John Walton West

As a graduate of Northern Kentucky University, Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts, and the Upright Citizens' Brigade Improvisation program, John Walton West is a performer on the rise. He has been seen in the National Tours and Regional productions of "The Drowsy Chaperone" (Man in Chair), "The Producers" (Carmen Ghia), "Tony" in "You Can't Take it With You" (Florida Rep), "Moby/Coffin" in the American premiere of "Moby Dick! The Musical" (Seaside Music Theatre), "Jack" in "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Treves" in "The Elephant Man," and "Oscar" in "Sweet Charity." 

Currently, he is starring in the hit Off-Broadway production of "NEWSical the Musical" starring Christine Pedi, Michael West, and Christina Bianco and produced by Tom D'Angora at the Theatre Row complex (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Ave). Click here for tickets!

For more John be sure to visit http://www.johnwaltonwest.com.

1. Who or what inspired you to become a performer? My mom directed the annual Easter pageants and dinner theater productions (Bit By a Werewolf, The Butler Did it...Again!) at the First Baptist Church in Huntingdon, Tennessee. These were mounted to help the youth group raise money for their annual "mission trip" to Florida. So I got my start under her evangelical directorial eye.

2. Who haven't you worked with that you would like to? I suppose now having done Newsical I'll simply respond as Patti LuPone did when I asked her that at a Q&A after her concert - "My Heart Matters", or some such title -  "There's no one left. I've worked with everyone who's living that I care to."

3. What attracted you to "NEWSical the Musical"? I remember being at the audition and the producer Tom D'Angora was in the hallway making COMPLETELY politically incorrect (but hilarious) jokes with perfect strangers. Then when I got in the room with the team it was the same thing...I thought...these people seem about my speed.

I had been familiar with the show for years, and I knew that audiences consistently loved it. I've been a fan of Rick Crom's since I saw him in "Urinetown." He is an absolute genius, and the breadth of his talent is astonishing. The material's great fun; it's one of the only opportunities a performer has to do celebrity impressions without seeming (overly) obnoxiously masturbatory.

4. What has been the best part about being in "NEWSical the Musical"? What is your favorite skit? The fact that audiences have so much fun - that never gets old. I think when people leave they are genuinely thrilled with their choice, and that's always been important to me when deciding what shows to do. Not so much "Is this a juicy role," or "Is this an important artistic achievement" rather, "Will people be exhausted from laughing after seeing this show?" 

Also the the cast, creatives, production staff...and hanging out in the dressing room. Half hour call is my favorite time of day.

My favorite sketch is any one where the other guys do their impressions. Rick's great at writing for them, and the people I share the stage with are the very best at celebrating the idiosyncrasies of the likes of Celine, Larry King, Oprah...the list goes on.

5. What have you learned from working with Tom D'Angora, Christine Pedi, Michael West, and Christina Bianco? From Tom, I've learned temperance. From Bianco, how to stand tall. From Pedi, balance. From Michael, pianissimo.

6. What is your favorite part of the rehearsal/preview period in a show? If it's a drag show, the initial consultation with the makeup artist where I bring in clips from magazines to show her what I have in mind. In a conventional piece, I would say the meet and greet (everyone's always so fresh!) and the sitzprobe. For this show - which is a little bit of both - the material always changes, so you get a number of opportunities to workshop a number. And the puzzle of how to make things work best for an audience is always fun.

7. Where is your favorite place to rehearse on your own? I'm sorry? You mean...outside of...formal rehearsals? Why would one...

New York is tough obviously. Hard to Justify spending $18 at Pearl to sing through "My Defenses are Down" a couple times before an audition. It makes me miss Tennessee, where I had a big, isolated empty house and a car to practice in. Here invariably it ends up being walking down the sidewalk. I practice in falsetto with the strained logic that because it's softer it will make me seem less weird.

8. What have you learned about yourself from being a performer? I think the roles in which you're cast give you a great deal of insight into both yourself and how others perceive you. After I kept getting cast in ridiculous and predominantly "surface" shows, it confirmed my suspicions that I was not a very deep person.

9. What's the best advice you've ever received? I used to answer this question with what Dixie Carter told me when I was 11: "They don't pay us for the performing. That's what we love to do; we would do it for free. They pay us for the heartache, the rejection. The endless auditions where we're led to believe we're not good enough." But then I compared my paychecks during periods of performing and during periods of unsuccessful auditioning and realized the woman (may she rest in peace) was mad as a hatter.

10. If you could dream about anyone while you sleep, who would it be? Christine Pedi, performing Angela Lansbury having phone sex (which she does in Newsical). It's the hardest I've ever laughed at anything in my life, so hearing it eight times a week isn't enough. Plus, it's a hilarious dream and an erotic one rolled up into one - two birds!!

BONUS QUESTIONS:

11. Favorite way to spend your day off? Favorite way to stay in shape? They are one in the same. Crossfit. 

Oh, sorry...I mistakenly thought I was my adopted brother Michael West for a moment (www.michaelwestfitness.com).

12. Boxers or Briefs? I was wearing some underwear the other day that I think was from Wal-Mart in high school, and Rick Crom came into the dressing room while my pants were down (...just another Tuesday) and remarked on my "mini-skirt."

13. Favorite website? Tie between Call Me Adam - I do regularly visit, you know...Newsicalthemusical.net,... and mlb.com.

