Tiny Tims open hardest of hearts in Metropolis' 'Christmas Carol'

Patrick McDermott of Arlington Heights follows in a line of siblings nationally ranked in speech, who often practiced their deliveries on their youngest brother.

His father, Scott McDermott, associate principal at Prospect High School, has coached speech at the high school level for more than 20 years. Yet Patrick has a different plan for his oratory skills: He wants to perform.

The first grader opens this weekend as one of three Tiny Tims cast in “A Christmas Carol” at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. He shares the role with 10-year old Sophie Kaegi of Palatine and 9-year old Lilly Fujioka of Buffalo Grove.

“It's my first show at Metropolis — with grown-ups and big kids,” Patrick says.

He is only 6, but already he has several principal roles to his credit, including parts in “Annie,” “Aladdin” and “Lion King” at Metropolis School of the Performing Arts. He also played Michael in last summer's production of “Peter Pan” with St. James Theater.

This month he was cast as Winthrop in St. Viator High School's production of “Music Man.” Earlier this fall he landed a role in “Elf” at the Lincolnshire Marriott, but ultimately the family pulled him out because of transportation difficulties.

As Tiny Tim, all three young actors are called upon to move the audience with their depiction of the youngest Cratchit family member, whose joy in life transforms the hearts of all around him, even the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge.

“Our three Tiny Tims are wonderful performers and all locally grown talent,” says Joe Keefe, executive director of Metropolis.

Lilly trains at the School of the Metropolis, appearing recently in “Alice in Wonderland” and “Wizard of Oz.” Sophie has appeared extensively in musicals produced by ArtReach Educational Theater in Palatine.

In January, she played Charlotte in “Charlotte's Web,” and appeared as one of the boys in “Peter Pan” last month.

Director Micky York says Patrick came to the casting call wearing Tiny Tim's hat and scarf.

“(He) basically was Tiny Tim,” York says.

“All three of our Tiny Tims are great and each brings something unique to the role and to the Cratchits,” York adds.

“In this version of “A Christmas Carol,” the relationship between Tim and his father, Bob Cratchit, is really important and it's been fun to watch them all grow as a family.”

Together, the Tims anchor a cast of more than 30 actors in this musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale. Many of the cast performed recently in Metropolis's very successful run of “Monty Python's Spamalot.”

Patrick turned to his experienced older siblings to flesh out his character. Jimmy McDermott is a junior at Prospect and has appeared in every play and musical offered at the school since he started.

Last weekend, he and his sophomore sister, Molly, started the competitive speech season. Both won national titles in middle school, and last year, Jimmy qualified for the state tournament in original oration.

Another sister, Erin, was the youngest national speech champion last summer and she now is working to start a team at South Middle School.

As a group, they encourage their youngest brother and often watch him perform on his home-built stage in their basement.

Scott McDermott says of his four children, Patrick is the most focused on performing.

“I love singing,” Patrick agrees. “And dancing, and acting.”

“Basically,” Scott McDermott says, “I feel pretty comfortable when he says he's doing this for the rest of his life.”