5 Questions with Andrew Bonomolo, who plays the "Emcee" in PlayMakers' Summer Youth Conservatory Production of "Cabaret"

On July 18th, the high school students who have taken part in PlayMakers’ Summer Youth Conservatory will present Cabaret. These students, who work both on stage and behind the scenes, undergo a six week practicum filled with both teaching sessions and applied learning. The students get to work with professional directors, choreographers, musical directors, and theatre technicians to create a high-quality, professional production.

And, luckily for us here at Triangle Arts Review, we were able to interview Andrew Bonomolo, a rising 12th grader, who has an important role in the show, which he discusses with us below.

Who do you play in Cabaret, and what do you love most about your role?

Andrew was quick to clue us in to the fact that he’s the Emcee in the show, a role that he greatly enjoys. He says he especially loves “the journey I take over the course of the show while playing this incredibly diverse character.”

He goes on to say that, “Diving into the personal layers of the Emcee has been so creatively fulfilling for me, and I can’t wait to bring that creation to the stage.”

What is the most challenging thing about your role?

While tomorrow (opening night!) will be a night of excitement, it will also be the culmination of a lot of hard work.

Andrew says that there were both “emotional and physical challenges” to playing the character. However, he says that his biggest challenge was “having a political voice in the show and allowing that to come through.”

He explains that, “the political message of Cabaret is so incredibly important, especially today,” and that, “Playing the Emcee comes with the responsibility of doing justice to the themes presented in the show and making sure the audience understands how vital our message is.”

What are you most excited for the audience to see?

While some heavy issues will obviously be on Andrew’s mind as he plays his role, he also says that he’s “excited for audiences to see my immensely talented castmates and the incredible design of this show.”

He goes on to explain that he’s also “curious to see how audiences will interpret this show in 2018, [a time when] the message of the show may be more important than it ever has been in the past.” Andrew says that he’s “eager to see how the show will touch and awaken audience members.”



What preparation have you done for your role?

It’s obvious that Andrew has put some serious thought into this role and his preparation for it. He mentions how the character has “been portrayed by so many iconic actors” but explains that “it was so important to me to build my version of the Emcee from the ground up.”

It seems he has accomplished that difficult goal too, quite a feat for a young performer. He explains that, “I had to take my personal emotions into account and really explore who my version of the Emcee is.  Diving into a character and building from scratch is so creatively rewarding. It’s always great to make something your own and have artistic liberty.”


How has this program helped you to grow as a young artist?

Andrew, a fourth year participant of PlayMakers Summer Youth Conservatory, was quick to tell us how much this program has helped him. He says, “Each year, I grow more and more, not only as an actor but as a person.”

He ended the interview on a note of gratitude: “Being able to build a show each summer with such a talented group of artists is such a privilege. This program has prepared me for the professional world in ways I never expected. I’m so grateful to be a part of the SYC family!”

There’s still time for readers to become an (extended) part of the SYC family too! Just go to see this great show, which opens tomorrow night!