A a senior at Normandy High School, Daniel McRath has a feature role of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Joshua’s Boots by acclaimed African-American composer Adolphus Hailstork.
Set in 1878, Joshua’s Boots is the dramatic story of an African-American teenage boy named Joshua who escapes from a lynch mob to find a new life in Kansas as one of the many black cowboys who flourished in the Western frontier.
McRath plays Natty, the best fried of Joshua.
“I believe I was chosen because I was able to become Natty,” says McRath, who along with a number of other St. Louis-area students auditioned for the role. “I will give it my all!”
McRath is in his second year of the prestigious Opera Theatre of St. Louis Artist in Training Program. During the spring Artist in Training recital, he took home one of the top prizes – the $1,750 Huber Award which covers his second year of intensive vocal training.
“Daniel McRath has been a teacher’s dream to work with over the past five years” (middle and high school), said his vocal instructor at Normandy High School, Duane Foster, founder of the Normandy High School Performing Arts Academy.
“He played my son in a feature film back in 2008 entitled Pennies for the Boatmen. Daniel embodies all the qualities that will eventually make him a true Renaissance Man.”
As a senior at Normandy High School, Daniel McRath maintains a 3.8 cumulative grade point average and is ranked second in the Class of 2012. He is an active member of the Normandy Marching Band, Normandy Chorale, and the National Honor Society.
In addition to McRath’s performance in Joshua’s Boots, other leading roles have been in several high school productions including The Pajama Game and Dream Girls. He is also a former Muny Kid with the St. Louis Muny Opera.
“Daniel exemplifies the Performing Arts Academy’s theme of ‘Defying Gravity,'” said Foster. “He is constantly raising the bar in academic and social performance.”
The phrase is ironic, in the context of Joshua’s Boots, since no one defies gravity more than a survivor of a lynching.
The Opera Theatre’s production of Joshua’s Boots will be held at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of UM-St. Louis at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Matinee performances for area schools are scheduled Nov. 16-18.
