Jillian Mueller MARLBORO – Having the ability to sing, dance, and act, Jillian Mueller is what people in show business consider a triple threat.
Jillian, 13, a Marlboro native, will be spending the upcoming months working in various productions in the area as well as on Broadway. She spent the last few months of 2006 performing in Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Hilton Theater, New York.
With the school year just beginning, Jillian will only be in attendance for the first month or so of her eighth-grade year at the Marlboro Middle School.
During the first few weekends of September Jillian will be performing as Brigitta in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank.
Since the show is performed on the weekends, Jillian will be attending school in Marlboro.
At the New York City Musical Theatre Festival on Oct. 4, Jillian will be performing in “Warsaw.” Jillian spoke of how attending a one-day workshop in New York City with Donna Ogle through Stars on Stage, Marlboro, led to her involvement with “Warsaw.”
She recalled how a composer had been present at the New York workshop. The composer came to New Jersey after enjoying what he heard of the Stars on Stage youths. Jillian was asked to take part in a stage reading of “Warsaw” for investors in March 2006. She was asked to perform again in the show’s performance at the upcoming festival. She expects to play the role of Chaya.
According to information on the New York City Musical Theatre Festival’s Internet Web site, “Warsaw” is the story of Roman, a young Jewish man who is trapped inside the Warsaw ghetto, separating him from his fiancée, Ana, a Polish Catholic. The show’s book and lyrics were written by John Atkins with music by William Wade.
Almost immediately after her time in “Warsaw” is finished, Jillian will begin commuting to New York City for rehearsals and performances in “Grinch.” Jillian landed the role last year during an open casting call. This year she had to audition again and ended up as one of five former cast members (of 24) to be recast.
Some of the former cast members did not make the cut because their bodies had changed.
“Puberty has no place in Who Ville,” Denise Mueller, Jillian’s mother, recalled being told.
Even though she was credited as part of the ensemble Jillian had her own character, Scallops Who, for the show.
During her time in “Grinch,” Jillian will commute into Manhattan with her father during the week and with her mother on the weekends. Jillian’s father, Bill Mueller, works in the city, so Jillian rides the train with him in the morning.
Jillian recalled how even during tech week when she would not get out of rehearsals until midnight, she would still travel back to Marlboro only to be back in the city the next day.
“I think it’s fun; it doesn’t bother me,” she said.
While performing in “Grinch,” Jillian and other young cast members will be tutored, which she enjoys. She described the atmosphere as being like a classroom with a lot of children present.
She also prefers the timing in tutoring rather than in school.
“You just do the assignments and aren’t wasting time on questions,” she said, noting that she can complete a month’s worth of math in one day.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will start running preview performances on Nov. 1 at the St. James Theatre. The show will run until January.
Jillian’s love of acting was with her from day one. Her mother recalls how when Jillian was younger she would dress up like a character and then act along with a movie.
“It’s ironic because a lot of times she would dress up like Cindy-Lou Who from the Jim Carrey version of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’ ” Mueller laughed.
Jillian said when she is at the Marlboro Middle School, her acting career is not ignored, but she said people do not treat her differently.
The Muellers are considering getting an apartment in New York since Jillian wishes to attend a performing arts high school in the city next year.
The young actress is looking at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts and the Professional Performing Arts School.
Should Jillian be accepted at one of the schools, the Muellers will maintain their Marlboro home so that their son, Jack, 6, may continue at his school where he enjoys participating in many local sports organizations.
Mueller said New York City is a different atmosphere, but it is where Jillian wants to be, although they want their son to be where he is comfortable as well.
Hopes of being a star of stage and screen have landed Jillian with an agent. She spoke excitedly of the possibility of auditions in Los Angeles sometime in January.
Mueller said she and her husband took it slow with Jillian’s acting ambitions. Although they enrolled their daughter in the lessons she wanted, they held off on signing with an agent for a while.
Jack thinks his sister’s acting career is “cool,” enjoying the shows, though he is not a fan of the train travel to the city.
Mueller does not mind the weekend commute with her daughter. She described how she has become friends with the parents of the other children. Some days she will return home to Marlboro, while other times she will have lunch or see a movie with the other parents. Mueller recalled one time when she helped a cast member’s parents move into a new apartment.
Though dreaming big, Jillian is kept grounded by her parents. Mueller said she tries to teach her daughter not to let disappointments get her down, because in show business there are likely to be many difficult moments.
Jillian recalled one such instance where she did not land the role of Jane Banks in “Mary Poppins.” After coming through several phases of auditions Jillian was ultimately denied the part because she was too tall, mother and daughter recalled.
“My parents have supported me throughout,” Jillian said.
One such instance of her parents’ support was seen when Jillian was to perform at a national dance competition in Atlantic City. Jillian’s dance solo was to be performed at 7 p.m., but she had an audition in New York at 1 p.m.
She recalled how her audition ended at 4 p.m. so her father rushed her home and then did everything he could to get to Atlantic City by 7 p.m. on a Friday summer evening. They arrived about 30 seconds too late, but the officials allowed Jillian to perform.
The one role Jillian would love to have one day has just recently left the Broadway stage. Her dream is to land the role of Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
“It’s just one [role] that I have to play,” she said, adding that she has faith that one day the show will return to Broadway.
Acting is a part of Jillian and what she wishes to do for the rest of her life. When asked if she would attend college in the future, she said she might.
Her dream is that by the time college comes along she will have a successful career under way, but she said if she does go to college, she will be studying acting.
Jillian’s mother hopes for the best with her daughter’s dreams.
“Every parent wants their child to be successful at what they enjoy. This is what Jillian enjoys,” Mueller said.