An interview with Caliban (Greg Nussen) by Carla

NextGen members have been going behind the scenes and interviewing actors in CSC's production of The Tempest.  Carla thought it would be cool to interview Greg Nussen, the actor playing the "monster", Caliban. 

CSC NextGen
member, Carla!

I was watching the rehearsal for The Tempest.  Prospero (who interestingly in this case was a woman, "Prospera") called for the monster to appear. There was Caliban, who entered the scene screaming with anger, while chains held him back from ravaging his master.  I watching in awe of the sudden burst of energy that entered the stage. I thought to myself, “Wow, he’s kind of scary. Do I really have to interview him?” But the actor, Greg, who played Caliban came to greet me and he looked a lot friendlier with a smile. I then began the interview with ease.

Greg Nussen, the actor playing Caliban
in CSC's Young Company production
of THE TEMPEST.

I asked Greg about his first acting experience.
He told me he played as the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz when he was only seven years old. Greg has been acting for so long, that it was the only job for him.

I asked how he felt about being on stage as a profesional.
Personally, I know getting on stage with people glaring at me can be incredibly nerve-racking. Greg said that the adrenaline pushes him and allows him to delve into character.

I asked him how playing Caliban compared to the scarecrow. 

He mentioned how they both have a longing for something which created a feeling of absence and pity. The scarecrow wanted a brain while Caliban wanted ownership of the island. We were talking so in depth of this topic that we realized the scarecrow and Caliban were both repressed by sticks; the scarecrow is originally can’t move since he attached to stick that was planted firmly on the ground while Prospera’s magic stick gives her the power to control Caliban. It was fun to make these connections. I also learned how Greg portrays his character. Caliban is known as a character with a monstrous size and Greg is normal-sized. He used his features to show Caliban as a "tempestuous" child (did you get the pun?) instead of a hideous monster.

Greg, as Caliban (right) with fellow cast members
Sophie Amoss, as Trinculo (far left) and
Adam Petchel, as Stephano.

“If you were a girl, what do you think Caliban’s feminine name would be?” 
I remember he looked confused, but laughed nonetheless. He could only think of leaving it as "Caliban".  I offered to change the name to "Calibana", and I think he agreed with me. After the interview, I thought that I could possibly change people's names for a living.

First Ever TEEN TAKEOVER Performance at CSC, Hosted by NextGen!

NextGen members get to see all of the shows at CSC each season, but their friends and peers haven't always had the same opportunity. So NextGen members worked with the staff at CSC to create a new event: Teen Takeover Performances! 

NextGen members pose on the set of A MAN'S A MAN
following the Teen Takeover Performance.

One Sunday matinee (afternoon) performance of each of CSC's main stage shows this year will have $10 tickets set aside for students ages 13-19. These performances are hosted by NextGen members, who work as box office assistants, passing out tickets; ushers and greeters, welcoming and helping to seat ticket holders; and discussion leaders, planing and facilitating a post-show talkback with the artists for the teens in attendance. 

Our first Teen Takeover performance of the season was Brecht's A MAN'S A MAN, on Sunday January 19 at 3pm. It was a huge success! Members had a blast and their guests enjoyed the performance and talkback, where they were joined by actors Justin Vivian Bond (Widow Begbick), Jason Babinsky (Polly Baker), Allan K. Washington (Ensemble), Ching Valdes-Aran (Mr. Wang), and Christopher Murrah, the assistant director. 

Ballot boxes created by NextGen members for the
Teen Takeover audience to vote for their favorite
theatrical element in A MAN'S A MAN.

Attendees asked questions of the cast such and of each other, with an exit pole designed by NextGen members to find out which theatrical element was the most impressive: acting, lighting, set design, music, or costumes. Here are the results!

1st place: SET! "My favorite is stage design. It becomes a character itself."

2nd place: LIGHTING! "The effects were great! It kept me on my toes the whole time.”

3rd place: ACTING! “The acting was 10 out of 10.”

4th place: MUSIC! "The music and singing was very engaging."

5th place: COSTUMES! "I love the clothes inspired by Indian culture." 

Bummed that you missed our first Teen Takeover performance? Never fear: our next Teen Takeover performance (David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT) is happening on Sunday, April 6 at 3pm. We can't wait to see you there! 

First Rehearsal for THE TEMPEST

Last week CSC’s Young Company had their first rehearsal for THE TEMPEST, and a few of our NextGen students decided to come check out what a first rehearsal is all about. 

During the rehearsal the director, Jimmy Maize, welcomed the cast, who include third year M.F.A. Acting students at Columbia University, as well as a few alumni of the Columbia Grad Acting Program. He told them about his different ideas for the concept of this production of THE TEMPEST, which will feature a choreographer as well as a projections designer. The production will work hard at attempting to showcase how relevant a lot of the topics in the play can be for today’s audience, and especially for an audience that will be made up by a large majority of teens in New York City. 

Jimmy talked about how all of the different designers will be used to enhance the play, and what they will be focusing on as the play gets into rehearsal. The cast then read through the script, which has been cut down to 90 minutes. 

The NextGen students followed along with the script, and talked about what they already knew about THE TEMPEST going into the read through, and what they were excited to see performed in the production.

The rehearsal ended with talk of how the process would go for the next few weeks, and with the NextGen students thinking about when they wanted to come observe rehearsals in the future, and about their upcoming interviews with the cast and design team.