Declan Lemerande, a freshman at Scituate High School, is flourishing as an up-and-coming actor. So far, he has showcased his abilities in all Gates Middle School productions from 2021 to 2024, as well as in both high school Drama Club productions this year. Additionally, he has appeared in a professionally produced movie and short film.
Lemerande first recognized his love for acting while watching his parents perform and growing up surrounded by theater. Lemerande’s parents are professional actors who created their own theater company, the Knighthorse Theatre Company. In the spring, Lemerande’s parents performed an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet for students at SHS.
Lemerande began acting in the 6th grade, starring in the Gates adaptation of Addams Family as Gomez Addams. Later, in 7th grade, he played Davey in Newsies. In 8th grade, he won Best Supporting Role in the state of Massachusetts for his role as Britney Spears in We Will Rock You, demonstrating his dedication and passion for acting.
When asked whether there was a difference between acting in middle school and acting in high school, Lemerande explained, “The productions were much more hardcore.” Despite this, Lemerande acted in the fall play, Curious Savage, as a comedic character. He also acted in the spring musical, The Prom, as a wannabe Broadway actor—one of the leading roles.
In addition to his impressive repertoire in school productions, Lemerande has also acted outside of school. In 6th grade, Lemerande acted in the movie Salem’s Lot, which was his first experience on a professional set. Lemerande also acted in a short film, For Vincent, which he called “a valuable experience.” In the movie Salem’s Lot, Lemerande had to act as a middle school bully, which was a challenging role for him because he couldn’t relate to the character; however, it taught him a lot about how to adapt to certain roles. Lemerande stated, “The industry is a beautiful wave of confusion, fun, and excitement, and you’re not always going to get the role you want every time.”
SHS Drama Director Elizabeth Clancy has worked with Lemerande throughout the year. She noted that Lemerande is “well-rounded and can play any character–from comedy to dramatic.” She remarked, “He has a natural stage presence.”
SHS freshman August Ames, who has worked alongside Lemerande in school productions, stated that Lemerande is “definitely optimistic backstage, and it’s easy to feed off of his positive energy.” Ames remarked, “There was definitely tension between actors and stage crew, but Delcan knew how to bridge that gap. He was friends with everyone.” Ironically, Lemerande’s reputation for positivity contrasts with his character in Salem’s Lot.
Clancy noted that Lemerande is a “triple threat,” meaning he’s “good at singing, dancing, and acting,” which makes him a well-rounded actor who certainly has a future in the industry. Already thinking about the future, Lemerande has an agent who helps him find auditions. One of his most recent auditions was for the Broadway adaptation of Stranger Things.
Outside of formal productions, Lemerande spends his free time singing, dancing, and playing several instruments, including the guitar, piano, and saxophone. He also enjoys skateboarding, basketball, and baseball. Lemerande stated, “I’m always looking for things I love to do in life.”
When asked if he plans to continue acting after graduating from high school, Lemerande stated, “I do not want to stop acting.” He added, “The beauty and the magic I feel when I’m on stage is something I never want to let go of.”