Michael Arquilla

A photo of Leominster native Michael Arquilla sits on top of some notes about his upcoming musical, Beautiful. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / EMILY YOUNG)
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Leominster native Michael Arquilla is busy putting the finishing touches on his rock musical, "Beautiful," a two-year labor of love that is a part of New York International Fringe Festival.

"We wanted the Fringe to debut our show, guessing the audience might welcome this type of piece," Arquilla, 28, said on the phone Monday.
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"We tried to create moments that operate more like music videos than musical theater," Arquilla said."I didn't feel a lot was being written in musical theater that spoke to me. I'm not a person who necessarily puts on an "original cast" record at home.I'm more into modern rock, indie rock.I think there's potential to make musical theater for our generation by incorporating this music."

Arquilla started his theater career at the tender age of 9.

"(Arquilla) had this little part as a conductor and my husband said then, 'That kid's going to be good,'" said Ruthe Lew, who first directed Arquilla in summertime theatrical productions when he was still in elementary school.

Arquilla graduated from Leominster High School in 1995, where he performed in "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The King and I."

"Later I had him at the high school, and we always compared other students to him.We have a lot of talented kids, but he is an exceptionally talented kid," Lew continued.

In between receiving a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts from Boston College and a Master of Fine Arts in theater writing from New York University, Arquilla taught music at Leominster's Samoset Middle School.

But Arquilla didn't always plan on going into theater.

"I was priming myself to be a doctor.I was into the science and math thing, but I had some sort of calling.I was drawn to the theater.It's been very kind to me," Arquilla said.