Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Spotlight On...Nico Meyer Allen

Name: Nico Meyer Allen

Hometown: Hampton Falls, NH.

Education: Bachelors of Music from McGill University, Graduate of the William Esper Studio.

Select Credits: Kip in Tennessee Williams's Something Cloudy, Something Clear;  Dick in Tennessee Williams's The Parade (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival); Billy in The Rock and The Ripe;  Emcee in Cabaret (McGill University);  Orin the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors (PDP, Inc.).

Why theater?: Because I can work a fourteen-hour day in a rehearsal, go home so entirely spent, and feel glad.  Because the text of a play can provide a scaffolding for me to discover parts of myself and my relationships that I have hitherto been blind to or have not dared to look at.  Because magic happens when a group gathers together in person to experience a story.  I have more reasons, but more than three iterations of "because" sounds lofty and redundant to me so I will choose to stop.

Who do you play in Providence?: I play the role of Robert.

Tell us about Providence: The lives of several passengers intertwine when a New York City-bound bus gets stranded overnight in the Providence, RI, Bus Station.  The Greek Unities are in place and the relationships are cooking! I love it.

What is it like being a part of Providence?: This is an incredibly talented cast. It was so thrilling to come into the first read of this play and participate with a group of sensitive, smart, and responsive actors.  David Gill's writing is great, and it's a privilege to be able to bring life to his words.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?:  I find anything that tugs or yanks at the human experience extremely compelling.  I don't care if it makes me laugh or cry, if it is true and makes me sit up and say "oh my god, I've never thought of it that way," I'm hooked.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: YES. Too many.  Joe in Angels in America is the first dream role that pops into my mind.  I'd really like to get my hands on the Emcee again, too.  I played it when I was really young, and now that I am a bit older I think I could bring much  more to it. And, of course, in the interest of honesty and transparency, I have fantasized about playing Konstantin Gavrilovich Treplev in Chekhov's The Seagull and Hamlet on a relatively routine basis.

What’s your favorite showtune?: "One Second and a Million Miles" from Bridges of Madison County.  Actually, every song from Bridges of Madison County.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: These questions make me nervous! Joe Mantello. Michael C. Hall. Brian Cranston. Ellen Burstyn (although I might die of excitement. Her biography changed my life). ...Meryl. I'm sorry. I dream big.  Really, though, it would be less about me being opposite these people and more about having the opportunity to witness a great artist work and to learn and grow from that.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Jared Leto. I think it would be called "Waking Up",  but that's just a working title because hopefully there's a lot more to be revealed.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: It's Only a Play by Terrence McNally.

What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: "Level Up" by Vienna Teng. Closely followed by "Below My Feet" by Mumford and Sons, then a lot of hardcore house mixes that I use to get me to move my ass at the gym.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Schmackery's cookies. Although, I don't feel the guilt anymore.

What’s up next?: That remains to be seen! I'll let you know when I find out.