10 on Tuesday with Colin Funk

In Kokandy's production of HEATHERS last season, Colin Funk's lofty hairstyle made his character stand out from the rest of the ensemble. The actor is now reaching new heights in FLIGHT, a new work being presented as part of the 3rd Annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Funk was down for a 10 on Tuesday and here's his responses:

1) Show you first auditioned for (and did you get the part)? THE ADVENTURES OF Tom Sawyer when I was in 5th grade, and I got Tom Sawyer.

2) Where Are You From? I grew up in Vernon Hills, IL.

3) When did you know you wanted a career on the stage? When I was little I used to put on plays with the neighborhood kids, and ever since then I knew I wanted to perform. Then in high school, I had a teacher who told me for the first time that acting was a skill I could continue to grow, and convinced me to study it more, and I just can't get away.

4) What's your dream role/production? I'd love to play Pippin in PIPPIN!

5) Favorite post-performance haunt? Probably just my apartment with some friends/cast mates.

6) Living or dead, who would you drop everything to see perform? My dream would be to see Freddie Mercury play Jesus in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

7) What's your guilty pleasure/vice? I love to knit. I even started a group of knitters to get together and knit once a month.

8) What do you value most about acting? It forces me to take a look at my own life. Trying to understand human emotions has made me understand myself so much more. I feel like I've been able to grow as a person, because I've had to really examine myself and see the things I'd like to work on.

9) What is the one song you never want to hear again at an audition? I would love to never hear "Vanilla Ice Cream" again.

10) Fill in the blank: "The thing I'd never change about theatre in Chicago is ..." The sense of community. Living in the city has been so amazing, because everyone is so supportive of each other. I've been so amazed how people are not only friendly, but they really care about each other and will fight with and for each other. I'm continually surrounded by people who are not only talented, but passionate about the things and people they really care about, and it's incredibly inspiring.

Colin Funk appears in FLIGHT, being presented as part of the 3rd Annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival through Aug. 28 at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln. Tickets, $20 per show or $200 for an all-festival pass. www.cmtf.org.

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