Interview: Actor Timothy Patrick Finnegan

Actor Timothy Patrick Finnegan has a lot of stage charisma.

It's always enjoyable to watch him perform.

MCL: You've been in the Buffalo theater world for a while. When and where did you start acting?

TPF: I sang a solo in "The Pied Piper" in, I think, 4th grade. The audience LOVED it. I was hooked. I Performed in musicals in high school and played a number of leads in college. My first professional production was Jesus Christ Superstar in 1986 at Kleinhans Music Hall.

MCL: What made you want to be on stage?

TPF: Performing for people. Making them laugh. Making them cry. Making them think. And, of course, the applause!

MCL: Any local mentors?

TPF: The late Christopher Jenkins was someone I admired for his outlook on things, for his talent and his intellect. And my friend Javier Bustillos whose advice and guidance have always been something I've appreciated very much

MCL: Best advice you were given you still use on stage?

TPF: "Don't suck" - Christopher Jenkins ??

MCL: What roles turn you off and what kind do you look for?

TPF: I'm not really crazy about shows that are very surreal and hard for the audience to grasp though I will do them because I think an actor should always stretch, play roles that they're uncomfortable with. If you pull it off, it makes you better. But I like shows that teach. That give the audience something to think about. On the other hand, I like making people laugh out loud. Even at silly shit

MCL: What role do you dream of playing and haven't?

TPF: Alan Strang, Equus. Though I think at this point in my career, if I did that show, I'd be more suitable for the psychiatrist. But James Leeds in Children of a Lesser God is a dream role

MCL: What's coming up for you?

TPF: I'm playing the doctor in a new Michael Fanelli play for the Infringement Festival at Subversive Theatre. It's called Too big to fail. It opens July 28th

MCL: Why did you choose this role?

TPF: It chose me

MCL: Tell us about some of your favorite roles?

TPF: Oh my....Jesus in Godspell, John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Mickey Marcus in The Normal Heart, Dr. Seward in Dracula and in various roles in The Laramie Project.

MCL: Do you want to repeat any of these roles?

TPF: Every one of them

MCL: What's some advice for those new to acting?

TPF: Patience. Keep trying. Don't get so discouraged that you give up. But most of all, be yourself. You may be pretending you're someone else but there will always be a part of you in that character

MCL: Who do you admire in the theater world?

TPF: I admire anyone in the theatre who becomes successful but doesn't become a dick

MCL: What's Buffalo, New York Theater like?

TPF: Thriving. Exhilarating. Sometimes frustrating. But always interesting. There's an amazing amount of talent here. I'm thrilled to be a part of it

MCL: What are some of the good and bad changes in local theater since you started?

TPF: Simply that it's grown so much and that there is a lot more collaboration.

MCL: Finally, what's coming up for you 2016/2017?

TPF: Why? Are there still roles open? I perform at Forest Lawn Cemetery during the holidays in It Was A Wonderful Life. The rest of my season seems to be open. Call me!

Next up for Timothy Patrick Finnegan:

"TOO BIG TO FAIL"

Written by Michael Fanelli

Directed by Verneice Turner

Starring Timothy Patrick Finnegan, Tyler Brown and Tamara Hopersberger

Performances: Thursday, July 28 through Thursday, August 4th, (off on July 31) at 7:30 at the Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Buffalo

Performances last one hour. Tickets $10.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1042628392479948/