Spotlight On...Andy Nogasky

Name: Andy Nogasky

Hometown: Greensburg Pa, a great little city outside of Pittsburgh

Education: BA from Bucknell University (Degrees in Theatre, Art & Art History), MFA from Rutgers University

Select Credits: All My Sons (Frank, Barrington Stage Co.); See How They Run (Sgt. Towers, Barrington Stage Co.); Raleigh (Sir Walter Raleigh, Actors Theatre of Louisville); Two Rooms (Michael, Winnipasaukee Playhouse); Rounding Third (Don, Winnipasaukee Playhouse); Marat / Sade (Sade, Rutgers Theatre Co.); Fen (Frank, Rutgers Theatre Co.); Love Song (Harry, Rutgers Theatre Co.)

Why theater?: Why not? Silly answer. It's vital.  In all definitions of the word, for the community and for myself as an artist.  And it's a gift to perform, and a gift to give away to people.  How could you not love that?  I've always been a person who had an extreme need for creative outlets.  I've done everything from oil painting to playing the trombone, but it wasn't until I found theatre that I could give myself over entirely to an art form.  Probably because it's this wonderful amalgamation of all of them.

Tell us about Trevor: What a fantastic new play. I have a deep love for Classic American theatre, I'm a big Miller junkie and then to get in on the ground floor of this play just feels right.  I've never been a part of a play that feels so rooted in that tradition on one foot and then the other foot is squarely in that exciting realm of contemporary, rough and tumble new work. But that's more academic.  Everyone is so phenomenal, watching Steve and Coleen is a whirlwind, Moritz is a dream to work with, Lesser America is such a blessing and Nick has written something truly unique.  The questions this play raises about human connection and what life as an artist feels like is beautiful. Of course if you're just asking about Trevor the Chimp-- I love him, and I'd love to have him as a pet.  Who wouldn't want a manic ape who's serious about his craft?

What is it like being a part of Trevor?: Exciting. Again whirlwind, and so much fun.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Miller, Williams, O'Neill.  Sometimes I think I was late for my own birth by a few decades.  But I have great love for new work as well, and I love finding myself in completely uncharted waters forging a new path ahead.  Any truly solid performance, whether be on stage or film, gets my blood pumping.  And extra-theatrically I have to say Neruda, Kandinsky, Ginsberg, Duchamp... I'm kinda all over the place.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Yes. 

What’s your favorite showtune?: Ooh, I'm more of the guy who puts on the whole cd, leaves it running too long, and accidentally stamps his sub-conscience with it.  But I have to give it to "Brotherhood of Man" from How to Succeed... It was the first musical I remember seeing, and its just so catchy.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I gotta say I really don't think that way.  I try to treasure working with who I'm working with currently.  I hope that's not as pretentious or precious as that sounds.  There are people who's careers I'd like to emulate, sure, but when it comes to listing a dream list of actors, directors, writers, well I just don't have one.  Now I do have list of people I'd prefer not working with, but that isn't the question. :)  

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Channing Tatum, obviously.  Title: "Andy Nogasky: The Andy Nogasky Story"

What show have you recommended to your friends?: The last show I recommended to someone was Peter and the Star Catcher.  The last television show I recommended to someone was "House of Cards".

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Grilled Cheese and Netflix Streaming.

What’s up next?: I'm currently working on putting together a comedic radio play series about elementary school administrators, and then I have a project  somewhere in the near future I that I've been writing for what seems to be forever about the history of Tetris,  And then next show I'm in is looking to be a new play about robots...so it seems I'll be nerding out for a while.