HCC THEATER STUDENT FORMS ACTING COMPANY
By Brandon T. Bisceglia
BRIDGEPORT – When Milford’s Kevin Green steps
onto the stage April 16 at the Bridgeport Innovation Center, it will
represent the high point of his blossoming acting career.
He’ll
be playing a lead in the Pulitzer prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog by
Suzan-Lori Parks, the story of two brothers: one who is trying to
leave his life as a con man behind and another who is ready to step into his
place. The play is being performed by Resonate, a professional acting company
Green cofounded.
For Green, who began his studies at Housatonic in the Spring, 2007
semester, it’s the next rung on a career ladder that, two years
ago, Green wasn’t sure he wanted to ascend. When he came to HCC,
Green didn’t plan to stay for long: His goal was to transfer
into another college’s communications program, and then to Full
Sail University in Florida, a renowned media school.
Then he took Professor of Theater Arts Geoffrey Sheehan’s Acting
1 course.
“Geoff got me into being here and deciding that I actually wanted to
be an actor,” he says. “He helped to mold me – to push me
to do what I wanted to do. I loved it, and it came naturally.”
Green had a passion for acting since he was a child. “When I
was two years old,” he says, “my parents would bring people
over, and I would sing, dance, and do comedy routines for them.”
Since then, the 21-year-old Milford resident has found his calling.
He’s had numerous roles in plays at HCC, both behind the scenes
and on stage. He’s performed professionally for several acting
companies. Last year, he formed Resonate with several friends.
Indeed, Green seems most at home on stage. His voice is forceful yet
eloquent, his movements confident and graceful. He has a muscular build
that allows him to take on the physical demands of stage acting with
ease.
Sheehan
recognized these qualities in his budding student. He says that Green’s
talents, combined with his work ethic, made him stand out early on.
“Kevin
was inspired to learn,” he recalls. “He had enormous discipline,
and his greatest strength was his willingness to take risks.”
After
his third semester at HCC, Sheehan approached Green about joining Capital Classics,
the Hartford-based theatre company that Sheehan cofounded He auditioned,
and that summer was enlisted to play a minor role in the company’s production
of Hamlet. It was his first professional gig.
“He
had reached a level of quality that made him ready for the next step,” says
Sheehan. “I like to provide opportunities for my students to mature in
a professional capacity.”
“It was one of the best experiences I ever had outside of school,” says
Green. “It opened my eyes and made me want it even more, because I saw
actual professionals bringing Shakespeare back to life.”
Green performed with the troupe that summer, doing four shows a week
for three weeks. After this experience, he was determined to continue
building on his professional career. He immediately auditioned for
a part in the play The Underpants at Bridgeport’s Playhouse
on the Green.
Green
says it was scary at first to go out on his own, away from the tutelage of
his mentor.
“I
realized,” he says, “that if you follow the same process, and you
follow what you learned in your training, you’ll do fine.”
Green
continued to seize any opportunity to act that he could find over the course
of that year. As the summer of 2009 approached, he again auditioned for a role
in the Capital Classics’ production of The Tempest. This time,
he won the part of Ferdinand – his first major part in a professional
play.
“I
got on the poster,” he says.
Green
has not been satisfied merely waiting for his next big moment to come around.
At the end of last summer, he and a few friends from HCC decided to start their
own theatre company. They secured a venue at the Bridgeport Innovation Center,
and put on an eclectic production titled A Night of Monologues and Ten
Act Plays.
The
endeavor was a success – so much so that that Green and his company are
returning to perform Topdog/Underdog April 16 and 17.
Green
sees this as only the beginning. He still wants to delve into other aspects
of the entertainment business, to garner more professional stage experience,
and to act on film as well. Having received his associate’s degree from
HCC, he continues to take courses at the college while exploring his options
for four-year institutions.
“When
I take a look at where I started and where I am now,” he says, “I
came a long way. Now I need to keep moving forward … because I love it!”
Brandon
T. Bisceglia is a journalism student/intern at Housatonic Community College.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu