West Chester Teen Shines on Philadelphia Stages

At just 13 years old, Joey Caroto of West Chester is already making a name for himself on Philadelphia’s professional theater scene.

Most recently, he played the pivotal role of Jason in “Falsettos” at the renowned Arden Theatre — a complex, emotionally rich musical that intertwines Jewish identity, family dynamics and coming of age during the early years of the AIDS crisis.

For Joey, the role could not have come at a more perfect time. Just a few months earlier, he celebrated his own bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth Chaim in Malvern.

The timing made his connection to Jason — a boy navigating the pressures of growing up while preparing for his own bar mitzvah — all the more personal.

“His bar mitzvah made him feel more connected to his Jewish identity and community, especially going through this experience with all of his Hebrew school friends,” said Joey’s mom, Toni Caroto. “He loves to be a part of projects like “Falsettos” that tell Jewish stories that a lot of people can relate to. One of his favorite parts of the experience is celebrating Shabbat every Friday with the cast.”

“Falsettos,” written by William Finn and James Lapine, is a groundbreaking musical first staged in the 1980s. It follows Marvin, a father who leaves his wife for another man, and the ripple effects it has on his family, particularly his son Jason.

With themes of identity, loss, and resilience, the show remains strikingly relevant — and especially poignant in the hands of a young actor who deeply understands the weight of the material.

“This was the first time I had to perform eight shows a week,” Joey told Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. “Although it was a challenge, it made it clear that this is the thing that I want to do when I grow up.”

Joey’s journey to the stage began early. His love for performing emerged at just three years old during Tot Shabbat at his preschool, Temple Sholom in Broomall. Armed with a toy guitar, he would stand beside the cantor, strumming along with full confidence and joy.

That love only grew stronger when he auditioned for a local production of Annie at the age of five.

Since then, he’s performed with local companies including Uptown Studio, Salt Performing Arts and CMC Productions. His professional credits include standout roles as Kid Elvis in “Elvis: A Musical Revolution” and Michael Hobbs in “Elf,” both at Walnut Street Theatre.

“We feel so fortunate that Joey has discovered his passion at such a young age,” added Toni. “I honestly don’t know many people — kids or adults — who work as hard as he does.”

The Caroto family’s dedication to supporting Joey’s dream is evident. “After his last show at Walnut Street Theatre, Joey told us he wanted to ‘step it up,’” Toni said. “’Falsettos’ wasn’t just a step — it was a giant leap. He challenged himself in every way, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

That commitment to excellence goes beyond performance. For his bar mitzvah project, Joey launched the Joey Caroto Scholarship Fund — an initiative that helps aspiring young performers afford educational opportunities at the Walnut Street Theatre.

His goal is to help other aspiring performers follow their dreams and open doors for kids who share his love of theater, regardless of their financial situation.

As for what’s next? Joey has Broadway dreams — and he’s not stopping there. He wants to keep training and performing, with a possible goal of being on Broadway one day and also exploring television and film.

And with the unwavering support of his family — even if it means hours of commuting to and from rehearsals — Joey Caroto is well on his way.

“We want our children to pursue their dreams and do what they love,” Toni said. “And we are their number one fans.”

Leslie Feldman is a freelance writer.