Interview: Jonathan Caldwell of 'Boys To Baghdad'

NATIVE ACTOR, JONATHAN CALDWELL, RETURNS IN THE LEAD ROLE, IN THE AWARD-WINNING STAGE PLAY, "BOYS TO BAGHDAD"

Jonathan Caldwell, a native Charlottean (a rare breed) will make his fourth appearance in the award-winning stage play, Boys to Baghdad (BTB), written by Rory D Sheriff, of Brand New Sheriff Productions. BTB will return to Duke Energy Theater, at the Blumenthal's Spirit Square, on January 25 and run through February 3. Boys to Baghdad is a coming-to-age depiction of a young man's transformation into manhood after enlisting in the military during the Desert Storm era. Jonathan portrays the lead character, Huey Sharif, a semi-biographical reflection of the playwright's own life. My interview with Jonathan was very compelling and informative.

Me: Tell me a little about yourself.

Jonathan: I was born in Charlotte. I am the youngest of four brothers. I attended Olympic High School.

Me: What inspired you to become an actor?

Jonathan: Black actors from the 80's TV shows was my inspiration. When there was a room full of people, I would perform and mimic characters from the Cosby Show.

Me: How long have you being acting?

I started acting six years ago with Kenya Phifer Jones' Legacy Productions. My first stage production was entitled The Showcase, a compilation of short act plays.

Me: Tell Me About Boys To Baghdad.

Jonathan: Boys To Baghdad is a coming-to-age story about a young man, raised by a single mother, who has just graduated and wants to make his mother proud by becoming a responsible adult. It showcase a comradery, a brotherhood, so to speak, between enlisted soldiers of diverse backgrounds and the challenges they each face.

Me: How long have you been with Brand New Sheriff (BNS) Productions?

Jonathan: I started with BNPS about two and a half years ago. I was originally cast for the role of Bailey, The Medic. When there were absentees during rehearsal, I would fill in. Rory noticed my versatility early on and offered me the lead role when it became available. My first appearance as Huey was in Reading, Pennsylvania, sharing the stage with Coco Brown from Tyler Perry's Single Mothers' Club.

Me: You also appeared in another BNS production, as well, is that correct?

Jonathan: Yes, I appeared in Jitney, an August Wilson production. I portrayed, Youngblood, one of the male lead amongst five men who worked at a Gypsy cab company. Youngblood is also a coming-to-age character, with a young wife, Rena, who thinks he is having an affair. Instead, he is moonlighting at the cab company and saving to buy them a house.

Me: If I was contemplating attending a performance of Boys to Baghdad, what would you say to convince me to do so?

Jonathan: I would tell you it's a well-written play that deals with so many topics on different levels: 1) Brotherhood, 2) Leadership, 3) Responsibility, 4) The Effects of an Absentee Parent, 5) The Effects of Warfare, and 6) Romance. It also touches on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Jonathan actually did something that no other person that I have interviewed has ever done - he turned the tables of me and ask me a question.

Jonathan: Being a veteran playwright and since you have seen the play, what would you tell someone who was contemplating seeing the play?

Me: Well Jonathan, I can answer this from two different perspective. Since I personally was a military wife whose husband (now ex) actually served in the military during Desert Storm, I would tell that person that Boys to Baghdad offers a great snapshot of what happens to a soldier and his family during wartime. The romance between Huey and Tiffany is a good depiction of what happens to the one who is left behind to deal with the possibility that my loved one may not return. Not only did Tiffany deal with the stress the absenteeism caused, but also the effects of the post-traumatic stress when Huey finally returns. Although he is home, he is not the same man that left home. And as you already mentioned, I would express the comradery between the soldiers. So, I could market it to both men and women.

*Boys of Baghdad runs January 25 - February 3, 2018, at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center's Duke Energy Theater, at Spirit Square, 345 N. College Street, Charlotte, NC. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.carolinatix.org Phone number (704) 372-1000

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