News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Interview: Actor Timothy Patrick Finnegan

By: Jul. 23, 2016
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Actor Timothy Patrick Finnegan has a lot of stage charisma.

It's always enjoyable to watch him perform.

MCL: You've been in the Buffalo theater world for a while. When and where did you start acting?

TPF: I sang a solo in "The Pied Piper" in, I think, 4th grade. The audience LOVED it. I was hooked. I Performed in musicals in high school and played a number of leads in college. My first professional production was Jesus Christ Superstar in 1986 at Kleinhans Music Hall.

MCL: What made you want to be on stage?

TPF: Performing for people. Making them laugh. Making them cry. Making them think. And, of course, the applause!

MCL: Any local mentors?

TPF: The late Christopher Jenkins was someone I admired for his outlook on things, for his talent and his intellect. And my friend Javier Bustillos whose advice and guidance have always been something I've appreciated very much

MCL: Best advice you were given you still use on stage?

TPF: "Don't suck" - Christopher Jenkins ??

MCL: What roles turn you off and what kind do you look for?

TPF: I'm not really crazy about shows that are very surreal and hard for the audience to grasp though I will do them because I think an actor should always stretch, play roles that they're uncomfortable with. If you pull it off, it makes you better. But I like shows that teach. That give the audience something to think about. On the other hand, I like making people laugh out loud. Even at silly shit

MCL: What role do you dream of playing and haven't?

TPF: Alan Strang, Equus. Though I think at this point in my career, if I did that show, I'd be more suitable for the psychiatrist. But James Leeds in Children of a Lesser God is a dream role

MCL: What's coming up for you?

TPF: I'm playing the doctor in a new Michael Fanelli play for the Infringement Festival at Subversive Theatre. It's called Too big to fail. It opens July 28th

MCL: Why did you choose this role?

TPF: It chose me

MCL: Tell us about some of your favorite roles?

TPF: Oh my....Jesus in Godspell, John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Mickey Marcus in The Normal Heart, Dr. Seward in Dracula and in various roles in The Laramie Project.

MCL: Do you want to repeat any of these roles?

TPF: Every one of them

MCL: What's some advice for those new to acting?

TPF: Patience. Keep trying. Don't get so discouraged that you give up. But most of all, be yourself. You may be pretending you're someone else but there will always be a part of you in that character

MCL: Who do you admire in the theater world?

TPF: I admire anyone in the theatre who becomes successful but doesn't become a dick

MCL: What's Buffalo, New York Theater like?

TPF: Thriving. Exhilarating. Sometimes frustrating. But always interesting. There's an amazing amount of talent here. I'm thrilled to be a part of it

MCL: What are some of the good and bad changes in local theater since you started?

TPF: Simply that it's grown so much and that there is a lot more collaboration.

MCL: Finally, what's coming up for you 2016/2017?

TPF: Why? Are there still roles open? I perform at Forest Lawn Cemetery during the holidays in It Was A Wonderful Life. The rest of my season seems to be open. Call me!

Next up for Timothy Patrick Finnegan:

"TOO BIG TO FAIL"

Written by Michael Fanelli

Directed by Verneice Turner

Starring Timothy Patrick Finnegan, Tyler Brown and Tamara Hopersberger

Performances: Thursday, July 28 through Thursday, August 4th, (off on July 31) at 7:30 at the Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Buffalo

Performances last one hour. Tickets $10.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1042628392479948/



Comments

To post a comment, you must register and login.



Videos