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Employee Benefit Administration • Human Resources } 30 | April • 2011 EbenConcepts does more. “Grady was one of the kids that grew up in this theater literally,” “Going to Broadway — it’s an unbelievable accomplishment and it does not happen for many,” she said. “He has talent and is likeable — not all have that combination. He is a team player and you want him on your team and he is very creative in the way he thinks.” - Bo Thorpe Healthcare Reform Experts • Orchestrate HR Products Exclusive Benefit Broker for Orchestrate HR Products and Services. The ORCHESTRATE HR model is an Employer Services Organization (ESO), offering a variety of services designed to supplement an existing HR function or create an HR function where one does not exist. Designed for companies over 100 employees or those experiencing rapid growth, products and services include: • Employee Benefits Brokerage • Third Party Administration (TPA) • Managing General Underwriter (MGU) • Human Resource Technology • Payroll Services 921-C S. McPherson Church Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28303 910.323.0290 www.ebenconcepts.com www.orchestrateHR.com The writing was minimal but the way it was directed brilliantly evoked emotions from the audience and cast alike. He left “Billy Elliot” in September of 2009 to take an out of town workshop to work on “Wonderland”, another Broadway show that is scheduled to open on April 17. “There’s a lot of big shows this season, but “Wonderland” is the first family, kids oriented show that’s opened in awhile”, said Grady. “The music is catchy. You just never know how long it will run.” He landed his first Broadway role in the ensemble of “The Pirate Queen” where he did 85 performances beginning in June 2007. The process was arduous and he was 23 when he first auditioned and 25 by the time the show actually opened. His second Broadway show was “South Pacific” which opened in 2008. He toured with the show for five months in the role of “swing” where he covered the male ensemble parts and served as assistant dance captain. Bo Thorp, the owner of the Cape Fear Regional Theater, remembers Grady with great fondness, and with good reason. Some of Grady’s earliest stage experiences took place in her productions. “Grady was one of the kids that grew up in this theater literally,” Thorp said. “Going to Broadway — it’s an unbelievable accomplishment and it does not happen for many,” she said. “He has talent and is likeable — not all have that combination. He is a team player and you want him on your team and he is very creative in the way he thinks.” Grady’s professional debut came at Fayetteville’s Little Theater at the age of five in a play called “Listen to My Song”. McLeod, his godfather, was also in the show. McLeod was a staple at the Cape Fear Regional Theater, as well, and was influential in getting Grady involved in the local acting scene. The two performed together in numerous productions. Over the years McLeod drove Grady to several auditions, from commercials to movies in Wilmington, which helped Grady to land a film role in two episodes of “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”. Throughout his childhood he was repeatedly cast in the annual community favorite production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and he said that he loved working in the local production of “Big River”. Working under Dirk Lumbard in “My One and Only” was another memorable theater experience. Lumbard set the show and it was then that he had the chance to dance alongside Harold Nicholas in a tap role created for him as a shoeshine boy. Pondering the moment, Grady said: “What an awesome experience to be able to dance with Harold Nicholas at that age.” At an early age he began dance training with the Linda Kinlaw School of Dance and at age 10 he began taking private lessons with Eddie George. By the age of 15 he went to Chapel Hill on the weekends to perform tap with the N.C. Youth Tap Ensemble. Grady warmly recalls his time at Brentwood Elementary School, Lewis Chapel Middle School and Seventy-First Classical High School. It was at Seventy- First Classical High School that he first experienced a specialized school that was focused on the arts. There he had the opportunity to take modern dance classes in the school’s new facility. Later in his high school years he also had the chance to travel with a touring group called Common Ground performing tap, Irish dance and clogging. Grady also played sports throughout his childhood, including soccer, baseball and wrestling, and he credits his muscle development to his time in sports. As fate would have it, his dance

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