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/
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