South Walton teen to perform in Macy's parade finale

SANTA ROSA BEACH — A South Walton High School senior is one of 60 people who will dance and sing in the finale of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday morning in New York City.

Grayson Gilbert was offered a spot in the Santa Claus finale in September after Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center, a summer program he has attended twice, was selected to do the finale.

More than 400 people from the performing arts program in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y., vied for the 60 positions, so when Gilbert got the offer, he leapt at the opportunity.

“I didn’t have any hesitance saying yes. I was just floored,” Gilbert said. “(The parade performance) is going to be my first experience performing in New York, and really getting a tiny taste of what it could possibly be like for me.”

Gilbert, who ultimately wants to act in Broadway plays, discovered his passion for performing when he was in second grade after his mother enrolled him in the Broadway by the Beach program at Butler Elementary School.

In the years since, he’s participated in every local show he could, including plays and musicals at his high school.

“He’s an extremely talented young man,” said Don Goodrum, his drama teacher at South Walton. “He’s got a great deal of natural ability.”

His family, who weren’t able to travel to New York with him, said they couldn’t be more proud.

“Everyone is excited,” said his mother, Teresa Gilbert. “We’re getting the TVs set to record him.”

To ensure they won’t miss the live performance, Teresa Gilbert said they are waiting to meet up with their extended family until after the parade ends.

Gilbert said he received a CD of songs to memorize and that they would rehearse together in the few days before Thanksgiving, but he said he couldn’t divulge any specific details about the performance.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for anything in my life,” he said.

Televised coverage of the parade begins at 9 a.m. on NBC.