From teacher to rockstar, Freeman stars in The Buddy Holly Story

By Sierra Takushi

As a junior, Sierra is a staff writer and photos/graphics editor for The Talon. She has a quirky fascination with slam and spoken word poetry and finds straight angle shapes (like squares) visually pleasing. Sierra enjoys exploring different types of writing and literature and likes to post her photography frequently on Instagram.

Posted: December 17, 2014

Starring as a young and energized fifties Rock ‘N Roller, Minnehaha theater director Nicholas Freeman headlines in the History Theatre’s production of The Buddy Holly Story. The show runs until Jan. 4.

Freeman performs 17 songs, and the audience gets involved in the five that conclude the night.

“We basically give a concert at the end of the show,” he explained with a grin. “People are standing up, applauding, and yelling and singing and dancing.”

He thrives off the musical energy in the production.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I get to be an actor and have funny moments, romantic moments. And then I get to be a rock star.”

Due to popularity, it is the History Theater’s third running of this production in six years. Freeman first earned his role as Buddy at a benefit in which he played one of Holly’s songs.

“People seemed to really like it,” Freeman remembered.

When auditions opened up for the musical, the director called up and persuaded the Minnehaha teacher to audition for the role.

“It was all history from there,” Freeman reflected. “I’m lucky to have this role in particular. It’s kind of a role of a lifetime.”

Juniors Sam Pickerign and Grant Dosser have supported their teacher in attending the show within the few weeks that it has played.

“I can have critics from the Broadway community that [write] reviews. That doesn’t make me nervous,” Freeman said, adding with a smile, “but when students come I actually get kind of nervous.”

-Sierra Takushi

You may also like…

Review: “Dial M for Murder” at the Guthrie

Playful adaptation brings Hitchcock classic to classic stage Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, The Guthrie’s Dial M for Murder is a charming and comedic production of a classic theatrical story. The show follows the twisted journey of Tony Wendice — a man plotting to murder...

Consumerism’s dangers and “rewards” programs

Coffee drinkers may not be saving as much as they hope If you think you have enough money to get Starbucks every day and avoid unnecessary advertisements, you’re in for a surprise. Starbucks, however, would like nothing more than to keep you — and your wallet — away...

Reflections on American culture

Compared with life in Slovakia, American routines can be ... surprising Imagine starting a new chapter of your life in a different country in a different part of the world with a different culture and language. Immersed in this new culture, you suddenly realize that...

A new era for girls basketball

New coach brings different philosophy A warm salty drop of sweat falls from your drenched forehead as you are catching your breath. You place your hands on your knees as you watch your legs tremble with aching pain. Just as you regain your strength you hear the...

History and film: fact or fiction

Is the screen an adequate medium for depicting the events of history?    This October, highly-esteemed director Martin Scorsese released a must-see historical spectacle, and the latest addition to his filmmaking oeuvre — Killers of the Flower Moon. Killers of the...