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| Cody as Will at Arena Stage |
5 MORE QUICK QUESTIONS
FOR CODY WILLIAMS
ONE
JEFF: Last
time we chatted, you expressed how exciting it is to create a role versus going
into a running show. So, now that you've been through the bulk of
rehearsals for Cinderella, what would you say has been the biggest
surprise of the process? The biggest challenge?
CODY: The biggest
surprise of the process happened one day during rehearsal for a dance number
called “The Pursuit.” At one point in
the number, I slide stage left into the proscenium, quickly jump up, run stage
right, and jump over cast member, Branch Woodman, as he is running directly at
me. We had done this same sequence in
the workshop, so Branch and I were familiar with each other. However, in this rehearsal something about
the timing seemed off. To my surprise, I
never touched the ground after jumping over Branch. I found myself sitting six feet up on the top
of his head!!!
As for the
biggest challenge, it is learning the two roles (Prince Topher and Jean-Michel)
that I understudy. There are some
moments in the show that I have never seen performed because I am either
onstage or changing, so I am really excited to start understudy rehearsals!
TWO
JEFF: You have had the chance to work with some real big names in the
business with this show. What have you learned from the creative team
that you feel you will carry with you for the rest of the career?
CODY: There are so many things I have
learned from them!!!! The most important
lesson I have learned is to be friendly and kind to everyone. The creative team showed me that the way to
work in theater is to know the business/be friends with everyone, know how you
fit in the business/be friends with everyone, and have some sort of talent/be
friends with everyone. When you think
about it, a person only has two reasons to cast you: they like you, or they
think you can make them money. It is
inevitable that people will annoy others when trying to build a show. By proactively becoming friends with everyone,
you will have much more fun, solve problems easier, feel better about yourself,
have more success, and so much more! I
can’t tell you how important this is!
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Cody Williams and June Schreiner
(Will
and Ado) in Arena Stage’s Oklahoma!
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THREE
JEFF: Were Rodgers and Hammerstein alive today and working on the
show, what questions would you have for them? As an actor (and, I assume,
fan) what would like to say to them?
CODY: I would love to hear them share their
insights and secrets on their work. Can
you imagine how enlightening it would be to hear them describe how they wrote a
song like “Impossible”? When I was
working on Oklahoma! at Arena Stage,
our dramaturg showed us a map that Lynn Riggs had drawn for Richard Rodgers in
rehearsal. It showed where all of the
places in Oklahoma! were in relation
to each other. I would love to have
Rodgers and Hammerstein draw a map of Cinderella’s
world. Knowing how long it takes you to walk or ride
to a location makes entering a scene much more truthful. You are given so much as an actor when you
know this information.
FOUR
JEFF: You are in a large cast full of relative newcomers mixed with
some seasoned stage veterans. What have you learned from the veterans?
CODY: Not too long after I moved to New York, I was extremely lucky to
have been cast in a workshop of Yank!.
Years of acting classes had taught me enough to get cast in shows, but by
doing Yank!, I got to see firsthand
how the pros did it. The entire cast was incredible. I like to
consider my time watching and working with Santino Fontana, Bobby Steggert,
Tally Sessions, Morgan Spector, Tyler Maynard, Michael Berresse and Cory
Michael Smith (just to name a few!) as my grad school. Those guys taught
me how it was done. I owe so much of my recent success to that
experience. R + H's Cinderella
has given me the most amazing opportunity of understudying Santino. I get
to study his every move and walk in his footsteps. It has been such a
huge learning experience.
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Such a great show!!!
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FIVE
JEFF: Now that you are in the midst of previews and rehearsals, what
kind of routine do you have to keep up your strength, stamina and general
health? I imagine two show days can be grueling! What kinds of
exercises do you do to maintain/prevent injuries, given that you sing, dance
and play a raccoon?
CODY: First and foremost, I have to get enough sleep. Without
that everything falls apart. Since I tend to stay up pretty late; naps
are my saving grace. To warm up for the show, I spend about 20 minutes
doing dynamic movements, yoga flows, a ballet barre, and stretching. At
intermission, I throw a back handspring or two and make sure my legs are still
warm. Vocally, I warm up by doing a few exercises. I try to take a
weekly voice lesson too. Shameless Plug: I have the most incredible voice
teacher. He is the reason I have booked work. If you are looking
for someone, message me on Twitter @odyilliams and I will put you in contact!
Cody, here are a few questions from readers!
1. Favorite junk food/fast food? Favorite healthy
food?
CODY: I LOVE the chocolate pizza at Max Brenner, but I am staying far
away from it because I have to respect the unitard. To stay healthy, I
eat at Chopt about every day.
2. Favorite sport to watch? Play? Want to try?
CODY: My favorite sport is Mixed Martial Arts. UFC fight nights
are my favorite! Alexander Aguilar (Lysistrata
Jones, Memphis) and Josh Segarra
(Dogfight, Lysistrata Jones) are my fight night buddies. I used to train
MMA when I was in college, but I broke my collarbone sparring. Alex
actually took me to get a plate and six screws put in. Until I get those
taken out, I will stick to dancing.
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Cody Williams as a white belt
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| Josh Segarra, Cody Williams, and Alexander Aguilar |
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| 6 Screws... 1 Collarbone |
3. Who is the biggest influence in your life so far and
why?
CODY: That is an extremely hard question to answer. My family
has raised and cared for me. My teachers have helped me become the person
I wanted to be. My friends have enriched my life. If I would have
to pick one person, I might say my older cousin Warren.
The summer before I started 3rd grade, 6'7" sports star Warren told
me that he swam 100 laps without stopping. He bet me that I couldn't do
the same. The next day I went to the pool, put on my goggles, and started
swimming. At adult swim I completely ignored the lifeguard. I swam
for hours! At 100 laps I was feeling strong so I started for the next
hundred. At 127, my mother who was tired of sitting in the sun told me
Warren had been kidding! I went home and slept for two days. That
experience influenced the rest of my life. It taught me that if I gave
something my all, I could accomplish anything.
PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS COURTESY OF CODY WILLIAMS
- Have a question for Cody? Email it to: jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me: @jkstheatrescene and I'll pass it on!
- Read more about Cody' pal, Josh Segarra, by clicking on the "JKTS CHAT: The Interviews" tab at the top of the blog and scroll down to Josh's links!
Jeff
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