BETHEL — One of the lead actors in Gould Academy’s upcoming musical Beetlejuice isn’t a Gould student at all — he’s a Telstar senior. Noah Cunnington, of Bethel, will bring the quirky character “Charles Deetz” to life in performances scheduled for Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23.

On May 8, Cunnington joined his castmates at Gould’s Bingham Auditorium to rehearse the fast-paced opening number, “The Whole Being Dead Thing.” Director Karen Burns fine-tuned the choreography, helping the ensemble nail the comedic timing and physicality that kicks off the show with a bang.

This marks Cunnington’s third Gould production. Last fall, he played three roles in “A Christmas Carol,” and the previous spring, he was the voice of Audrey II in “Little Shop of Horrors.” Gould typically stages a fall play and a spring musical.

Asked what draws him to Gould’s theater program, Cunnington said, “It’s really fun. I get to be myself. I get to express something in a different way, than I usually do. And the people in the theater are amazing.”

SAD-44 Superintendent Mark Kenney explained that Telstar’s drama program has tried to rebound twice post-pandemic, “but struggled with numbers and consistent attendance to make any sort of production possible, unfortunately. This is the second time Gould has welcomed our students to participate with them which is gratefully appreciated.”

There’s no formal partnership – just a shared commitment to supporting the arts. “It is just a community partnership that was spearheaded by Telstar High School teacher and the last drama advisor, Elke Blauss,” Kenney added.

The relationship goes both ways. For the past two winters, Telstar has returned the favor by welcoming Gould student Reiley Hedden onto its basketball team, after Gould was unable to field enough players for its own.

On stage

Cunnington called his triple role in A Christmas Carol – Bob Cratchit, Marley, and Fezziwig – “a little hectic, but definitely fun.”

He said memorizing lines is the toughest part of theater, but song lyrics come more easily, thanks to a childhood spent singing.

He shares music moments with his mom and younger sister, though their tastes differ. “Sometimes we listen to music together but our music interests are so vastly different,” he said. His mother prefers pop and ’80s hits, while his sister is into modern artists like Taylor Swift. “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan is one song they all appreciate.

Cunnington gravitates toward underground music on Spotify but also likes mainstream acts such as Billie Eilish, Cage the Elephant, and Arctic Monkeys. He listens to a lot of indie as well. One favorite song, “How I Kill,” shifts tempo and beat – a quality he appreciates given his vocal range, which spans from tenor to soprano.

Audrey II remains his favorite stage role. He tries to explain how he created the deep, booming voice the character required, “I had to tighten the back of my throat.”

After graduation, Cunnington plans to attend Southern Maine Community College to study psychology, with the goal of pursuing voice acting after earning his associate’s degree.

On show night, he hopes to see friends, teachers from Telstar, and his family in the audience. He values being able to give back through theater.

“I am so grateful that they let me come here … I love it so much,” he said.

See Beetlejuice at Gould on Thurs., May 22, or Fri., May 23 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) It’s free.