Five years have passed since Bird Rock resident Ian Brininstool captured the limelight in his leading role as Oliver Twist at the Starlight Theater. If you didn’t see the play, you may remember his angelic voice and shock of blond hair from rounds of interviews with local TV stations. Now, 13-year-old Ian has inspired the San Diego Theater Critics Circle to create a new award to recognize his performance as Rudy in “Over the Tavern” at the North Coast Repertory last summer. Ian received the “Outstanding Young Artist Award” at the Craig Noel Awards ceremony held Jan. 25 at Sherwood Auditorium. “His performance was so outstanding that we bent our rules and made a special category for him,” said Charlene Baldridge, one of the group’s nine members, and a freelance theater critic for the La Jolla Village News. Such recognition is just another feather in Ian’s adorned cap, because the Muirlands Middle School student has been a ham since he was in preschool. Acting comes natural to Ian, who shows no fear when it comes to getting on stage before hundreds of people. “I like being in front of an audience, and being able to hear their reactions to the things I say and do,” Ian said. He has performed in 11 major productions in San Diego. In 2007, he spent many nights at the Old Globe Theatre, acting in a variety of roles in “Ace,” and played Danny Who in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” In 2008, Ian headed to New York City for his second play. This time, he sang and danced in the musical “Leap of Faith.” He has also had stints in TV, film, commercials and modeling. “Being on stage is way harder than TV because it’s live,” Ian said. “You can’t just cut the scene and re-start. Theater is more of a challenge. I like being in front of the people that you entertain.” Playing the star role of Rudy in “Over the Tavern” was also a cinch for Ian, who said he identified with the character. Set in the 1950s, 13-year-old Rudy is a smart, wisecracking kid who begins to question family values and the Roman Catholic Church. “[Rudy] was so much like me, it made it easier,” Ian said. “I got to be the funny kid in the show.” In his spare time — when he’s not at evening rehearsals — Ian enjoys the typical hobbies of most 13-year-old boys: surfing, skateboarding, playing basketball and soccer and hanging out with his friends. In the fall, he hopes to get into The Bishop’s School. Needless to say, Ian is moving in the direction of Broadway, and probably isn’t far away. Catch him in a local play while you can. To read more about his achievements, visit www.ianbrininstool.com.