THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510030088
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, you'll see Michael Lemelle's chiseled face in Spike Lee's latest movie, ``Clockers.''
He's lying in a pool of blood with his eyes wide open, seemingly dead from a gunshot wound to the face.
``I haven't seen it yet, but a lot of my friends have,'' said Lemelle, 23, a budding local talent primed to hit it big nationally. ``I stayed in New York for a week while they shot some video of me. I didn't know what they'd use, but I never said anything ... even though I got the part because of my voice.''
Ah, yes. His voice. Imagine the rich bass of a James Earl Jones, minus a few decades of seasoning, and you get an idea of the resonance of Lemelle's voice. An accomplished actor, singer and musician, Lemelle has appeared in countless local productions over the last decade, including ones for the Hurrah Players and the Norfolk Public Schools' Performing Arts Repertory.
He is currently starring in a lead role at the Founders Inn Dinner Theater in Virginia Beach. Lemelle plays Jim in the troupe's production of the Tony award-winning ``Big River,'' a musical adaptation of Mark Twain's ``Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'' It runs four nights a week through Oct. 15.
But back to that voice and ``Clockers.'' After reading about the audition in an entertainment trade magazine, Lemelle packed his bags and set out the next morning for New York. When he arrived at the public school auditorium where the audition was held, Lemelle was thrown in with hundreds of other actors vying for a few coveted ``cosmetic'' roles, or spots as extras. As he waited in line, someone asked him for the time.
Lemelle's answer - or actually the way in which he answered - caught the attention of a Lee producer. After complimenting him on his voice, she asked Lemelle to stay in New York a few extra days. He ended up working with the Lee production company for a week. Although the result was just a brief cameo, Lemelle is betting on the future.
``I'm hoping maybe the next time they do something, they'll remember me and my voice,'' he said.
By all accounts, his voice is memorable. His singing range stretches three or more octaves, and his power is formidable. But local directors say Lemelle has far more than a voice going for him.
``He's larger than life, a real awesome presence on stage,'' said Gary Spell, director and producer for The Founders Inn production. ``If it were just an issue of talent, there would be no question that Michael will make it. He's really talented. And his voice is so unique. He's just so versatile and dynamic.''
Connie Hindmarsh, director of the Norfolk schools' performing arts program, said:
``He has a voice that stops the show. It's a great gift from God. But he's really multitalented. He has so much character and so much charm and such a great work ethic. Michael is just super.''
Hugh Copeland, director of the Hurrah Players, agrees:
``He's exceptional,'' Copeland said. ``I don't think he realizes how good he is. He blows people away with that booming voice. That gets him in the door. But he backs it up with all his other talents.''
Lemelle's future in the entertainment industry is bright, they all agree.
``He's focused, and he makes every effort to develop a character,'' Copeland said. ``And as a person, he's so honest and real. The cast just loves working with him, the adults and the kids. He's very insightful and aware of people. He's caring; he's perceptive. He makes everyone comfortable. I think that's what I like most about him. I believe he's got what it takes to make it.''
Even as a toddler growing up in Park Place, Lemelle yearned to perform.
``My mother said I was singing before I could talk,'' he says with a laugh. ``I knew all the words to the commercials on television and to my favorite cartoon show, `Scooby Doo.' ''
At 5, he got his first chance to perform before an audience other than family members. Already recognized for his unusual vocal abilities, as a preschooler he narrated an entire Christmas production at the Hunton YMCA.
Before long, he was singing at church and performing with his brother and sister at family reunions. As young teenagers, the two brothers began staging comedy acts for area teen clubs and variety shows. They soon pulled their more-introverted sister into the act, too.
Lemelle's first real training, however, came after seeing a Chrysler Hall production presented by a Norfolk State University-based troupe, called the Children's Comedy Factory.
``After watching them, I said to my mom, `I've got to do this. I've got to be in this company NOW,' '' he recalled.
After auditioning, both Lemelle and his brother became part of the troupe and soon were traveling up and down the East Coast, doing musical and comedy performances with other inner-city youth. Artistic director Renee Williams-Walke became Lemelle's mentor.
At 15, he won a coveted spot in the Norfolk Public Schools' Performing Arts Repertory company, based at Lake Taylor High School and directed by Hindmarsh. While in the company, he took part in productions of ``The Wiz,'' ``42nd Street'' and ``Alice in Wonderland.''
During high school, he regularly put on shows as an employee at The Fudgery at Waterside, a job that required lots of loud singing and stage presence.
After graduating from Granby High School in 1989, Lemelle enrolled at Hampton University with the intention of majoring in vocal performance, but after two years his career ``took an upturn. I just couldn't do both,'' he explained. ``I was too tired.''
Offers to perform locally and in regional productions soon came one after another. Hindmarsh invited him back as a guest artist for a role in ``Annie.'' Copeland asked Lemelle to star in productions of ``Starmites'' and ``Aladdin.'' The young actor started doing parts in Family Channel productions, got a few jobs doing local commercials and landed roles in several regional productions, including one for Theater Four in Richmond. In 1990, he even got a chance to direct a production of ``A Raisin in the Sun'' at Chrysler Museum.
He also formed his own talent and production company for producing shows in local clubs.
To make ends meet, he works with his father in an electrical business and runs a part-time lawn service. He also works occasionally as a grocery bagger at Food Lion on Hampton Boulevard, a gig he can't say no to.
``I create a real scene over there when I work,'' he said with a smile. ``They won't let me quit.''
After years of creating a reputation locally, Lemelle is now eager to make the leap from regional productions to ``the big time.'' Each week, he scans the trade magazines for auditions, hoping for a break. He dreams of doing voice-overs for Disney.
``I'm passionately driven,'' he says. ``For me, performing is such a rush. I've never used drugs or drank, but I'm assuming that's what it would feel like. Being on stage is so powerful.
``Actually, I'm most comfortable when I have an audience, whether it's on the street corner or on the stage. I would be very unhappy if I wasn't in the performing business. If I had to, I'd settle for being an usher in a theater, just to be in the arena. But I'm fortunate that I'm talented.''
A husband and father of two young daughters, Lemelle admits he'll need some breaks to get national show business opportunities.
``It's kind of hard, but I just pray on it,'' he said. ``My wife's real supportive and is willing for me to do whatever I have to do. I've done just about every aspect of the theater and by having that much experience it lessens the obstacles. This is a very difficult field, but I have God on my side.
``I know I will succeed.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Norfolk resident Michael Lemelle is playing the lead role in ``Big
River'' at the Founders Inn Dinner Theater.
KEYWORDS: INTERVIEW PROFILE by CNB