Acclaimed Broadway actor Frederick Weller chatted about starring in the re-engagement of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which was directed by Joe Rosario.
A respected career on Broadway
Throughout his stage career, he has starred in eight Broadway productions, and he is known for originating the role of Shane Mungitt in “Take Me Out,” which debuted on Broadway back in February of 2003 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Most recently, he played the role of Bob Ewell in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
He has won a Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Ensemble Performance” for “Glengarry Glen Ross” and was nominated two additional times for “Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play.”
Big Daddy in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’
Weller stars as Big Daddy opposite Matt de Rogatis, who plays Brick. The show is being performed at the Theater at St. Clement’s in New York until March 31. “It has been amazing,” he said. “It has been the best acting experience of my life.
The Broadway vet is drawn to playing the iconic character of Big Daddy due to his “love for his son” Brick.
On working with the cast, he said, “Alison Fraser, Matt de Rogatis, and Courtney Henggeler are incredibly loose. They’re never the same twice. That makes the show vital, and it makes them very fun to work with.”
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, now with streaming and technology being so prevalent, Weller said, “The digital age makes it hard to keep track of all the great acting and directing that’s out there because there’s so much more of it now.”
Advice for young actors
For young and aspiring actors, he encouraged them to “study as many actors as you can especially Bill Nighy, Mark Rylance, Denis O’Hare, and Jessica Hecht.”
On his future plans, Weller said, “Watching the World Baseball Classic final tomorrow night on my night tonight.”
Dream acting choices
Regarding his dream acting partners, he responded, “Bill Nighy, Mark Rylance, Denis O’Hare and Jessica Hecht; however, Matt de Rogatis and Alison Fraser are also dream scene partners as well. I don’t work that much with Courtney, sadly.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, Weller said, “Getting to work with great people on great material.”
Weller concluded about “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “This show is about life vs. idealism .Perfectionism is death. Just relax and be alive.”
To learn more about Frederick Weller, follow him on Instagram.
