If you dare to dream, believe in yourself
BY CARL-JOHN X _VERAJA Florida Weekly Correspondent

COURTESY PHOTO Chad Murnane, right, performing at the Summer Theater Institute Hosted by Juilliard.

Chad Murnane isn't surprised that's he's successful.

"Other kids don't have what I have…," Murnane said. "Frankly, they don't have the power."

At 16, Murnane's power comes in the form of a finely honed range of talents, clean cut good looks, energy and discipline. He sings, dances and acts and does so prolifically and has been at it since a very young age, a "triple threat" to use his words.

"At six I was in performances," Murnane said. "…I am still in several performances every year."

Not only is Murnane talented but he has received excellent instruction which he believes in heavily. In fact, he says not being trained is ill-advised on many levels…

"You have to tame your creativity…," Murnane said. "People think you can just open your mouth and sing and you're God… a lot of training goes into it…that's what the difference between me and 'American Idol' is…you have to have been trained to understand your voice…you can manipulate it to do all these things because you've been trained. Some of these people can hurt their voices…They're screwing up their vocal cords. They're frying their vocal cords. They're screwing up their jaw.…In musical theater you can't be untrained…you have to have credentials on credentials."

He thanks his parents for culturing him from an early age and getting him involved in projects. Also, he especially thanked one instructor, Leni Manno, for training him as an actor.

"I think he's very, very talented," Manno said. "And he's determined and that's the important thing."

His parents, Terry and Patrick Murnane, were in his thoughts during the interview process, especially his mother.

"Every time there was a show in town that would keep my attention she would take me to see it," Murnane said. "I saw so many shows and musicals. As I got a little older, I began to realize I don't want to be in the audience; I want to be up on the stage."

And so he was, performing for going on ten years now. If the past is any kind of indicator, Murnane has a glorious future ahead of him. A native, born in Lee Memorial Hospital, Murnane has been working locally and out of town but thinks that to be a success he will have to move on.

"It's not a cultured city," Murnane bemoaned. "That's why I'm breaking out of it."

He has already had success, winning First Place in Access Broadway of Orlando's Broadway Diva Division Advanced Competition. He won the prize for his rendition of "I'm Not that Smart."

Asked about his vision for himself ten years in the future, Murnane was rife with ideas.

"In ten years, I see myself as being a graduate of a top conservatory for the performing arts.," Murnane shared. "I plan on being an established New York based Broadway actor, and plan on winning a Tony before the age of thirty. In ten years, I see myself realizing one of my dreams, to direct, revive, produce and star in The Wizard of Oz on Broadway. I have always had a great passion for The Wizard of Oz, and believe it should be shared with audiences for centuries to come. In ten years I want to be world renown, and have at least one published CD. The CD will showcase revamped versions of my favorite show tunes allowing all generations to enjoy the style of music. I have many goals and very high expectations for my career. I will not settle for spending the rest of my life performing in some mediocre theater; even the sky isn't the limit for me, for I have no limitations!"

This sort of ultra-confident attitude appears to be paying off for Chad Murnane. After being involved in the Juilliard Summer Theater Institute, he has been accepted into a highly accredited program at Juilliard. He also got accepted into the famous Interlochen Arts Academy, that winnowed away thousands of other applicants.

He believes in believing in himself and he lets you know it. In fact, he says he has a list of quotes to help him maintain confidence.

"One is, 'If you dare to dream, believe in yourself,'" Murnane said. "One of my good friends told me this one, 'Having a back-up plan is an excuse for failure.' Also, 'You want something, go get it.'"

In the meanwhile, Chad Murnane lets his multiplicity of dreams guide him.

"I'm not one of those boring people who sits behind a desk," Murnane said. "I want to see the world, do tours and I'm determined to make it happen." ¦