Thursday, June 8, 2017

Spotlight On...Eric Wiegand

Name: Eric Wiegand

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Education: BFA in Musical Theatre/Acting at Carnegie Mellon University, Class of 2018.

Select Credits: Outsiders (WGN America); Boom (Carnegie Mellon University)

Why theater?: Theatre is where we get to self-investigate, as an audience member or artist, we get to reflect and connect with each other and understand ourselves a little better.

Who do you play in Great Again?: I play Milo in The Test by Crystal Skillman.

Tell us about The Test: The Test explores the rippling effects of a hate symbol being carved into a public school desk. Crystal does an amazing job of using this event as a way to investigate how we point fingers, shoulder responsibility, and exercise compassion in the wake of a hateful incident, particularly in a national environment such as we have now.

What is it like being a part of Great Again?: It’s my first production in New York, and I’ve been unbelievably lucky to work with this particular group of people. We’ve maintained a terrifically supportive room throughout the process, each of us very passionate about communicating these arguments and ideas.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Intelligent theatre that allows its characters to exist in authenticity and complexity. A play like the The Flick that is smart and trusts the audience to be just as smart, that’s a sort of theater that I can get excited about.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I’d love play Ken in Red by John Logan.

What’s your favorite showtune?: “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Annie Baker

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: The role of Eric would be played by my brother Ryan, I would play Eric’s bookie. Title: “Night Shift”

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I would for sure see Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin in Sunday in the Park with George.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: ASSSSCAT 3000 at UCB Chelsea!

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: ASSSSCAT 3000 at UCB Chelsea!

What’s up next?: I’m here for the summer, working on various projects and readings until I head back to school in September. I’ll be studying classical acting at LAMDA in London for the fall, then back to Pittsburgh for my last semester at Carnegie Mellon.