Thursday, August 11, 2011

Spotlight On...Wesley Tunison


Name: Wesley Tunison

Hometown: Freehold, New York

Education: Columbia-Greene College-Humanities, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy-Musical Theatre , Gene Lasko-Acting, Michael Hauschild-Improv.

Select Credits: AZ in Angelina Ballerina, Union Square Theatre

Why theater?: It's my sisters fault. She was a star in the making and my mom was a show mom. I tagged along and then all of a sudden I got caught up in the magic. I started getting paid for shows and I said this could work...will do. I realized how much fun it is to live someone else's life 8 times a week. My parents both being fine artists nurtured and supported my move to make acting a profession. There is no greater joy then knowing I can give someone a short vacation from their life and to have them go away to a different place for a little while till the curtain falls.

What is it like to be a part of Zombie Wedding?: It is a brilliant experience. The show has lots of potential. It is nice to work on a fairly new piece of material in a room stuffed with amazingly talented people. Going into each rehearsal you are creating the character. Almost every day we add or get rid of lines in our earnest efforts to make the best show possible.

What is it like to work on multiple pieces at once? How do you keep all your characters straight?: Working on multiple pieces at once tends to happen in my life quite frequently. I often find myself in shows that overlap. It is quite fun and keeping your characters straight is a lot easier then you would imagine given the set, costumes and the characters around you. Your muscle memory kicks in and after doing the show enough times you start to feel exactly what the character is supposed to feel.

Any role you’re dying to play?: White Dude in The Toxic Avenger.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: First seeing War Horse in London two years ago I instantly fell in love with it. I recently saw the new production at Lincoln Center and I believe it is one of the best shows that you can currently see.

What’s up next?: Working on a new short film called 8:46 and continuing my Off-Broadway run of Angelina Ballerina.

For more information on Wesley, visit him at http://wesleytunison.com/