{"id":5084720,"date":"2017-05-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-05-22T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlatinonews.com\/puerto-rican-actor-plays-benjamin-franklin-at-ct-repertory-theater\/"},"modified":"2017-05-22T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-05-22T04:00:00","slug":"puerto-rican-actor-plays-benjamin-franklin-at-ct-repertory-theater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/ctln\/2017\/05\/22\/puerto-rican-actor-plays-benjamin-franklin-at-ct-repertory-theater\/","title":{"rendered":"Puerto Rican Actor Plays Benjamin Franklin At CT Repertory Theater"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>
\n 
\n\u00a0Bessy Reyna\/\u00a0CTLatinoNews.com
\nWe seem to be experiencing an abundance of riches lately when it comes to Latino actors performing in different theaters in Connecticut. In June, TheaterWorks Hartford, will be presenting the play Fade <\/em>written by Mexican playwright Tanya Saracho,<\/strong> directed by Jerry Ruiz <\/strong>and with actors Elizabeth Ramos <\/strong>and Eddie Martinez. <\/strong>Connecticut Repertory Theater (CRT) at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, is another venue which frequently invites Latino actors as part of the cast of their plays. Richard R. Henry,<\/strong> who directed the comedy Spamalot<\/em>\u00a0 at CRT, and who has appeared in plays at Yale Rep, and Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, and in many other theaters in the USA, has the lead role, in the Tony Award-winning musical 1776<\/em> , which will be presented from June 1 to June 10, 2017 at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, (ground floor of\u00a0 Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts) in Storrs, CT, and opens this year’s\u00a0 Nutmeg Summer Series. 1776<\/em> has a book by Peter Stone<\/strong> and Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards<\/strong> and it will be directed by Terrence Mann. Richard Henry <\/strong>will be playing Benjamin Franklin.
\nI am always impressed with, and very grateful to actors whom are always so generous with their time, when I have requested interviews, even though they are in the middle of an exhausting rehearsal schedules getting ready for the shows. I’m grateful to Matthew J. Pugliese<\/strong>, Managing Director\/Executive Producer of the Nutmeg Summer Series, for facilitating this interview.
\nFor more information about tickets and schedule for 1776<\/strong><\/em>, please call \u00a0(860) 486-2113.
\nINTERVIEW WITH ACTOR RICHARD R. HENRY<\/strong><\/strong>
\nR: Where are your parents from? Did they speak Spanish at home?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH<\/strong><\/strong>: Both my parents are from Puerto Rico. I was born and raised in the United
\nStates going to New York City public schools. We did not speak Spanish at
\nhome or at school. As a result, I do not speak Spanish now. It is
\nsomething that I regret, while at the same time I’m too old to consider
\npicking up.
\n 
\nBR: When did you become interested in acting\/singing?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH: <\/strong><\/strong>I participated in a talent show in sixth grade. It was a Saturday Night<\/em>
\nLive<\/em> style news sketch with a bunch of very silly sixth graders including
\nmyself. I was playing the nerdy newscaster who the other guys pick on.
\nThere was a section of physical comedy where one of the bully newscasters
\nstarted pulling on my tie and choking me. Every time he pulled on my tie
\nthe audience went crazy laughing. They were enjoying themselves so much at
\nthese kids being very silly, the adrenaline rush it provided me was
\nsomething I’ll never forget. I pretty much realized then and there that I
\nwould have to get more of this.
\n 
\nBR: Your first play or concert? Memories about it?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH: <\/strong><\/strong>My first play was in high school. It was a musical Shakespeare mashup
\ncalled Two Gentlemen of Verona: the Musical<\/em>. It was my first big part in a
\nbig musical show and I was very nervous. What I love the most is that I
\nrealized that all of these kids around me were excited about making
\ntheater and making it really good, as good as we could for kids our age.
\nI’m sure it was an average high school production of the show but we had
\nso much fun, in my heart I think it was really good. I was failing math
\nclass because I was not a very good academic student, and after the show,
\nmy math teacher came up to me and told me that this is what I should be
\ndoing with my life. She complemented me and told me to pursue acting as a
\ncareer because we both knew I would not become a mathematician.
\n 
\nBR: Favorite composer, music?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH:<\/strong><\/strong> I am a great lover of film scores. John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Danny<\/strong>
\nElfman<\/strong><\/strong> \u00a0are a few of the many film composers that I love. Most of these
\norchestral pieces have no words in them, so it’s very easy to take them
\nout of their original context and place it into my imagination when I’m
\nworking on a character for a show that requires the type of emotion that
\nthat music can evoke. Movie scores are beautifully designed to be
\nemotionally manipulative and that kind of manipulation is the kind of work
\nwe do as actors as well. It’s helpful to hear the sound of sadness or joy
\nthat film scores exude and find ways to put that into whatever character
\nI’m playing.
\n 
\nBR: If you have participated in different stages, do you have a favorite one?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH:<\/strong><\/strong> It’s hard to pick a favorite theater that I’ve worked for because there
\nhave been so many wonderful spaces. The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego is
\nabsolutely beautiful. I’ve worked at their outdoor space doing Shakespeare
\nin the summertime. It never gets too hot, and there’s always a cool breeze
\nin the evening. Having real stars above you while you’re talking about
\nthem in a Shakespeare speech is kind of special.
\n 
\n 
\nBR: Aside from theatrical productions or concerts have you also worked on<\/strong><\/strong>
\nmovies and\u00a0 TV, which one do you prefer?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH: <\/strong><\/strong>I have done a few independent film projects and some web series work.
\nHonestly, I consider myself a storyteller, and I like storytelling in all
\nit’s forms. So, really any medium that requires an actor is something that
\nI’m interested in. I love movies but I also love theater. It’s difficult
\nto get jobs in either arena, but I mostly work in the theater regionally,
\nin New York City, and on national tours.
\n 
\nBR: Do you have a preference as to the type of work you do?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH:<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/strong>It’s an actor’s job to be as prepared as they can be for whatever type of
\nacting work comes their way, film, television, musical theater etc. You
\nhave to be ready to do it all if you’re lucky enough to get an audition
\nfor it. I would love to do more film and television work but that is a
\nhard industry to break into. I can’t say which I prefer because I haven’t
\ndone enough television and film work to decide. But like everyone else, I
\nam drawn to the movies, even though I have made my living and I’m very
\nsatisfied being a theater actor. It never hurts to be ready.
\n 
\nBR: Touring, Do you like it or prefer to stay in one place?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH: <\/strong><\/strong>Touring is definitely for the young. I have done four national tours and
\none in Europe. The travel is always exciting, but getting on a plane every
\nweek will eventually take its toll. I’m a little too old now to be getting
\non a plane every week to go to a different city and do a show. I prefer to
\nwork in or around where I live in New York City.
\n 
\nBR:Your next project?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH:<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/strong>After 1776<\/em> at the Connecticut repertory theater I will be returning there
\nto play Joseph Pulitzer in the musical Newsies.<\/em>
\n 
\nBR: What do you do for fun?<\/strong><\/strong>
\nRH:<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/strong>My boyfriend is a fashion jewelry designer; when I’m not acting I enjoy
\nassisting him on fashion photo shoots. It’s a whole different business
\nthat I enjoy dabbling in.
\n 
\nThank you so much for this interview, see you at CRT.
\n 
\nBessy Reyna is a member of the Connecticut Critics’ Circle.<\/em>
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n 
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0   \u00a0Bessy Reyna\/\u00a0CTLatinoNews.com We seem to be experiencing an abundance of riches lately when it comes to Latino actors 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