Rather quickly, Mickey Rafalski’s career has come full circle – and it all started with a chance encounter in a hallway at Carmel High School.
While Rafalski was a student at CHS he performed in the Carmel Ambassadors show choir, choreographed by Ron Morgan of Performer’s Edge Dance Theatre in Carmel.
“I stopped him in the hallway one day and said, ‘Ron, should I go to New York and try to make it as an actor’,” Rafalski recalled. “Without hesitating he said, ‘Well you’ve gotta give it a try!’”
Rafalski’s life changed at that moment.
“Though it was no promise for success, his bit of encouragement meant the world to me and that’s when I started to recognize that it was feasable,” he said. “I knew then that I’d regret it if I didn’t give it a try.”
After graduating from CHS in 2010, Rafalski headed to New York City to pursue his performing career, and has been doing so in the five years since. His career has included the title role in The Stephen Foster Story in Bardstown, Ky.
Now, he’s come home to make his debut at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, where he plays the handsome Lt. Cable in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.”
“I’m excited for this to be my B&B debut,” he said, adding he has performed in a production of “South Pacific” once before at Roxy Regional Theatre, but played the role of Buzz Adams.
His current project has also reunited him with his mentor, Ron Morgan, who choreographed “South Pacific.”
“It’s fantastic crossing paths with him again,” Rafalski said.
“South Pacific” is on stage through Oct. 4. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
