Young Arlington Heights actor front and center as 'Rudolph'

Cody Bolithon is no stranger to being on stage - or playing key roles in musicals.

The 10-year-old starred as Horton in Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's "Seussical" and the Big Bad Wolf in "The Trial of Goldilocks" at Skokie's Youth Gorilla Tango Theatre. But most of his previous roles were in "kid productions," as he describes them. Now, he is taking to a big stage - and in the title role no less.

Cody, a fifth grader at Westgate Elementary School in Arlington Heights, plays Rudolph in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical" at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

"My other roles didn't have many grown-ups in them. I've played a grown-up in a kid production before, but now, Rudolph is an actual kid and I think it's better because it's something that I haven't done as much," he said.

Cody has been singing and acting in various productions for two years now, and is especially in love with musical theater.

"Singing is my strongest part in the theater and without it it's just not as fun," he said.

As Rudolph, he gets to act, sing and dance in the beloved tale of a reindeer ridiculed for his glowing red nose. His favorite parts of the production, from Emerald City Theatre and First Stage, are "all of the songs" and "to be one of the main characters."

Cody credits his sister Haley - currently starring in Goodman Theatre's "A Christmas Carol" - for his interest in musical theater.

"I always take after my big sister," he said. "As soon as she started singing and dancing all the time I wanted to, too."

In addition to his busy performance schedule, Cody has to stay on top of his work at school, but he says it is not too hard to keep up.

"I get days off now and then, and normally teachers give me the packets I need to do," Cody said.

Looking into the future, Cody hopes to continue with musical theater. "If I can pursue it," he said, "I definitely will."