Jett Bingman comfortable in and behind the scenes

When Jett Bingman graduates from Lake City High School this year, he’ll leave an empty space on the school stage, as well as behind the scenes.

Besides performing several roles in the school’s drama group, Troupe de Wolfe, and singing in the choir, he’s made himself invaluable managing the lights and sets of many productions.

Bingman arrived at LCHS from Arizona his junior year and brought along experience in theater. Since his first role in fifth grade as a singing chimneysweep he’s been interested in performing.

“I caught the bug and have been doing it ever since,” he said.

He started school too late to audition for the first show last year, so instead offered to help build the set. They needed a mock baby grand piano, a few walls and closets.

Bingman said he figured out through trial and error how to create a sturdy set after watching his family dig into home improvement projects. Since that first show, he assumed the role of technical director, while learning lines for his various roles in every production.

He played a senile, deaf man in “Nitwits,” a French dancer in “The Boy Friend,” and in the most recent show, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” Bingman played a boy caught in the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Along with acting in that show, he built staircases and a raised platform, designed the lighting and set up a slideshow. He also mentored underclassmen on operating the light and soundboard and building safe sets so they can carry on the work next year.

Theater arts instructor Sandy Seaton said Bingman is the “nicest kid with the best attitude” and calls him a “Renaissance man” because he’s in tune with the world.

“He sings, dances, acts, builds and promotes goodwill,” Seaton said. “He sees the good in the most difficult situations and helps others to see. He does not judge others, but embraces their differences and finds a way to help all of us get along.”

Bingman has also been credited with helping to build up the men’s choir and makes a habit of his usefulness, even offering to help Seaton move.

“I have come to rely on his steadfast and constant reliability and industry,” Seaton said. “He makes my job easy.”

Bingman’s motto is that if help is needed, he helps.

“I love just being useful,” he said. “I try to go through life being helpful and not making anyone mad.”

Those sentiments are also why theater appeals to him, Bingman said.

“When you can make an audience feel better, either make them laugh or make them cry, it makes me feel good,” he said. “Seeing other people happy makes me happy.”

He’s taken the same outlook to the Lake City Harmonizers, where Bingman signed on as the youngest member. The barbershop harmony-style singing group ranges in age from his 18 years to 91.

“They appreciate having a younger member, because it brings the average age of the group from 52 to 51,” Bingman joked.

He volunteers his time with the group as they spread good cheer Christmas caroling to senior citizens and attending charity events. Bingman learned about the Lake City Harmonizers when they sang for his high school choir and likes how they use four-part harmony with all types of music including old classics, gospel tunes and rock.

“I always loved barbershop quartet,” he said. “I got hooked on that, too. It’s a fun time.”

Bingman’s future dreams include Broadway or any kind of involvement in theater, perhaps even as a drama teacher. He has already promised Seaton he will assist as technical director next year while he attends North Idaho College and he plans to travel along with the Troupe de Wolfe when they go to Scotland in August 2008. The group was chosen as one of 40 high schools to go to an international drama competition, based on audition tapes that included some of Bingman’s work.

“I’ll help with as much technical stuff as I can,” he said.

Bingman is in the top 10 percent of his senior class and hopes to find a spot in local theater productions after graduating. He also likes boating and fishing and is always up for new experiences.

“Anything you can think of I’ve probably tried,” he said. “Even sewing.”

Bingman is quick to recognize the role others have played in his success, including LCHS choir director Lacie Hedahl, who he said helped him find his voice and Seaton, who helped him fine-tune his acting skills. His mother gets the rest of the credit for raising him and making him who is today.

“She taught me to be a well-mannered gentleman and think of others before myself,” he said.