MANCHESTER — Julian Cullinane, a recent graduate from Manchester’s Burr and Burton Academy (BBA) always knew that he wanted to create.
“The only thing that I’ve ever wanted out of life is the ability to create something that is done out of passion,” Cullinane told the Bennington Banner from a picnic table on the now-quiet grounds of BBA’s campus.
It was only two weeks ago that Cullinane walked across the stage at BBA’s 193rd Annual Commencement to receive his diploma, alongside 196 of his fellow classmates. Cullinane’s academic career established the recent graduate as a hallmark of BBA’s theatrical program, having performed onstage in every show since his freshman year, concluding with the school’s March production of “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.” The bonafide theater Bulldog would ultimately walk his final BBA stage five days after receiving a particularly unexpected ovation, receiving the first Treat Williams Scholarship, to a tune of $1,000, at BBA’s annual Scholarship Night on Monday, June 1.
Richard “Treat” Williams Jr., Northshire resident and namesake of the scholarship, made a name for himself on stage and screen, acting on Broadway, as well as films including Steven Spielberg’s wartime comedy “1941,” and the 1979 screen adaptation of “Hair,” where he played the role of George Berger. Williams passed away in June of 2023, after a vehicular accident in Dorset.
Cullinane played the role of Claude Hooper Bukowski in BBA’s production of “Hair,” and could have just as easily played the role of William’s character in the 1979 film adaptation, according to BBA Director of Drama, Dance and Tech Theater James Raposa. Raposa served as a mentor to Cullinane during his time at BBA, and saw him fit to receive the debut scholarship he established to honor William’s legacy. Cullinane is the first recipient of the scholarship.
From a young age, Cullinane knew that he wanted to do something within the artistic space. During middle school, he discovered the world of thespianism by watching YouTube recordings of live performances.
“I started watching these shows on YouTube, and like, I was never going to be able to afford to see these shows live. I started watching shows online, where someone would just sneak a camcorder into a show and post it online, and I was just blown away by experiencing people performing live, in front of people, onstage. Acting in real time, not for a camera or a TV show,” said Cullinane.
Cullinane was bitten by the theater bug, parallel to a darker infection. The COVID-19 pandemic had hollowed out the theater program at his private, Catholic middle school, leaving him an actor without a stage. Undeterred, Cullinane rallied a group of friends to create their own space for performance, working together to stage an independent showcase based on the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” and was ultimately inspired to chase the creative spark to the halls of BBA.
In high school, Cullinane immersed himself in the world of performing arts, but found himself struggling to embrace roles and characters that required a structured and obedient adherence to the playwright’s vision.
“[James Raposa] built me from the ground up, helping me to build my character from Freshman Year until now. In previous musicals that I had done, characters were written to be a certain way. I had a hard time, even though I enjoyed the challenge, with articulating those characters in a way that was personal to me. It became challenging to impersonate the character, and that is an actor’s job, so it was a real learning curve,” said Cullinane.
Cullinane discovered an occupational strength during the production of “Hair,” stating that the interpretive nature of the show allowed him to connect with his character, and build his performance from a place of authenticity.
“I think of acting as a dive into the self. A sort of reflection of the personal psyche you have, and I research characters in a way that I can connect and translate through my own life and experiences, and bring that to the stage, and [Hair] was a chance for me to really bring that into my character,” said Cullinane.
Cullinane is slated to attend the University of Essex [London, United Kingdom] to study for a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Acting, and said that the scholarship is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to invest in his artistic ambition and success, and possibly mitigate cost-of-living concerns. Cullinane was caught off-guard, accepting the scholarship unexpectedly at BBA’s Annual Scholarship Night.
“I had no idea that this was going to happen. I was told a few days prior to attend, and went onstage with other theater classmates. We were told to stay onstage for a moment, and it was announced that I had won this scholarship,” said Cullinane.
“It hit me out of nowhere, and I do not have the words to express how grateful I am,” said Cullinane.
Raposa said that the scholarship is the first of its kind, and exists as a privately funded endeavor that will continue for as long as benefactors are able to support it.
“We will continue this scholarship for as long as we can. [Williams] was such a fixture around this area, and was such a giving and kind person that we wanted to find a way to honor him by embracing and fostering the next generation of performers,” said Raposa.
Having worked with Cullinane since Freshman Year, Raposa found it fitting to reward his growth, work ethic and ambition by awarding him the debut scholarship funds.
“One thing about [Julian Cullinane] is that he always comes out willing to work. He conducts himself like a professional, and we try to treat our students like they are professionals, knowing that they can develop into that space later in their lives if they chose to. I saw his biggest trajectory and change during his Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. Something clicked for him, and it was obvious how deep into this work he wanted to go. He was willing to work outside of his comfort zone, and he did that,” said Raposa.
“I do believe that he found his full voice over the years, and I could not be more proud. I would share a stage with him any day,” added Raposa.
James ‘Trippe’ Cullinane, Julian’s father, said that his son has filled him with an immeasurable sense of pride.
“I am extremely proud of Julian. He showed a natural talent and ability in performance at an early age, along with an outgoing and fearless approach to life. It has been the thrill of my life to see Julian develop and grow as a performer with the support and guidance of amazing and talented people like Jim Raposa, Claudia Shell-Raposa, Anya Matanovic, Julie Freebern, and so many others who have a track record of success in the business,” said [Trippe] Cullinane.
“As his father, of course, I think Julian is a talented performer, but having his mentors, and Treat Williams’ family, who are the unseen support structure, acknowledge and recognize his potential, is very validating and gave Julian a boost of confidence. I hope that he will continue to have positive influences like these in his life as he continues the pursuit and development of his craft and happiness in London,” added [Trippe] Cullinane.
Julian will be heading across the pond shortly, and left some words of encouragement for incoming BBA students.
“Never let [artificial intelligence] do you job for you. Love everyone, because hope is still here and it is not the end yet, and know that we are stronger together as people. Nobody should ever give up on their passions or dreams, and it is up to you to chase them at full speed,” said [Julian] Cullinane.
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