Braxton Baker was 3 years old when he made the grand statement that theater was going to be his thing:
He played guest of honor at his "Wizard of Oz"-themed birthday party wearing a suit and ruby slippers.
"He had the biggest smile," said his mother, Sarah Baker. "He just loved it. ... It's always just been Braxton and who he is. At a very young age, we saw this was part of him. It's a certain kind of magnetism he has for entertaining people, a happiness with that type of attention."
Baker, 12, is in the midst of his largest role in an
already-storied resume: He plays the lead in Dr. Seuss' "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins," a Children's Theatre Company production in Minneapolis. Getting the part has meant a few tweaks to the Bakers' lifestyle. They are living temporarily with family in the Minneapolis area. Instead of starting seventh grade at Marshall School, Baker and his sister, Zadie, 14, are being home-schooled by their mother.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This is just such a great experience at the CTC, with all these great, great people," Braxton said. "All these people who have been in hundreds of shows."
Baker has been a regular on the stage at the Duluth Playhouse -- both in children's productions and in adult casts that require a kid. He was the bed-ridden Collin in "The Secret Garden" last winter and Nathan in "The Full Monty." And on the children's theater side, he was Bob in "Twinderella" and Sky Masterson in "Guys & Dolls Jr."
In this production, directed by Peter C. Brosius, Baker plays the title character Bartholomew, who makes a run to town to sell cranberries at the market. On the way, he encounters the king. When he bows, and politely tries to remove his hat -- another hat takes its place. Again and again, despite the cast of characters who try to help him.
Kate Horvath, education director at the Playhouse, specifically remembered Baker's audition for a part in "Into the Woods Jr."
"He came in with his audition pieces and was full-on howling," Horvath said, adding that she remembered thinking: "We've got a live one."
A reviewer on the Twin Cities-based website "How Was the Show" said of Baker:
"With his slightly dorky stage persona, his wide grin and his excellent singing, Baker charms utterly, and easily carries the play."
While they are in Minneapolis, the Bakers have been considering the other auditions and opportunities open to Braxton. He is in a pre-professional training program and other theater classes. They don't have anything lined up to follow "Bartholomew," which runs through Oct. 30, but there are a couple of plans in the works. They don't intend to give up their Duluth address yet. Sarah Baker said they are open to getting an apartment in the Twin Cities.
ADVERTISEMENT
Go see Braxton Baker
What: Children's Theatre Company production of "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins"
When: 7:30 p.m. Fri., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sun. Extra shows added starting Oct. 21. Runs through Oct. 30.
Where: Children's Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis
Tickets: Call (612) 874-0400 or go to www.childrenstheatre.org .
