company has evolved into the local theater troupe performing two shows every summer.”
One of Abend’s roles at Orrville City Schools is serving as assistant director of the Orrville High School Drama Club, which naturally led him to Summer Stage Wooster.
Abend became involved with the local group when the pianist for the Orrville City Schools, Sharon Grimes, sent him audition information and encouraged him to try out.
Abend had another reason to consider auditioning. “I knew that Director Todd Patterson would recognize my name since he coached my dad in wrestling at Wooster High School,” Abend said. “I just had to meet Todd.”
Abend has enjoyed practicing and performing with the group. He had not performed onstage himself since his last high school production in 2018, despite the fact he has directed several productions both at home and in Orrville.
Abend’s talents extend beyond music to another endeavor: cheerleading. He became involved with the sport when his younger sister began cheering when she was in eighth grade.
“I got dragged to multiple practices and ended up thinking some of the aspects were really cool, especially stunting, which involved throwing people in the air and holding them above my head,” he said.
Abend’s interest in cheerleading followed him from high school at Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City near Columbus all the way to Ohio State. And while he isn’t the cheerleading coach in Orrville, he does participate in Friday night lights with Orrville as the assistant marching band director for Orrville High School.
Abend cites his greatest musical influence as his college music teacher at Ohio State, Dr. C. Andrew Blosser.
“Dr. Blosser has taught me so much, and he has the best tenor voice I have ever heard,” Abend said.
Outside of his music teacher, his other major musical influence is Michael Bublé. Abend said music makes him happy, and being able to share that love with students is important.
“The best part of my job is watching my students really enjoy what they are doing, whether it be a sport, song, out-of-school activity, you name it,” said Abend, who is set to begin his third year in the OCS system next month. “Their happiness is contagious.”
You can still buy tickets for Summer Stage Wooster’s “The Little Mermaid,” playing July 26-28, by going to www.summerstagewooster.org.