TJ Blattel has always been a fun and familiar face at St. Dominic. Everyone who gets to know him is a very lucky person. He always brings a kind, and welcoming smile to anyone at St. Dominic. TJ regularly participates in theater and journalism, these activities help TJ to play his part at this school and show his love for the things he is passionate about.
“Since I was little I’ve always been very extroverted, so I feel like me, I feel like my way of contributing to St. Dominic, contributing to theater and contributing to journalism is kind of bringing that to the table a little bit to exemplify myself and show off my best qualities, my best personality when I’m doing those things,” Blattel said.
Before TJ committed to theater, he played football. Unfortunately, his knee was injured and this cut his season short. TJ had been fully convinced that he would be doing football for his high school career. After speaking with Mr. Duncan, TJ began taking an interest in the Journalism Program. Fortunately, he gave it a shot and fell in love. Although it would be great to play football, this injury flipped TJ’s life upside down, but it also helped him realize where he was meant to be. Because of this, TJ has started commentating on sports, and he also gets to work with Crusader Nation News.
“I was convinced that I was just going to do football, and that was going to be what I did for the next few years,” Blattel said.
Although the injury wouldn’t keep him out of football, it helped TJ find where he belongs and where he can use his talents to make St. Dominic an even better place. He was able to learn a lot more about himself which forced him to get up and work for the things he wanted. Being able to surround himself with amazing communities like the theater community and his youth group helped to change TJ’s perspective. Therefore the injury wasn’t a wish, but TJ needed to find true happiness.
The Blattel family has always been a big part of the St. Dominic Theater. Before TJ’s time at Dominic, his mom and dad have both gone through St. Dominic’s program. Since 2008, Kathy Battel, TJ’s mom, has been helping with choreographing shows with past director Mrs. Potthast.
TJ has participated in many shows at Dominic, 11! He’s done roles from Kris Kringle to a Greek God. TJ really can nail any role he lands! After several shows at many different places, he claims that his favorite role he’s done is either Dionysus from 2023 St. Dominic production of Percy Jackson; The Lightning Thief or Kris Kringle in the 2023 production of Miracle on 34th Street.
Although Dionysus was not a very big role for TJ, it helped shape him to become a better actor. Although he did not get much time on stage, he knew he had to make every minute count. This role is very comedic and the director emphasized the dramatics of this character’s personality.
“I think it was just for the sheer amount of fun I had with it,” Blattel said.
Using quirks and trying different mannerisms for the character, TJ wiped the floor with his performance. His take and execution of playing this character gained him a lot of credit and compliments from peers and people viewing the show.
In Miracle on 34th Street and TJ’s role as Kris Kringle, he was able to show off his talent. This was his first major role in St. Dominic. Because of his family’s history, he was excited to show his family what he can do.
“All of them came to see that show and all of them were like, I didn’t know you could act like that,” Blattel said.
Blattel says that The Lightning Thief was one of his favorite shows because of how grand scale it was. Everything about the show was extravagant including the direction, set, special effects, and atmosphere of the show. I guess you could say it was “lightning in a bottle.” Miracle on 34th Street was also a great production for St. Dominic. The casting was very impressive and TJ showed up and showed out!
Although St. Dominic theater is his primary, TJ has also grown up doing shows with another company called Life Light. Life Light is a Christian-based performing arts group. This group uses musicals to lift each other and portray Christ’s word through a theatrical performance. They just recently wrapped up a production of Anastasia. TJ landed the role of Gleb, the villain of the story. TJ has a very strong and impactful voice which gives him the ability to play characters like Dyonosis and Gleb so well!
“I have a love-hate relationship with the whole, like, being a villain thing, because it’s like, I know I do a good job with it,” Blattel said.
It can be very difficult to do an evil role. However, it is a lot more fun of a character to play around with because of the ability to add dimension to the character. You cannot do this with a lighthearted character because you want to keep them pure.
“Especially with Gleb and with other characters, there’s so much added depth, so much extra emotion you can put into that and it’s a chance to kind of step outside your normal comfort zone,” Blattel said.
Now coming up in the spring of 2024, TJ will be taking on the role of Prince Topher in the show Cinderella here at St. Dominic. He is very excited about this show along with the rest of the cast and crew.
Although TJ hasn’t played a very romantic role since eighth grade, he is still really looking forward to taking this role. This role is serving as an opportunity to show how much he has grown since that role. A lot of guys in theater TJ has looked up to, such as Cody Peters, Jacob Moore, and Charlie Whede, have taken on roles like this, and have done amazingly. TJ wants the ability to continue the legacy. Although TJ has worked so hard for everything he has along with being injured and having his life flipped around. He never has given up and he continues to just take it day by day. He never fails to do things he loves and spreads that love to everyone around him.