14. "Glinda" or "Elphaba"? I used to have the biggest crush on Kristin Chenoweth. I mean...c'mon. I literally flew to NYC when I was in college just so I could be there for her Carnegie Hall debut. She was...perfect. But at some point I realized that I had no realistic shot - and now I can't even peruse my copy of "A Little Bit Wicked" without feeling that gaping hole. So...for self-preservation's sake...Elphaba.

Robert Petkoff

Robert Petkoff as "Lord Evelyn Oakleigh" in "Anything Goes", Photo Credit: Joan MarcusRobert Petkoff is an award winning actor who recently completed the run of "Follies" at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, playing the role of "Buddy." Robert's theatrical credits include Broadway's "Ragtime," "Spamalot," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "Epic Proportions." The West End production of "The Royal Family" (with Dame Judi Dench), and Off-Broadway's "Happiness," "More Stately Mansions," and "The Blue Flower." Regionally and on tour, Robert has entertained audiences in "Spamalot," "Tantalus," "Importance of Being Earnest" (with Lynn Redgrave), "Sunday in the Park With George" (After Dark Award), "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet" (Jeff Award Nominee), "Troilus and Cressida," and "Complete Female Stage Beauty" (Robby Award).

Robert has also shined in film and television's "Milk & Money," "Loverboy," "Game Day," "Chappelle's Show," "The Good Wife," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," "Hack," "Quantum Leap," "Married With Children," "Mona," and "Liberace."

Currently, Robert can be seen delighting audiences in Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award Winning revival of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" as "Lord Evelyn Oakleigh" opposite Tony Award Winner Sutton Foster (who departs March 11, but the amazingly talented Stephanie J. Block returns to "Anything Goes" on March 15) at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City (124 West 43rd Street, between Broadway & 6th Avenue). Click here for tickets!

For more on Robert be sure to visit http://robertpetkoff.com and be sure to follow him on Twitter!

1. Who or what inspired you to become a performer? I initially got interested in acting in High School because a girl I had a crush on was into theatre. I thought if I auditioned I could get closer to her. Young men being harder to come by in High School Theatre, I ended up getting cast in all the shows that year and she got cast in none. Didn't get the girl, but fell in love with telling stories on stage. I also had a teacher, Dan Martinkus, who inspired me to look at theatre as more than just fun and games.

2. Who haven't you worked with that you would like to? I have to say I have been very fortunate to have worked with a lot of actors I have really admired. I have missed out on a couple of chances to work with some directors who I think are great: Jack O'Brien and Daniel Sullivan are two that come to mind right away. I think it would be exciting to work with them.

3. What attracted you to "Anything Goes"? I think what attracted me to "Anything Goes" is that it is a terrific production of a good old-fashioned, classic Broadway musical. With Cole Porter's phenomenal songs that stay with you when you leave the theater. Not to mention the delightful performances or the eight minute long tap dance finale of the first act. It is impossible not to cheer at the end of the title song.

4. What do you identify most with your character "Lord Evelyn Oakleigh"? What I most identify with in the character of "Lord Evelyn" is that his enthusiasm sometimes comes before his understanding.  In the play it leads to comical confusion.  In my own life it usually leads to embarrassment...

5. What has been the best part about performing with this cast every night? I think the best part of performing with this cast every night it that we are all still having fun doing this show. I am also spoiled getting to play and dance with Sutton every night. She is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in this show and yet she is always alive and playful.

6. What do you like about taking over a role as opposed to originating one? Taking over a role as opposed to originating one is tricky. Especially following someone as superb as Adam Godley was in the role. A lot of the choices have been made regarding what the character wants and how he is going to get it. You have to step in and find a way of discovering how to marry those choices with your own. There is a freedom to make your own choices, but a bit of an obligation not to stray too far from the playground already established.

7. What is your favorite part of the rehearsal/preview period in a show? Where is your favorite place to rehearse/practice on your own? I think my favorite part of rehearsal is early on when you are just discovering who the character is and you can try so many different ideas out. I love feeling the freedom to make horrible mistakes and terrible choices. My great flaw is trying to be "right" so to let go of that and dare to make a fool of myself can lead to very happy accidents. I'm ridiculously shy about being heard singing so when practicing on my own I lock myself in the bathroom in my apartment and shut the windows. It is the room that is the most soundproof so I am less self-conscious. Self-consciousness is the enemy of creativity.

8. What have you learned about yourself from being a performer? What I've learned about myself from being a performer is that I need to listen in life as much as I listen on stage.

9. What's the best advice you've ever received? The best advice I've ever received in regards to acting was repeated over and over during Spamalot by Mike Nichols who was quoting Jack O'Brien: "You aren't funny, the material is funny." Just act the scene as honestly as possible without a lot of decoration and the comedy or drama will take care of itself. The best advice I've ever received in life was: "Just kiss her."

10. If you could dream about anyone while you sleep, who would it be? If I could dream about anyone while I sleep it would probably be my mom. I lost her a few years ago and it would be nice to talk with her again.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

11. Favorite way to spend your day off? I'm an avid photographer so, if I ever get a day off again it would be nice to set up a shoot. I do a lot of voice work and so I rarely get a genuine day off.

12. Boxers or Briefs? Actually, Boxer Briefs.

13. Favorite website? I'm a gadget geek so Engadget or Gizmodo get a lot of visits.

14. Superman or Wonder Woman? Without a doubt, Wonder Woman. Maybe I should go back to that question about dreams again...