Barrington boy makes stage debut in 'Macbeth'

Acting is a funny profession. Some people toil for years and get nowhere, while others seem destined to act - with everything they do pushing them into the acting life.

Eleven-year-old Joshua Heinlein of Barrington fits very much into this second group. Only a little more than a decade old, he already has a growing reputation as a performer. He is currently preparing for his appearance in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of "Macbeth," opening in previews Friday, Jan. 2.

And, here is the kicker: If you ask him how long he has been acting he will answer, "a year and a half" - a long time if you are just starting middle school, but only a flash to those actors still waiting tables while they hope for a break.

To be completely accurate, Heinlein has been acting for longer than 18 months, just not professionally. He caught the theater bug playing Pecos Bill in a third-grade play. Even before that, though, he exuded that extra something.

For as long as his mother, Virginia Heinlein, can remember, people have been coming up to her or her husband when they have been out with Joshua and saying "you should get into modeling," Meaning Joshua.

"When he was 1," Heinlein says, "he did several ads for Walgreens." That didn't bloom into a full toddler modeling career, though, mostly because the Heinleins are not backstage parents. They wanted a normal life for Josh, for his sister and for themselves.

So Josh did what other kids do. He went to school, he got involved in sports, he got involved in school theatricals, he took dance lessons. He excelled at sports.

"He is a major swimmer," his mother says, "He went to state the last two years."

But the theater bug is a hard one to shake. Josh asked his parents if he could take acting lessons. They enrolled him in a children's acting class.

"He did really well," Heinlein says. "He decided acting was what he wanted to do. He told me, 'Mom, I think this is my gift.'"

His parents didn't want to squash his dream so they took it to the next level and started taking him to different agents. On his second audition, he landed an agent.

Josh's agent encouraged him and started sending him out on auditions. "We also went to Hollywood," Heinlein says. "And they said, 'Why don't you stay in L. A.? We can find you work.'"

But the Heinleins didn't pack up their car and move West. "We said to them, 'Let's get out feet wet in Chicago, and see how it goes.'"

It has gone well. Josh appeared in a commercial for Qwest Communications and five for Donley's Wild West Town in Union. And then the Chicago Shakespeare Theater opportunity came along.

"Macbeth" is Joshua Heinlein's first foray into professional, live theater. He is enjoying it very much.

"It is a pretty cool play," Josh says, "It's a lot of fun. The director, Barbara Gaines, treats me like one of her own children. She gives me a hug whenever she comes onto the stage."

"I play one of Macduff's sons," Josh says, "I have an older brother and a younger sister in the play. I don't have any lines." But he does get to appear at the start of the play, in a chorus of people singing.

"I play a guitar," Josh says, "It's not a real guitar. It's like a 'Guitar Hero' guitar. Like you get with the game. It's a modern version of 'Macbeth.'"

Josh says he owes "everything" to his mom.

"She taught me to follow my dreams," he said. "She took me to auditions and took time off to let me do my stuff."

"Macbeth" opens in previews Friday, Jan. 2; the official opening is Friday, Jan. 9. The show runs through March 8. Chicago Shakespeare Theater is located in Chicago at 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier. For tickets call (312) 595-5600 or visit chicagoshakes.com/main.taf.