This year the play Godspell took NHS by storm, and one actor stood out both on and off the stage. Without Austin Argo, Godspell would not have been the same play so many students saw and loved. Argo is diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.

Argo has been participating in school plays since his freshmen year in high school. And this year when

Godspell appeared on the NHS stage, Argo performed once again. 

“I was one of the many chorus members,” Argo said. “I was one that had multiple speaking roles.”

Argo’s first performance was at his old school in Illinois during his freshman year of high school.

“It was musical rendition of Beauty and the Beast,” Argo said. “I was one of the enchanted castle folk, a cheese grater.”

Last year Argo participated in Fiddler on the Roof in the chorus where he first made his mark in the NHS theater department.

“I did the music and choreography last year in Fiddler and that’s when I met Austin,” Debbie Wittstein, director of both Fiddler and Godspell, said. “And he just blew me away at the auditions. He does have that gift where he hears something one time, and he doesn’t forget it.”

Argo, besides memorizing his own lines for Godspell, was able to memorize all of the dialogue in the play. He also learned the stage entrances and song cues, pointing them out to the other performers when they forgot.

“I don’t want people to forget [their lines], and [I] remind them of what they are,” Argo said.

Argo demanded a perfect show, and his attitude caught on with the other performers.

“[Argo] never missed a cue, or anyone else’s cue he was filling in for,” stage manager senior Zoe Vandewater said. “He helped rehearsals run smoothly.”

Argo’s passion for perfection bled into his love for dance and choreography within Godspell.

“Probably my favorite part was ‘All for the Best’

because it…was one of the few parts which during rehearsal we didn’t mess up a lot,” Argo said. “And the choreography was fun.”

Even with his eye for precision, Argo also had an ear for improvements.

“And he’s very creative as well,” Wittstein said. “There’s a lot of improvisation [in Godspell]. He came up with good, funny bits for himself. He’s quite a unique individual.”

Argo wanted to continue acting in the future, not only for the thrill of being on the stage, but also for a more thoughtful reason.

“[I’d continue] to keep doing musicals because it’s something that is fun to do,” Argo said. “And the

moments are things that really last for a long time.”