“Go put in the work, and go be good at what you do,” advised Broadway star Myles Frost, who won a Tony for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in MJ.
Frost, who graduated Wootton High School in 2017, danced a few steps, sang a few notes and offered eight pieces of advice during his commencement speech to graduates on June 3.
He recalled his own graduation, wishing it would end so he could get something to eat. Since then, he said, “I am the youngest solo Tony award winner in history.”
The journey began when he started playing piano in the school’s music room, and the then-choir director, Carla Ingram, encouraged him to try out for the school play, Hairspray.
He never heard of the movie, never even thought of himself as a performer or dancer as he sat down with his mother that evening to watch Hairspray. After a few minutes of observing the character, Seeweed, Frost thought, “I want to be that guy.”
But his mother closed the door to extracurricular activities until he raised his GPA up from 1.5. He did and decided in his junior year to perform the Michael Jackson hit, Billie Jean, in the school’s talent show.
His mother videotaped that performance on her IPad and put it up on You Tube, and as they say, the rest is history.
Frost, who was clad in a red, velvet suit, urged the school’s graduating class to be authentic and not be afraid to ask for help.
“It’s not your responsibility to live up to someone else’s expectations. Create your own standards and live up to them,” he advised. But remember to have fun. “If you are not having fun, what’s the point?”
