FPCT Spotlight - August 25, 2011

Kevin Griffin Moreno

 

How did you get involved with Asking Questions?

Kevin:  Director Peter Davis asked me if I would be interested in playing the role of Mark, a thirty-something workaholic whose past comes back to haunt him.  After reading Nancy Murray's fascinating script and meeting the other members of the cast at Peter's house, I knew I wanted to be a part of this play. 

 

What is interesting about your role?  

Kevin:  The character of Mark undergoes a subtle but profound transformation over the course of this story.  His universe, in which he has long occupied the central position, must expand to accommodate people whose lives he has unwittingly affected for both better and worse.  While it is tempting to portray the character as an unsympathetic, even repellent figure, Peter has challenged me to bring out different dimensions of his personality.

 

Are you anything like your character?

Kevin:  I would like to think of myself as being very unlike Mark, because I try to think of others more than he does.  That said, each of us has some propensity for selfishness and thoughtlessness, and all of our actions and decisions carry unintended consequences.  Playing Mark has caused me to recall the times in my life when I have been forced to face the results of poor choices I have made.

 

What has it been like working with the director, Peter?

Kevin:  This is my third time working with Peter on a production; I performed at staged readings of one of his original short plays last year, and this past spring I acted in a short play he directed for Glass Mind Theatre.  Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the way he allows actors to explore and define their characters, and for his emphasis on listening -- to each other, to the text, to the audience, and to ourselves.  He collaborates with all members of the cast and crew to breathe life into a production.

 

What is your favorite part of the rehearsal process?

Kevin:  As a novice actor, I enjoy the opportunity to work with and learn from people with much greater theater experience.  There have been many occasions during the rehearsal process for Asking Questions when I've been waiting backstage for my cue, and I've been simply blown away by the way that Julia or Shanna or Andrew or Erin delivers a line.  It is a joy to work alongside artists who know their craft intimately and take it seriously, but still have such fun doing it.

 

When you aren't acting, what else do you do?

Kevin:   In my day job, I work for the Baltimore Community Foundation, a local philanthropy that helps donors plan and carry out their charitable giving in the region.  I spend a lot of my time on the job focusing on issues of nonprofit effectiveness, community engagement, and diversity/inclusiveness.  I keep a blog, Unsung Baltimore (http://unsungbaltimore.blogspot.com), in which I highlight some of our city's interesting people, places, and stories.  I also enjoy shape note singing, a form of traditional American a cappella choral music that involves lots of road trips, good food, and getting together with far-flung friends.  Most of all, I like spending time with my wife, Jessica, and our dog, Alberta, in our Waverly apartment.    

 

What are the challenges of balancing regular life with work in the theater, and how do you make it work?

Kevin:   Soon after I got the part in Asking Questions, I had to fly to Canada to meet my fiancee (now my wife), a Canadian citizen whose U.S. immigration application had just been approved.  We spent the next couple of weeks driving across the continent, during which time I was conscious of missing valuable rehearsal time with my cast-mates.  It is important to remember that making art involves making commitments, and that those commitments should not be made lightly.

 

What are your dream roles?

Kevin:  This might sound like a cliche, but I fell in love with Shakespeare's plays while reading Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar in elementary school.  The rhythm and flow of his pentameter came easily to me, and I've always dreamed of giving voice to it onstage.  I think I could rock Polonius, if given the chance.

 

What keeps you coming back to the stage?

Kevin:  That's an easy one: the people.  Like most things, acting is all about relationships, whether you're talking about the characters or the actors who portray them.  Meeting people, learning their stories, and finding out where they're coming from are just about the most enjoyable things in life for me.