Interview: THE WINTER'S TALE's Ruben Santiago Hudson

Tony and Obie award-winning actor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson is an accomplished writer and director. His screenplay debut Lackawanna Blues," received the Humanitas Prize, a Christopher Award, National Board of Review Honors, an NAACP Award and Emmy, Golden Globe and a WGA nominations. "Lackawanna Blues" was originally commissioned as a solo performance piece, by The Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival under the artistic leadership of George C. Wolfe. Santiago-Hudson penned the play to pay homage to the woman who raised him in a boarding house in upstate New York. Ruben performed the play bringing to life over two dozen characters. Santiago-Hudson is currently costarring on the hit ABC series, "Castle" as NYPD Captain Roy Montgomery. This summer Santiago-Hudson will headline the Shakespeare in the Park production of "The Winter's Tale" which will play in repertory with "The Merchant of Venice" starring with Al Pacino.

BWW: Rehearsals have now started for The Winter's Tale. How is it going?

Hudson: It is going great. It's an amazing cast of actors and a wonderful director and the artistic staff is just a God send. What a tremendous blessing to have this show on a stage here in New York this summer. The Public is known for their wonderful artists and this is a perfect example of it; in every corner there is someone talented and incredible.

BWW: How does this compare to your other Shakespeare in the park experiences?

Hudson: Well this is my third one, I did Henry VIII and Measure for Measure. But I don't compare. I don't compare my work, I just go and do it and relish it for what it is. I don't look back and try to see which one I enjoyed or what process was the best; I try to take it at the moment, and right now this is a wonderful moment. And for me to be in the middle of it and not acknowledge how lucky I am and how blessed I am to have it, I would be remiss. So I am having a great time; I would love to be back every year if I could.

BWW: Is there a big difference in your process when you are preparing to do a Shakespearean play?

Hudson: I'm an infant with Shakespeare, I'm kind of learning how to walk. I am trying to decipher the code, you know? I do my research. And I get a clear understanding of what the language is. It is a tremendous process I have to go through as I am sure all actors do, finding the gems hidden in his language. And then once you get it, the joy is incomparable. The joy to say these words and understand them and savor them... this is filet mignon, this isn't a slider! But you have to do the work to get to the point that it is filet mignon to you, to be able to enjoy it as such. You take your time and eat it. With Shakespeare, the hard work is to find out why he said it and how it can relate to the audience. And when you do it is so wonderful; my eyes get big and I call my wife and kids and I go, "look at this, listen to this, do you know what this means?!" And they go, "oh, okay dad." I'm lost from the beginning like everyone else, the audience too, whether they are from England or Hoboken, you have to do your work to be able to appreciate it.

BWW: Do you enjoy The Winter's Tale as a story?

Hudson: It is one of the most wonderful pieces or writing that I have ever witnessed or been a part of. It is a brilliant play, and the nuance and the idea, the thoughts, and relationships are amazing! I can't say too much about it because I'll be saying too much. But it's painful for me... it is a tremendously emotional play for me because I get to ride the realms of all the emotions human beings experience. It takes a pretty good toll on me by the end and I am pretty spent and moody but fulfilled, so, it is wonderful.

BWW: Do you find that it is a big difference from being on an indoor stage in a more controlled atmosphere?

Hudson: Oh yeah. You have certain things that encroach upon your environment outdoors that you can control indoors: the elements like the rain or wind, if a bug flies in your mouth, or if an animal runs across the stage. Those kinds of things won't happen indoors. So you have certain obstacles and things that surprise you each night but you deal with them and it is part of the beauty of being outside in the middle of all these trees and lakes and ducks and turtles and people. It is always an enjoyable evening of theater.

BWW: It is a wonderful way for people to take part in the NYC theater scene, especially for those who don't have the money to attend a Broadway show.

Hudson: You know, it's funny because they are making really strong efforts to make theater accessible to everyone. So yes, at this point there is still a certain theater experience that is out of the reach of most people; Broadway tickets of $120.00 are ridiculously out of reach for The Common man. But, you know, the Signature Theater has a $10.00 initiative, and many theaters have rush seats for $20.00 so I don't think there is any excuse to not find some theater that is accessible to you in the city.

