By Christine Bolanos

Special to the Pflag

Generally, when one hears about a musical, one thinks of  talented “grown-ups” who can do it all: sing, dance and act – not 23 experienced performers ages eight to 23.

Zach Theatre’s “Everything About a Day (Almost),” is a family musical made by kids, of kids, and for kids, that spans 24 hours in a child’s typical day. Throughout the day, children experience typical events at school, at home, and at after-school jobs such as tutoring or baby-sitting. Each event of the day is presented as a musical number.

Two of the musical’s stars are Pflugerville’s Ben and Wiley Fletcher, brothers ages 13 and 11, who are each making a name in entertainment business.

Ben plays multiple roles throughout the musical and is featured as “Workout Kid” in the musical number, “After-School Job,” while Wiley has a solo in “Monster Song,” and plays “Nothing to do Kid” and a teacher.

“I had actually spotted Wiley at one of the summer [fine arts] camps,”said Director Jaclyn Loewenstein. “I asked Tina [Gramann, Education Director] who he was and got his number. Besides the bright red hair, he has a tremendous amount of energy and stage presence. He’s like this little fireball.”

Loewenstein asked him to audition for a part in “Golly, Gee Whiz,” and Wiley landed the part. Next, Wiley got a role in “Willie Wonka, Jr.,” as Grandpa George, in which big brother Ben, also, was offered a part as Mr. Salt.

“They both have really great comic skills. They bring out personality to the cast,” Loewenstein said. “The show is very entertaining and runs just under an hour. It’s definitely worth the trip  from Pflugerville or Round Rock. It’s not your typical children’s theater production.

“People who see these kids in action realize that a lot of them are gonna go on to successful careers in singing, acting, comedy.”

The Fletcher boys are both considering careers in performing arts.

“I’m planning on being a movie star. I was planning on going to Juilliard because when we were doing our first play [Willie Wonka, Jr. in which the brothers acted together for the first time]it was grueling [rehearsals], but then actually doing it in front of an audience, that’s when I decided that’s what I wanted to do when I grow up,” Ben said.

Ben plays the “Workout Kid,” in the Cha-Cha number, “After-School Job,” which highlights four children at their after-school jobs.

In the “Monster Song,” Wiley plays a boy who doesn’t want to go to bed because he thinks there’s a monster in the closet and ends up staying up watching TV with his baby-sitter sister instead. Turns out there is a monster hiding in the closet.

“Being an actor would be a good job because it’s really fun and you get to meet new people,” Wiley said.

Tickets for the show are $13 for adults and $11 for youth ages five to 17. Show times are Jan. 23, 30, and Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Jan. 24 and 31 at 2 p.m. at 4 p.m. For more information, go to zachtheatre.org, or call 476-0541, ext.1.