Meet Devin Olson: UP Theater alum

Meet Devin Olson: apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville (ATL), 2010 UP alum, and dear friend of the UP Theater Department. Since graduating in 2010, Olson has been busy acting, auditioning, and learning about theater in Louisville, Kentucky. Olson, who plans to move to New York City after the program, talks about ATL, acting, and his wonderful experiences at UP. Olson was seen in many shows at UP including memorable performances such as Lenny Ganz in "Rumors" and Claudio in "Much Ado About Nothing."

photo by Alden Ford

Q: Talk to us about Actors Theatre of Louisville. What is the program and what do you do?
Devin Olson: Its official title is the "Actors Theatre of Louisville Apprentice/Intern Company" where 22 young actors are selected to come to Louisville for nine months and be immersed in professional theatre. Over 2,500 people auditioned for the program last year alone. We live, breath, and sleep theatre. We get full access to Actors Theatre of Louisville to learn the business side of professional theatre such as what goes into hiring a cast, working with playwrights and new works, building sets, managing a company budget, networking, and most importantly how to survive in the "real world" as an actor.

Q: How has your experience been thus far?
DO: I will be the first to say that I have been truly blessed and lucky this year. From now only getting selected from the program, but finding success once I've been here. I have gotten to work on three ATL main season shows as well as the apprentice season shows.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your acting career?
DO: To eventually have an acting career! Being a working actor is competitive and difficult, but what career isn't these days? I would want to accomplish a resume of shows where I truly believe in the work, and didn't just do it in order to play the rent. I want to build my own network of friends and colleagues so that I can work on projects that I want to work on. I also want to gain respect as both an actor and a person.

Q: What memories do you have of UP Theater?
DO: Family...the department is so small and everyone knows everyones business. Mago Hunt Theater was my second home for four years. I spent an ungodly amount of time in that building working so hard for my dreams. I was very blessed at UP, getting to work just as hard on stage as off. I was treated very well there, and will never have anything but respect for the work the theater department produced and the actor they have helped shape me into.

photo by Joe Geinert

Q: How has UP Theater prepared you for your acting future?
DO: Good training, plain and simple. They have prepared me in the most basic aspects of theater. They taught me to make bold choices, and to do my homework. If you're auditioning for a play, read it first. When preparing a monologue, read the entire play. You'd be surprised how many people don't do these things! The UP Theater department has taught me to be a good person. They faculty always kept a level head on us and were not afraid to put us in our place.

Q: What advice would you give to the UP Theater seniors?
DO: Dream big. Why not, right? Trust that you know what you're doing. Never stop wanting to learn more about acting, and how you fit inside the acting world. Don't stress too much about finding your "type" because it'll eventually find you. If I can do it, then so can you. (I love you all!)

Q: What should we expect from you in the upcoming year?
DO: The Acting-Apprentice show in the 35th Humana Festival of New American Plays premieres very soon and I couldn't be more excited! My first world-premiere full-length play! After the program, I am heading to New York City to start auditioning, use the contacts I've made while at ATL, and just experience this business to the fullest! I am not expecting to find success right away, but where else would a 22 year old actor want to be?

Senior Series Part One: Phil Orazio

Welcome to the first of an eight part series about the graduating seniors from the UP Theater acting program. These eight students are now faced with the daunting task of figuring out their future. Some will try their luck with stage, others will take their skills to the big screen. Regardless of what path they choose, these eight students will become professionals as they enter the theater world after UP.

Meet Phil Orazio

photo by Owen Carey

Phil Orazio is a forced to be reckoned with in the theater world. Most recently seen in the UP production of "Our Town," Orazio's acting career has extended past Mago Hunt Theater during his four years at UP. Orazio was in the Actor's Repertory Theatre's production of "Ah, Wilderness!" this past year as well as the Nomadic Theater production of Conor Eifler's "Alice in Wonderland" adaptation. During both his sophomore and junior years, Orazio was the regional champion for ACTF. 

"Basically I want to be successful at my craft," Orazio said. "I have been training for four years and it is never quite enough, but I want to get to the point where I am great at my craft and able to make my living as a working actor. I would love nothing more than that."

Now Orazio is faced with where he wants to perfect his craft. With numerous possibilities, Orazio hopes to make his important decision soon. 

"Next year I am planning to either study at the University of Houston with a full ride or attend the Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice program or possibly move to LA and take my chances as an actor trying to get work," Orazio said. "The possibilities are pretty much endless right now."

Although Orazio is set to graduate and leave Mago Hunt Theater in May, he remembers the wonderful moments that have happened in the past four years.

"It's hard to pinpoint one experience that was the most valuable because there has been so many, but to pull one out of the hat, I would have to say performing at the ACTF conference in "Servant of Two Masters," Orazio said. "It was almost like a magical experience. The stars were aligned for us to be incredible - and we were."