It’s been my experience that creatively inclined people have often mastered multiple talents in the artistic realm. Writers moonlight as musicians and painters as poets. Looking around the newsroom, at least three of the other reporters play an instrument, another has an eye for photography and our photo editor frequents the area’s open mic scene. I, however, have not been blessed with these talents. Writing has always been a passion of mine, but when it comes to music, I don’t even try to sing in the shower.

Fortunately, my touch of tone deaf doesn’t run in the family.

My cousin Ryan has always been talented, and by the time he got to high school, his parents realized he needed to be in an environment that fostered his love of performing. He went to the Prout School, which is known for its arts program. When I saw him play Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” while he was there, the set was incredible, the acting was impeccable and the flying scenes were flawless. Ryan too proved to be a triple threat, showing that the creative inclination I lack was in his blood. Even then I knew he was going to stick with it.

After high school he was accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where the likes of Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee were educated. While he was up in New York, I didn’t get to see any of his shows and his stint as Gilligan in “Gilligan’s Island: The Musical” didn’t bring him too close to Rhode Island, so when I heard he’d be setting up camp at the Seacoast Repertory Company for a few months, I jumped at the chance to get tickets. This most recent addition to his resume is the 2004 musical, “Altar Boyz,” a satire about a Christian boy band. It was the perfect excuse for a girls’ weekend road trip for me, my sister Heather and my cousins, Erica and Erin.

The theater was intimate and the lights made the room warm for the audience – never mind the actors. How the five of them dredged through the choreography in layers of clothing is beyond me.

Ryan played Abraham, a Jewish character who finds himself amongst the four other Catholics at the exact moment they receive a message from God, charging them with spreading religion to the masses – in an upbeat, tween frenzy inducing package, of course.

There are double entendres, hints of contradictions in the church and, more than that, commentary on how pop culture cashes in on once-sacred traditions. In one musical number, the show jokes at how even religion has been affected by the technical revolution.

“Jesus called me on my cell phone. No roaming charges were incurred. He told me that I should go out in the world, and spread his glorious word.”

After the boy band impresses upon the audience how important a relationship with God is, and how much it has changed their lives, four of the five confess to having signed a solo contract with various record labels. In an ironic twist, Abraham is the only altar boy who appeared to have truly lived the message. Ryan’s comic timing was perfect as he pointed to his yarmulke and said, “You mean I’M the only altar boy left?”

His solo song to bring the band back together was the icing on the cake. Altar Boyz was funny without trying too hard and poignant without taking itself too seriously. The show was hugely entertaining and to say I was impressed would be an understatement.

It’s more than just the work that goes into these shows, or the talent it takes to be a part of one, though. What impressed me the most is how brave Ryan is for doing what he does. We went to the evening show on Saturday, and he had to be back on stage for 2 p.m. Sunday for the final performance. Right from there, he planned to drive back to New York so he could audition for another show on Monday. He’s got to be exhausted, but in show business, there’s no time to waste.

Actors are still immersed in one character when it’s time to start thinking ahead to what character, what show and what city they’ll be a part of next. I didn’t really think much about it until this weekend because we all have a tendency to take it for granted. Their jobs make for exciting stories when compared to the average cubicle, but entertainers face rejection on a regular basis and, more often than not, spend the majority of the time living out of suitcases and boxes. It takes a special kind of person to live that lifestyle.

I might not be blessed with the talent, but I’m definitely Ryan’s biggest fan.