The Gospel According to...Alex Haynes

Name: Alex Haynes

Hometown: New York, NY

Education: B.A. Theater at University of Kansas, Improvisation at Upright Citizens Brigade

Who do you play in The Mysteries?: Justin one of the shepherds, and Andrew one of the apostles

Tell us about The Mysteries: It is an epic play about the bible that isn't about any particular religion but the interpersonal relationships between people. Those relationships are examined on stage and throughout the entire play as we try to connect to the audience before, during, and after the show on a human level.

Describe The Mysteries in three words: Epic human connection.

What's the wildest costume you wear in The Mysteries?: Probably a ski mask. I have some fairly tame costumes.

If you could be anyone from The Bible, who would you be?: God, not for the power, but to be able to see everything happen and know the answers to people's questions.

Which company member is most likely to actually have lived during Biblical times?: Rory Kulz. His depth of knowledge about the world suggests he's lived a long life.

Which company member is most likely to be the Messiah?: Steve Stout. He leads by example.

Most likely to become an angel?: Dominique Brillion

Most likely to hear voices in their head?: A.J. Ditty

Who's the most spiritual?: Alessandra Nahodil

On the 8th day god said_____: I'm hungry.

Are you going to heaven or hell?: Heaven? Or maybe the section of hell for people who meant really well.

Which of the Seven Deadly Sins are you?: Sloth.

What's the biggest inside joke at The Mysteries?: I don't know if we have one big one, but there is a line in the shepherds scene that is written, "this is love happening here". And Elijah Trichon has taken to saying that line in the most unintelligible way possible at random times backstage. It makes me laugh every time.

What's your favorite moment from The Mysteries?: The many moments during the rehearsal process when all the people in the room were moved to tears by one of the songs in the show, and we knew we had something worth sharing with an audience.

What is the most rewarding part about being a member of The Mysteries?: Seeing the effort I put into this show being matched by the other actors, the creative team, and The Flea staff. Each and every one of us have poured ourselves into this show because we believe in what we've created.

Why should we come see The Mysteries?: Because we have been working hard to create a meaningful, unique shared experience for you from the moment you enter the theater to the moment you leave. And I think we have succeeded.

Spotlight On...Alex Haynes

Name: Alex Haynes

Hometown: New York, NY

Education: University of Kansas B.A.'s in Theater and Psychology

Select Credits: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Judge LIttlefield/ Caiaphus the Elder, Sanguine Theatre Company); And then they Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank (Hitler Youth, The Coterie Theatre)

Why Theater?: I've been doing theater since middle school. From the start I got a rush when I learned that I could do something onstage and elicit a reaction from an audience. I love the immediacy and intimacy of the relationship between actor and audience in the theater. You can feel how engaged people are and you can hear their response to what is going on instantly. Each performance is unique because each audience will respond differently. I love the excitement and challenge that come with trying to connect and engage with a new audience each night.

Tell us about Or What She Will: Or What She Will is deals with some heavy material. It asks us what happens to a well-adjusted family when they are touched by life-altering events. Unfortunately this subject matter has become more timely due to the events of the Aurora, Colorado shooting. The actions of a single maladjusted person can affect not just individuals, but their entire families and the communities that those individuals reside in. This play deals with that subject matter by putting the events out of chronological order and making the emotional and psychological journey of the characters the thread that leads the audience from beginning to end.

What is it like being a part of Or What She Will?: Challenging. There are some scenes that are very hard to watch during rehearsal and I find myself having to exhale and shake off that intensity after seeing them. The cast and script are wonderful, and I find myself anticipating performing it for an audience to see how they are affected by the material. That being said, we certainly find times during the hard work to make each other laugh and enjoy the process of mounting this show!

What kind of theater speaks to you? Who or what inspires you as an artist?: I am most affected by theater that is grounded in real, human emotion. I once saw a one-man clown show that left me crying out of sheer joy because the character was innocently experiencing life before my eyes. I am inspired by the juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy. I find that even some of our most painful moments in life contain opportunities for laughter. Theater that doesn't shy away from letting those two elements of life life side-by-side and even on top of each other, is what speaks to me the most.

Any roles you are dying to play?: I can't think of a specific role, but I would love to play a character that is my actual age. Because of my youthful looks I find (as in this show) that I am either playing very young characters or very old characters. I would love to play a character in his mid-twenties while I am still in my mid-twenties.

What is your favorite showtune?: Is it blasphemous to say I don't particularly like showtunes? But, I do love "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

If you could work with anyone you've yet to work with, who would it be?: John Leguizamo

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Justin Timberlake. It would be called "Black or White".

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Anything on a Friday or Saturday night at The Upright Citizens Brigade or The People's Improv Theater.

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?: Blow Pops.

What's up next?: I'm getting married a week after Or What She Will closes. Then, who knows!