From Broadway Beginners to Broadway Tour!

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Leo Caravano was only 4 years old when his parents enrolled him in Ms. Lisa’s Broadway Beginners Class. She was teaching them a simple scene to set up the song they would perform. She directed Leo to sit in the middle of the stage and be sad while the rest of the class pretended to play at recess. His body slumped and a look came over his face that was so authentic, she knew he had something special. Lisa made it a point to tell Leo’s parents so after the recital. She explained to them that Leo is not only perfectly adorable, but that he gets it. He’s directable, emotionally intelligent beyond his years, and could definitely book commercials, if they had any inclination to pursue that for him.

Then COVID struck.

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The next opportunity Leo had to perform was at Elefante Musical Theater Camp 2021.

Leo was enrolled as a Little, the youngest group of campers who perform their own numbers. Ms. Lisa got to work with him again in the afternoons. She agreed when Ms. Sarah and Ms. Emily thought to cast Leo as the title role in the performance of the song, The Candy Man. Mom asked if he understood what a big deal it was and that it was an important responsibility. He said he knew and that it was fun.

The following summer, 2022, he was given a solo in the song “Applause” at camp, working in the medley with Ms. Karen. Alison, Leo’s mother, recalls how much Leo enjoyed working with Garrett, one of the interns performing in the same medley. Garrett has been a student with Elefante continually since 6th grade, is now a graduating senior and will be playing Horton in Seussical at Elefante’s Musical Theater Intensive camp this summer before heading to Syracuse. Alison said that Garrett had been so welcoming and encouraging, and filled Leo’s experience with such abundant positivity, that Leo’s love for theater grew exponentially. She remarked that it was just another example of how Elefante is so special. Karen saw Leo's potential, too, and asked Leo’s parents if she could send a video of Leo singing his solo to the manager and an agent of a talent management company with whom she had a long standing relationship.

Following the summer, Leo was enrolled in Ms. Susie’s 3 in 1 class at Elefante. During that semester, Susie, recognizing Leo’s talent as well, suggested that Leo audition for the Chatham Community Players’ production of “A Christmas Carol '' which she was directing. At age 7, he was cast in the role of Tiny Tim for which he received rave reviews. Leo loved the experience so much he was sad when it was over.

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After “A Christmas Carol”, he was ready to start looking for shows and going on auditions. He was cast as JoJo in the Pixie Dust Players’ production of Seussical and that was it, Leo was hooked.

“I really want to audition for Broadway”, Leo told his parents.

They realized they would need a little help and reached out to the talent management company they’d met through Karen. Leo started being sent on more serious calls.

Yet another Elefante teacher, Ms. Laura, joined the cast of supporting characters, and  coached Leo on creating videos for audition submissions.

By October of 2023, Leo was being sent on calls for professional acting jobs. His first Broadway audition was for The Who’s Tommy. He got a callback, but didn’t book it.

Then, he submitted a video audition for the role of Gavroche in the National Tour of Les Miserables. He got a callback to come in person.Two days later he received the call he had gotten the part.

Before long he was jetting off to Toronto, where his whole family went to see his debut.

Leo’s mom, Alison, who taught music for many years, thought perhaps she would be biased because, well, it’s her kid, but says his “performance blew me away”.

The Les Mis tour run continues in Toronto through 6/1/24, then Leo and the cast are off to Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Ottawa, Montreal, and Boston. For those of us in the New Jersey area hoping to catch Leo's performance as Gavroche,  this little comet finally passes closest to us in August, at The Academy of Music in Philly starting 8/27/24.

You can bet his many Elefante fans will be getting tickets!

Ready to unlock your musical potential and discover the joy of music? Whether you're interested in music lessons or performing arts classes, Elefante Music and School for the Performing Arts is here to help you transform yourself and reach new heights. Visit www.elefantemusic.com and join us in spreading the love of music. Keep learning, keep growing, and let's create beautiful music together.

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