And for the first time in SAU Theatre Newsletter history, please welcome Tyler Hughes!
Tyler may be new to the SAU Theatre family, but he is already making a name for himself. He is the 2017-18 Michael Kennedy Theatre Scholar, and has been cast as Sagot in the upcoming fall production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Not bad for having been an Ambrose student for less than a month. Let's dive in to learn more about Tyler and why he thinks St. Ambrose is the place to "bee."
Where are you from?
I'm from Naperville, Illinois. Voted best place to live in America!
Majors?
I'm a Theatre and History double major. Mainly because I've always had a passion for both, so I see no reason why not to get two degrees in my two favorite subjects.
At what age did you start theatre, and why did you decide to continue pursuing it?
I started theatre when I was in 6th grade. I got cast as the 6 of Diamonds in Alice in Wonderland Jr. My role was to play Simon Says wrongly and get dragged offstage when the Red Queen says "off with his head." So, basically I was beheaded offstage in a middle school musical. But I kept going because I had a great time onstage, and I wanted opportunities for more lines and bigger parts.
What would your dream role be?
My dream role would be Dan Goodman in the musical Next to Normal, or Joe Keller in Arthur Miller's All My Sons. I think both are complex and deeply-flawed characters who are put into intense situations, and the real challenge comes from trying to show their weakness even as they both desperately try to seem strong to keep their families together.
What different productions or theatre related events have you been involved in in the past, and what do you hope to be involved with in the future?
I've been involved in quite a bit, but my top five favorite roles have been Tim Allgood in Noises Off, Towns Guy in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps, King Tuffy in Sleeping Beauty (it was a pretty obscure version of Sleeping Beauty), and Balthasar in Much Ado About Nothing, just because he has a cool name.
I'd like to be involved in more musicals in the future, as my singing has always been weaker than my acting, and I'd like the opportunity to improve upon it through experience. Specific musicals would be Rent, Grease, or Next to Normal, and specific plays would be The Chairs, All My Sons, Almost, Maine, King Lear, The Tempest, and Macbeth (aka The Scottish Play if you're reading this aloud in a theater).
Why did you choose St. Ambrose?
I chose St. Ambrose because they really seemed interested in me as a person rather than me as a set of grades and numbers. My advisor checked in with me frequently, they answered any questions I had, and gave me ample opportunity to visit, talk to staff, and see the campus. Plus, I was looking for a smaller campus and the atmosphere that came with it. In the end, everything just clicked for me at SAU, and I'm having a great time.
What is your favorite show and why?
My favorite show is King Lear as of now. I saw it back in high school at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The role of King Lear was performed by a popular actor in Chicago theatre, Larry Yando. If you've never heard of him, look him up, he does fantastic work. Yando, along with a fantastic set design, made King Lear an amazing and unforgettable experience.
What would your dream job be?
I'd like to do a lot of various things around the theatre, but beyond acting, directing, writing, etc. I'd also like to be a dramaturg, and incorporate my history degree into that. A dramaturg can be hired by a theater for a lot of reasons, but one of which is to do research for plays being written or being performed, which is what really interests me. Dramaturgs can also be assigned to read scripts sent in by writers to assess if the theater should produce it, negotiate with actor's agents on behalf of the theater, prepare adaptations, or whatever other things a theater may ask it's dramaturg to do.
It sounds like Tyler is going to have an exciting and jam-packed four years here at St. Ambrose. We are so thankful he decided to join the SAU Theatre family, and look forward to seeing all the amazing performances sure to be coming our way!
St. Ambrose Theatre is a wonderful place to grow as a performer and a person, and we are proud to say welcome home Tyler!
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