Notre Dame junior Clayton Goodman acting in 'Into the Woods'

Some people will travel to the ends of the earth to be involved in a theater production. Clayton Goodman, 16, of Cape Girardeau only had to go to Illinois.

This summer Goodman and 22 other high school students are presenting the McLeod Summer Playhouse/Carbondale Community Arts' All Southern High School Theater project, "Into the Woods."

Goodman has always dreamed of being an actor, so when doors opened for him he took the opportunity.

"My grandmother worked with the Artworks committee of CCA, and when I started developing an interest in performing, she offered to let me stay with her so I could be a part of the play," Goodman said.

For him, acting is not just a hobby, it's a passion. He said being in the play has honed his talents and helped him in many ways.

"Especially with me being shy, it helps me to open up," Goodman said.

"Into the Woods" tells the story of fairy-tale characters who go into the woods searching for happy endings to their dreams. There, they discover that not all the things they want will really make them happy. Goodman plays the the role of the Mysterious Man.

"I keep appearing in the middle of the story and help the characters out of tough situations," he said.

He has performed in productions of "And Then They Came for Me" and "Anything Goes" at Notre Dame Regional High School.

"My dream role would be a the leading role of the Phantom in 'The Phantom of Opera,'" Goodman said. "I got interested in the theater when I saw 'The Phantom of the Opera' in seventh grade. I said 'I want to do that' and have ever since."

Carbondale Community Arts' All Southern High School Theater Project started in the summer of 1997. High school students, disappointed that they had not had an opportunity to perform in a musical that year, approached the CCA about helping them to produce a show. The board agreed and with the continued support of the Illinois Arts Council, the show started. Goodman said he's having "a phenomenal experience" with the production and he has worked hard since starting June 22.

"Courtney, our director, is so fun to work with, and I enjoy how professional the experience is," he said.

Since then, Goodman said, he has learned more about acting and is driven even more to pursue his career. "It's nice to be able to be someone else," he said.

Though the spotlight of the theater may draw Goodman to faraway places, he said his hometown doesn't need to worry.

"I love my hometown, my friends, family and the familiarity of it. I will never fully leave Cape Girardeau," Goodman said.

He plans to major in acting and film directing after high school with dreams of moving to Hollywood.

Clayton is the son of Mark and Jeanne Goodman.

-- AleshIa Warner