We continue our profiles of finalists in Morristown Onstage 2019:
By Marion Filler
At age 10, Thomas Becht already is on his way to bigger things. And the sky’s the limit.
He sings. He dances. He acts. He has performed on stage recently at Delbarton in the musical Big Fish. His TV appearances include Mysteries at the Museum on the Travel channel, Evil Lives Here on the Discovery Channel, and On the Case with Paula Zahn.
And on Feb. 27, 2019, he will compete for cash and fame against 14 other finalists in Morristown Onstage, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
But according to his mother, Kristin Becht, “He’s told us that when he grows up, he wants to be a professional soccer player and do Broadway as a hobby.”
Thomas Becht is a member of the STA Soccer Club in Morris Plains.
“I play everywhere, sometimes I play striker, sometimes I play center defense,” he says. “My favorite player is Troy Deeney on Watford (British Premier League). He’s been on the team for 11 or 12 years. He’s pretty good.”
When he is not at soccer practice or taking lessons at the South Street Studio and the Mayo Center, he is a student at the Normandy Park School in Morristown.
At Morristown Onstage, Becht will perform If Only You Would Listen, from the play School of Rock.
“I really like it, it’s a high energy song,” he says.
More than 50 acts auditioned for this 12th edition of Morristown Onstage, which aims to top last year’s record of $143,000 raised for programs in the Morris School District.
Organized by the Morris Educational Foundation, the competition is open to amateur performers who live, work or study in Morristown, Morris Township or Morris Plains, and to graduates of Morristown High School.
Becht’s enthusiasm is amplified by his older siblings, who are equally precocious. Sister Danielle performed in Morristown’s Got Talent in 2012 when she was just 8 years old.
Brother Bobby, a student at Frelinghuysen Middle School, is in rehearsal for the school play, Annie, and has the role of Daddy Warbucks. He plans to attend Morris Knolls Vocational High School and major in theatre.
His brother and sister “were all having a good time and enjoying themselves and Tom didn’t want to be left behind, so he started singing and performing too,” says Kristin Becht.
Their mutual interest has cemented a tremendous bond among the siblings, who are enthusiastically supported by their parents.
“We found a real connection among the three of them,” says their mom. “Through performance and theater, we’ve become very close. I feel very blessed.”
Fifteen top amateur acts from Greater Morristown will compete for cash and glory in the 12th annual Morristown Onstage, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $29-$79. Proceeds benefit the Morris Educational Foundation. Call 973-539-8008.