English junior Adam Woolsey tosses a sword to a partner during rehearsal, April 24, 2013, at the Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, in Lansing. Woolsey auditioned for “American Idol” and will be performing in the play “My Favorite Year” starting May 30 at the Riverwalk Theatre. Adam Toolin/The State News
An auditionee for season 11 of “American Idol” back in 2011, English junior Adam Woolsey tries not to brag about the experience.
“When I go to auditions, I don’t want that to necessarily be the only reason why I get cast,” Woolsey said. “It’s certainly a good conversation piece, or a testament to my talent, I suppose.”
But when Gary Mitchell, producer of Lansing’s Riverwalk Theatre show, “My Favorite Year,” cast Woolsey in the lead role for the production, he said he wasn’t aware of the audition.
“It was only later that I found out that he auditioned for ‘American Idol,’ so that was just a topper for me,” Mitchell said. “He’s been a real asset.”
“My Favorite Year,” which runs from May 30 to June 2 and from June 6-9, is a story about 1950s television. Lead character Benjy Stone, played by Woolsey, is a writer on King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade Show. Stone is tasked with taking care of veteran actor Alan Swann, who is making an appearance on the variety show.
Woolsey’s career in musical theater didn’t start with “American Idol.” He’s been interested in it since he was young, and moved to New York shortly after his high school graduation to pursue a professional career.
“It was a phenomenal experience and a great opportunity to perfect what I had been working on, as far as talent,” he said.
His “American Idol” stint was not purposeful. An American Idol competition was being held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., the same time he went to the theme park with his family. His younger sister dared him to audition.
“It’s a mock audition process where people can go and actually perform for producers for “American Idol,” and then they participate in shows that are attended by parkgoers in an exact replica of Nokia Theater (L.A. Live) in Hollywood,” Woolsey said.
Woolsey ended up winning the competition, allowing him to audition in front of Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez in Galveston, Texas.
“I had an awesome experience,” Woolsey said. “Unfortunately I was eliminated the week prior to Hollywood Week, but it was an absolute blast, something that I never could have imagined.”
Woolsey said his “American Idol” experience holds well for his future plans, which currently include moving back to New York to continue his musical theater career.
“My Favorite Year” director Dan Pappas said Woolsey blew away his audition for the production.
“He came in prepared, he has an extremely powerful presence on stage and his voice quality was outstanding,” Pappas. “He matched with the character that we were trying to cast.”
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