Tony Triano made his career in theater locally with over 80 plays at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre but has also done national tours and New York shows. He said he has felt a calling to acting since he was a child and claims to be more comfortable on stage than in life. A veteran performer at the Alhambra, having acted in various plays since 1988, he currently can be seen in “Cabaret,” playing the role of Herr Schultz. The play opened last weekend and runs through March 27 at the Alhambra, which is on Beach Boulevard across from the FCCJ South campus.
How long have you been acting?
“For about 35 years. I started in high school and in college I pursued a career in acting. I got my degree in theater acting from Rutgers University in New Jersey and my masters in theater acting from Columbia University.”
Why do you love acting?
“It’s really the only thing I know how to do. It’s just something I feel I have to do, I think that is something that every artist feels. I knew when I was a child that this was what I wanted to do. I’m more comfortable on the stage than in life. It’s easier being handed a script than having to think of something to say.”
Where do you perform?
“For the past 10 or 12 years I have been working steadily at the Alhambra — a good 40 to 50 weeks a year. I’ve worked all over the country, but decided to settle in Jacksonville. It’s nice to have a steady job as an actor.”
What were your favorite plays to act in?
“I love playing Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.” I’ve been doing that for 14 years. I like the older shows like “Hello, Dolly!,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Cabaret.”
Favorite characters?
“Herr Schultz is a wonderful role and so is Herby in “Gypsy.” That play is coming later this year. I also like playing Sancho in “Man of La Mancha.” I like comedic roles but with characters who also have heart.”
What’s the funniest or oddest thing to happen to you while acting in a show?
“People forgetting lines and having to make up lines or there was a prop missing. Sometimes you start laughing on stage. sometimes the audience goes with it and sometimes they don’t, but you must maintain professionalism.”
What’s the biggest mess-up you’ve had?
“I came in on the wrong scene on a show once and I’ve fallen off the stage into the orchestra pit while touring in “Hello, Dolly.”
Who’s the most famous person you’ve worked with?
“Ginger Rogers, John Davidson, Herschel Bernardi.”
Who are your heroes in the business?
“I love dedicated, professional people who are serious about what they do. Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close are all multifaceted actors. I’m a character actor, so I like people who can change roles.”
Who don’t you like in the business?
“I try to keep an open mind when working, but I don’t like temperamental people. Martin Short drives me nuts on talk shows — he acts like he has had too much caffeine, but I do like some of his movies.”
What New York shows were you in?
“I did “Fantasticks” for seven months; it was the longest running off-Broadway show. I also acted in some Shakespeare plays and toured with “Fiddler on the Roof” for two years and “Hello, Dolly” for two years.
Was working in New York fun?
“It was very competitive when I worked there back in the 70s when I got out of college. It’s more competitive now. It was fun, but hard to get jobs. I was pretty fortunate. New York is a fun city, there is so much to see and do, but it was hard to do on an actor’s salary.”
Why do you like performing in Jacksonville?
“It’s my home and it has a great audience base. A lot of the same people come to the show and feel comfortable seeing you on stage. Jacksonville has the capacity for growth, so I’m here for the ride. I’ve lived in Jacksonville permanently since 1995. My first play at Alhambra was “Little Shop of Horrors.” I do children’s theater, too. Right now I’m doing “Winnie the Pooh.” I think it’s important the kids get a foundation and know what theater is.”
How many plays have you done at the Alhambra?
“Over 80. It’s nice because there is a new show every eight weeks, shows with different feels. Tod Booth, the producer, owner and sometimes director at the theater, is very good to local actors. He keeps a lot of them employed fairly regularly. Like Tod likes to say, we have different flavors of ice cream here, so we’d like people to come and try the different flavors and as an actor it’s the same thing. We try to assume different characters, different flavors.”
Have you ever done Cabaret before?
“Yes, but not this role. I try to assume different characters.”
What projects are you working on?
“The Oasis Theater project that my friend and I are developing to try to work with actors to do scene study. I’ve been doing that for about six months.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I love going to the movies and concerts. My favorite movies out right now are “Million Dollar Baby” and “Sideways.” I love quirky films and independent films.”
-by Carrie Resch