A blog on theater (and other stuff) from the fine folks at Apple Core Theater Company
Interview: Jorge Humberto Hoyos
In an effort to make blogging for the cast and crew of By the Dawn’s Early Light as painless as possible (it’s a little scary, we know), we’ve decided to conduct INTERVIEWS. We asked everyone to answer a question or two (we gave them 20 to choose from), and between attending rehearsals, memorizing lines, and selling tickets to the production, they’ll (hopefully) have a little time to tell you a little bit about themselves and their process.
First up: Jorge Humberto Hoyos, who plays Father Claudio in “Midnight Mass.”
What kind of a person is your character? Are they like you? Unlike you? How does that inform your performance and process?
I have the privilege of playing Fr. Francis Claudio and I find him to be quite similar to me.
As older members of the human race, both Father Claudio and I have experienced faith-challenging moments in our lives. Painful experiences in our lives have made us mature in the faith that we have been raised in. We came to see life from a different perspective and the world in a different way. We are no longer limited by the erroneous belief that we can control what ultimately happens (situations or circumstances), or that we can control what other people do (since the gift of free will gives people the freedom to choose their actions and reactions).
Rather, Father Claudio and I firmly hold to our own obligation to remain serene in calamity and stressful situations (to the best of our human abilities) and to stay contributory to others lives. We both understand that compassion, empathy and the willingness to simply listen to others are the greatest aid we can provide.
In my own journey to adulthood, one of my “schools of life” was a Roman Catholic monastery in Los Angeles of which I was a member for four years. Those years were a major blessing for me in my growth as a Christian. And this development of my faith (a life-long quest!) has given me the calm and resilience to deal with the rejection involved in an actor’s daily life.
And my time at the monastery subsequently provided me with a deep well of experience from which to draw when playing a “man of the cloth.” It provided me first hand experience of that way of life when I portrayed St. Thomas Becket in Jean Anouilh’s play Becket. Likewise, in building the character of Fr. Claudio, the rich well of that experience of a life of work and prayer helped me enormously.
It is my hope that audiences seeing this brilliant production of Mel Nieves’ work, will come to see that a priest, in this case Father Claudio, is simply a man who daily tries to live a Christian life fully aware of his humanity and faults, and his thirst to be of service to God’s world. Clearly an example for all of us and a wonderful way to live one’s life!
applecoreblog
Apple Core Theater Company produces emotional, entertaining plays by American writers. Valuing the immediacy and intimacy of theater, we strive to present plays that cut down to the core and go straight to the heart. Believing that theater should be accessible to all people, we are committed to providing affordable theater to New York City.
Group Members
What we're up to (in 140 characters or less) Theme created by 
