Arts, music and hoops - Geneva's Fuzak does it all
Diversity, diversity, everyone talks about diversity.
Here's something diverse. A basketball-dunking multi-instrumentalist who sings and acts.
After visiting five colleges, 6-foot, 10-inch Geneva senior forward Chandler Fuzak accepted a full scholarship to West Texas A & M outside of Amarillo, which satisfied his simultaneously specific yet expansive skill set.
"The coaches were actively pursuing me and they had a great musical theater program," said Fuzak, who with 6-7 junior brother Bennett transferred to Geneva from Wheaton Academy early in the summer.
We don't consider Kareem Abdul-Jabbar an actor and the late Richard Kiel didn't sing or dance, so picture a young Brad Garrett with hops.
"Imagine a 6-10 guy in a full-on fur suit. I would have ice packs in my shirt just to cool me down," Fuzak said of his favorite role to date, the Cowardly Lion in a Spotlight Youth Theater production of "The Wizard of Oz."
Earlier this summer Fuzak took a brief respite from the Illinois Wolves on the AAU basketball circuit to play drums in a June gig at the House of Blues in Chicago with the Batavia band Spectators. The band members asked him to join after one basement jam session.
The Fuzak boys' father, Bob, said this is a case where "two worlds that very rarely collide actually do."
"He and I used to play in bands when we were young kids," Chandler Fuzak said of his brother, Bennett. (Kid brother Dylan is a sixth-grade student at Geneva Middle School North.)
"But as we got older he veered more toward solely the sports thing and I was always the artistic guy. He excelled at sports and I kind of went the artistic route. We were kind of opposites as far as our interests went."
Making a splash like one of Chandler's Zildjian cymbals, in 2013 the tall brothers arrived at Wheaton Academy after being home-schooled and playing for Crossroads Christian Academy in Big Rock. They retained a home-school partnership with Wheaton Academy, taking one class there; being eligible to play at an Illinois High School Association member school was the family's desire.
Chandler earned all-conference selection in the Suburban Christian Conference, and Bennett also played in the top rotation for the Warriors.
Having moved from Naperville to Geneva in November 2013, the boys transferred to Geneva to experience what they hadn't to that point, attending classes full-time in a public school setting and playing basketball in "a hometown environment," Bob Fuzak said.
"Everybody at Geneva has been so nice," Chandler said. "It's been like a family."
His own family may have helped spark Chandler's creative interests. Not only does great uncle Michael DeVries stand 6-7, he's currently part of the Broadway production of "Wicked," capping an acting career that's included roles in the first national tour of "Mama Mia," a revival of "Hello Dolly" with Carol Channing, and recurring appearances in the television series, "Law & Order."
Chandler got his first plastic guitar at age 4, a starter drum kit at 10. He's played both ever since, upgrading to a Fender Telecaster Thinline and a self-customized four-piece drum kit. He likes contemporary bands like Tennis, Generationals and the wonderfully named Oh No! Yoko. With Spectators, a dance-rock band, his inspirations include Two-Door Cinema Club and Animal Collective.
He got his start in musical theater also at about age 10, with Christian-centered Spotlight Youth Theater. His first speaking role came in "Charlotte's Web" as the man who judged the hogs at the county fair.
As Fuzak has aged and gained experience he's landed more complex roles in 11 Spotlight Youth Theater productions, most recently as Oliver Warbucks in "Annie Jr." at Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst. (He had to shave his head for that.) In December Fuzak will audition for "Disney's Tarzan," which will play at Batavia High School's Fine Arts Center May 14-17.
Fuzak's height has no bearing on his ability to play guitar and drums. Six-five Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood has proved that for decades. Fuzak is concerned, though, about how it will translate to future theatrical opportunities.
His height has lent humor to performances but he doesn't want to be typecast as the funny, tall guy. Working with professionals such as Christie King, a Spotlight director and a private vocal instructor - Fuzak describes his singing voice as a "baritenor" - has enabled him to go deeper.
"I've been in shows where I've portrayed a character where people weren't seeing my height, they were seeing my character. That's one of the things my directors have helped me with," he said.
For the next several months Fuzak will play a recurring role on a Geneva basketball team that, while not an outwardly stated goal, hopes it can play in Peoria. Fuzak will then take his diverse abilities to a larger stage.
"I'm blessed to have my height and I'm able to use it toward basketball, and it's gotten me the opportunity to have a free education, so I'm very thankful for that," he said.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com
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