"You know, all the hot guys play sports and all the girls like sports, but you know you meet some girls in drama, too, and it’s a lot more fun than sports. I’m not the best athlete, but I’m pretty good in the head so that helps me a lot," says 14-year-old Ted Harvey as he prepares for his part as the bull in Applause! Cary Youth Theatre’s production of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" at Old Cary Elementary School.

Rachel Green, the youth theater coordinator, helps Ted and other cast members apply makeup for the first dress rehearsal during the final week of rehearsals before opening weekend. The play's run begins today. This is Ted’s second play with Applause!, which casts children from 8 to 18. Ted, who started acting in his church around fifth grade, has been in several school and church productions as well.

"My mom really, really liked it when I said I liked it [acting]. My dad, you know, it took him awhile to really figure it out. He had to figure out that I really liked it a lot, and once he did, he encouraged me," says Ted, who wants to pursue acting as a career.

When Ted talks about drama, he says that he enjoys the "adrenaline rush" but that acting has also made him more outgoing. "It's helped me on my social skills to meet new people because tryouts, you know, you just walk up and talk in front of people you don’t even know."