Esparza On Acting, Sondheim And Piven To Stage Directions Magazine

Broadway favorite Raul Esparza, who recently appeared to much acclaim in the Shakespeare in the Park production of TWELFTH NIGHT, is featured in a fantastic new interview in Stage Directions magazine.

In the article, Esparza talks about his career, his past co-stars, including the infamous Jeremy Piven, and his long creative relationship with Stephen Sondheim. 

On Sondheim he remarks, "He's been one of the biggest influences in my life. The best thing about working with Sondheim is he expects so much of himself and won't expect anything less from you if he believes you have the talent to deliver. His standards are ridiculously, impossibly high. He will never be satisfied, and once you crack that, once you figure out that it's not about getting it right, then it starts to become really wonderful." To read the full interview click here.

He also starred in SPEED-THE-PLOW on Broadway, Raul Esparza's other credits include: The Homecoming (Tony nom., Drama Desk Award), Company (2007 Tony nom.; Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Taboo (Tony nom., Drama Desk Award), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cabaret, The Rocky Horror Show (Theatre World Award).

Off-Broadway he's appeared in The Normal Heart; Comedians; tick, tick...BOOM! (Obie Award, Drama Desk nom.). Regional: Company (Cincinnati Playhouse); Sunday in the Park With George and Merrily We Roll Along (Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration); Slaughterhouse-Five and Fur (Steppenwolf); Cry, the Beloved Country, Richard II and A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); The Washington-Sarajevo Talks (Victory Gardens); Arcadia and What the Butler Saw (Meadowbrook Theatre); Messiah (National Jewish Theater); Mixed Blessings (Coconut Grove Playhouse). HOLA José Ferrer Acting Award. 2006 Sundance Theatre Lab.

On film, he's appeared in Wes Craven's 25/8, Sidney Lumet's Find Me Guilty and on Television's "Pushing Daisies"

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.