BWW: You are also a writer and director, are you currently multi tasking with some other projects as well?

Hudson: Oh absolutely, if not I'll be a dull boy. I always have to keep all my engines revved up. So I am writing, I'm planning to direct, and I am on a TV series. I am keeping it all going.

BWW: Tell me about your role in Castle; do you find television acting to be a refreshing change of pace from theater?

Hudson: It is a refreshing change of pace and it is a different challenge. Television is a different challenge, it is not a stage. But each opportunity that I have to learn I learn, and I take the opportunity to work. This way I am always in school. I love my Castle family, Nathan (Fillion), Stana (Katic) and Tamala (Jones), and Molly (C. Quinn), and I am always delighted to see them and be there and get hugs and smiles and then I come back here and see my Winter's Tale family. And get my hugs and smiles from them. So I am pretty full right now.

BWW: Is that the way you prefer it? Balancing multiple things at once?

Hudson: Yeah, I think that that is the only way I can make it work. I have so much bubbling inside of me waiting to burst out, so each of these things is an outlet to express the talent that God blessed me with.

BWW: Do you think that you will continue to do TV and film as well as theater or do you find yourself leaning towards one or the other?

Hudson: I don't lean much. I take a pretty strong path and I just take the best jobs that come to me and I try to give them the best I possibly can. It is my plan to continue to do as much as I can, to do quality work, and instill it with as much integrity as I possible can. And just to learn, learn, learn.

BWW: You have directed and starred in pieces that ran in Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and of course New York. Have you felt a particular draw to any one of these places?

Hudson: I live in New York City. Since 1983, this is my home. It is my heart, it is my home, and it is the city that I love. I enjoy many places and many opportunities but I absolutely adore New York City.

BWW: Do you find that moving around in a challenge for you? Or do you enjoy traveling for different projects?

Hudson: I live in New York. I am never away from my family for more than two weeks. That has been my career for the past twenty years. That is the way I keep it. If it is going to keep me away for more than two weeks then I don't take the job. When I was directing in San Francisco, two weeks after I got there I came home. And I stayed four days and then two weeks after that my family came to see me. So, no, I don't believe in that kind of abandonment for my career. When I was young it was a different story but now that I am fifty four years old, no, my family is first. And yes, you sacrifice some things but I think I can do both. But if one thing had to be sacrificed it would be my work, not my family. I've turned down a lot of things that have said, okay you have to be away three months with no day off, and I just have to say no.

BWW: Are your children looking forward to seeing you in The Winter's Tale?

Hudson: Oh yeah, I have such a great family. And they are very supportive, my two kids they are also actors, they are young but they are good. My daughter is going to Laguardia.

BWW: Congratulations! That is a great school.

Hudson: Yeah they love to go to the theater; they are cool kids.

BWW: You have had an incredible journey so far; you have won a Tony, an Obie, the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a few. How does it feel to be recognized in this way?

Hudson: I think that since I am so in the middle of my career and working and thriving, I haven't really stopped and smelled the roses and realized what I have accomplished. I think it really hasn't hit me yet; when I get old and retire someday then I think it will hit me, the honors I have received from my peers and my community. I really don't pay much attention to it. People say, "The Tony's are coming up and you have a Tony" and I say, "Oh yeah! Yeah I do!" I don't forget, I am just so focused on what is at hand. I don't take out the trophies and polish them; I bet if you saw my Tony it is probably all dusty and smudged. Maybe I need to pull it out and clean it up this week.

BWW: Do you have a favorite award moment or speech that stands out above the others?

Hudson: When someone honors me or gives me an award I look at it as an opportunity to say thank you to all the shoulders that I am standing on. It starts with Rachel "Nanny" Crosby who I wrote Lackawanna Blues about, from there all the way to all my mentors- Lloyd Richards, Doug Ward and George Wolf and to my wife and family. I don't look at it as an opportunity to say hey look at this honor! I look at it as a chance to say thank you to my friends and family and all those that I love. My speeches are corny because they are from the heart and not necessarily about me. Which is the way I like it.

For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff