When the Little Theatre on Main (LTOM) first opened back in November of 2004, Alex Cervantes was more than willing to lend a helping hand. Now, as his junior year comes to a close at Cedartown High School, 17-year-old Cervantes has been awarded a scholarship from the money raised at the theatre.

Shay Bentley-Griffin, owner and organizer of the LTOM, said Cervantes is not only being awarded for his help with and enthusiasm for the theatre but his acting talent as well.

“I think he’s exceptionally talented and have thought that since I began to watch him work,” she said.

Griffin described Cervantes as a “cheerleader” of the theatre, going above and beyond what was asked of him to try and make the theatre a success.

“He’s tried to stay involved as much as he could.”

Cervantes even produced a few of the shows at the theatre back in March – deciding the themes for the shows and recruiting talent.

Griffin said that she had originally wanted to present the scholarship, the amount of which is currently undecided, to Cervantes on Honor’s Night but couldn’t because of his junior status.

According to Cervantes, he has been interested in acting as long as he can remember, but decided to actively pursue it in his early teens.

“I decided I wanted to do it in middle school,” Cervantes said.

He stated that he enjoys comedic and dramatic acting, though, he feels that the latter is his forte.

And while he hasn’t decided on a school yet (schools in New York, California and Savanna, Ga. are a possibility) Cervantes said that he will likely pursue theatre and cinematography, with a minor in education.

“That’s very smart on his part to learn more about the business and not just be totally centered on one thing,” Griffin said.

Griffin, who is also a Hollywood casting director, said that in addition to the scholarship she will also try to help out Cervantes in other ways - the first of which will be meeting a casting director from California at a workshop in Atlanta.

“There are people that I want him to meet from the West Coast,” she said.“

As for the future of the LTOM, Griffin said that shows have been on hiatus for the past month to prepare and “refocus” for a summer program. Because of low participation, she isn’t sure how long productions at the theatre will be able to continue but hopes to keep the venue open as long as possible – as does Cervantes.

“I hope it lasts,” he said. “I always enjoyed it.”

The Little Theatre on Main has been host to many weekend shows since it first opened. One-act plays, improvisation, poetry readings and music have all been a part of the productions at the theatre.