Nolan Neumeyer got into theatrical productions in the third grade after his parents suggested he try the drama club.

“I gave it a try. I really loved it so I did it all these years until now," the 11-year-old said.

Now in the fifth grade at Port Orange's Horizon Elementary School, Neumeyer has run with his parent's suggestion. He is set to perform Saturday on the stage of Daytona Beach's Peabody Auditorium in Teatro Lirico D'Europa's performance of "Madama Butterfly."

Presented by the Daytona Beach Symphony Society, Giacomo Puccini's opera portrays the story of a 15-year-old Japanese girl who falls in love with a U.S. Navy officer around the turn of the last century. The officer leaves Japan before eventually returning with an American wife. Neumeyer takes on the non-singing role of Sorrow, the child of the officer and the Japanese girl.

The show at Peabody Auditorium will feature about 50 people, including an orchestra, according to Giorgio Lalov, the company's artistic director.

He stressed that this will be a traditional performance of the famous opera, with his group putting on the stage what Puccini had "in his mind."

"We have traditional sets, traditional costume, Japanese costumes," Lalov said. "Everything is traditional."

Lalov said the need for a local child to take on the role of Sorrow stems from not being able to tour the show with a kid.

"He appears on stage two or three times during the show," Lalov said. "It's worked this way very well because a lot of people love to see their local child being on stage."

For Neumeyer, the role comes after seven or eight productions over the last few years. He has already sung the national anthem with a group of students in the more than 2,500-seat auditorium where he will take his turn at "Madama Butterfly."

Asked if he was nervous, he replied, "No, I've done it a lot. I've been on stage in front of a lot of kids."

He then added: "I'm kind of nervous, when I'm first starting the play I'm like 'I'm not nervous at all,' but then when I'm heading there I'm like, 'I'm super nervous.'"

His acting aspirations don't stop here: "I'd really like to perform for TV shows like (on) Disney Channel," he said. "I just want to get better at performing through this."

The 11-year-old's experiences on stage have also been fun for his parents, Amber and Scott Neumeyer, who initially suggested drama for him because he was talkative. Now, they will often practice the scripts with Nolan at home.

"We actually enjoy the opportunities of sitting and reading with him," Scott said.

He hopes his son will gain something he enjoys doing from the experiences, whether he ends up doing it professionally or just as a hobby.

"As parents who work for a living, I’ve always believed that ... 'If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life,'" Scott said. "If this could be something that he could do, let him follow it, let him do it and please don’t ever have to work a day in your life."