Only a sophomore in college, but he’s already scoring lead roles in productions like “The Addams Family Musical” and “Pippin.”
Cale Wilponen is a 19-year-old sophomore from Lewiston, Idaho, who is majoring in theater arts performance at the University of Idaho.
Despite only being 19, Wilponen has been making a name for himself through the UI Theatre Arts Department and the Lewiston Civic Theatre.
“It’s honestly really surreal,” Wilponen said. “Before this, I honestly haven’t really had super lead roles, but I’ve always just been involved in theater pretty much my whole life.”
Wilponen has loved theater since he was young. His mother was a dance instructor, so he grew up learning how to dance.
This fostered a larger love for acting and theater arts, which brings him to where he is today.
During his freshman year at UI, Wilponen scored a leading role in “The Addams Family Musical” as Pugsley, the wacky brother of Wednesday Addams.
Now, he’s the lead role in the musical production “Pippin.”
Wilponen sees the opportunity to step into these bigger roles as an honor and a great way to grow his skills.
Jess Hirsh, the director of “Pippin,” said in a press release that the cast and crew of this production have shown great enthusiasm and dedication through this process.
Much of this enthusiasm has come from Wilponen, according to his castmate.
Elise Von Bargen, a 20-year-old senior theatre arts major, has known Wilponen from classes and previous productions.
They worked together in “The Addams Family Musical” and are now working together in “Pippin.”
Von Bargen said she has enjoyed working with Wilponen in classes and productions.
“Working with Cale is and always has been such a joy,” she said. “He is always showing up prepared and ready to work, learn and grow, which is such a wonderful kind of person to work so closely with.”
Von Bargen also had a lot to say about Wilponen’s musical talents and ability to balance his many extracurricular activities.
She commended him for these talents but also mentioned that it makes her nervous sometimes.
“He is so musically inclined and can read music so well that I fear to sing harmonies around him sometimes, knowing he can probably hear that I’m doing them very wrong,” she said.
“I also sometimes struggle to understand how he balances doing shows, school and being in the marching band all at the same time.”
Wilponen has been acting in shows while doing school for a long time. He said that he’s been in numerous productions throughout middle and high school and the Lewiston Civic Theatre.
“Oh lord, too many to count,” he said. “Six with the Lewiston Theatre and then about three with my middle school, and numerous with my high school because I was in all of the main productions.”
Although acting has been his main passion, he’s also done many other things in the realm of theatre arts.
Wilponen has done tech for shows, lighting, costume design and stage management.
“Coming here [to UI], I’ve just been doing everything I can to do everything and just learn all that I can in different areas,” he said.
Wilponen has been trying to build up his experience through many different activities and roles.
Being able to play lead roles has been one of the largest learning opportunities for him.
The cast of “Pippin” has been very supportive toward Wilponen, and they’ve created a mutual learning environment for everyone.
“All these people have been so supportive, and we’ve all been just like a really close group,” he said.
Von Bargen shared a similar sentiment about the cast. She enjoyed working with Wilponen and the energy that he brought to everything.
“The energy he brings to any space is truly wonderful,” she said. “He is such a talented actor, and I am so excited to work with him again in ‘Ride the Cyclone.’”
For Wilponen, working on these productions and acting in lead roles has been preparation for his future goals.
Going to New York for theater is his ideal goal, but his love for it is so large that he would be happy doing anything involved in it.
“I’m very open to the possibilities of what this career might take me, and I’m very excited to see what happens,” he said.
Brooklynn Jolley can be reached at [email protected]