It pays to be in the right place at the right time. Several months
ago Osterville native Andy Hallett was singing at B.B. King's, a
dinner theater in Los Angeles, when Joss Whedon, creator and
executive producer of the WB series "Angel," walked in.
Whedon liked what he heard and invited Hallett, 25, to audition
for an upcoming role in the show. Hallett, who never acted before,
auditioned three times and got the part.
Hallett made his TV debut in
the season premiere of "Angel"
last Tuesday night. He will also
appear in the third, fifth and sixth
episodes and possibly other
episodes.
"I feel absolutely blessed,"
Hallett said, about his lucky
break.
He plays a "crazy character"
who is the host of a karaoke bar
that's a safe haven for demons
and vampires.
"He's a real loungey type of
guy," Hallett said during a phone
interview from his Hollywood
home. "But it's much deeper than
that."
Hallett describes his
character, who resembles a slick
devil wearing a white dinner
jacket, as a "good demon" who
can read the souls of people
when they sing. The bar
symbolizes a peaceful place
where creepy-looking patrons
and humans can mix and mingle
and take turns at the mike.
During the opening episode
the title character, Angel - a
vampire/demon turned good-guy, private detective - sought advice
from Hallett's character to help a female client. Hallett's character
also coaxed the reluctant Angel to go on stage and sing the Barry
Manilow hit "Mandy."
Hallett found working on the set fun. "Everyone was nice and
extremely professional," he said.
A 1993 graduate of Barnstable High School, Hallet said he was
shy about revealing his interest in performing when he was
younger. He got his feet wet at a Patti LaBelle concert in Boston a
few years ago when the singer picked him to come onstage and
sing with her. The star and the audience were surprised at how
well he sang.
"She called me a white boy with soul," Hallett said.
Hallett earned a degree in management and communications
from Assumption College in 1997. After graduation, he went to
L.A. to pursue an acting/singing career. He appeared in a few
commercials, but never had a speaking role until "Angel."
Hallett, who works as a property manager, hopes to land more
show biz jobs.
"I'm living life and loving it," he said.
His parents, David and Laurie Hallett, of Osterville, eagerly
watched the show Tuesday night with a houseful of guests.
"We loved it. We thought Andy was great," Mrs. Hallett said.
