10 on Tuesday with Royen Kent

Royen Kent is currently rocking it in the world premiere folk and bluegrass musical MY NAME IS ANNIE KING playing Lucas, a med student who, after a drug and alcohol binge, gets caught up in a religious cult in Missouri. He took us on a different kind of trip --one involving 10 questions. Here's what he had to say.

1) Show you first auditioned for (and did you get the part)? In high school, I auditioned for Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors"; although I didn't get that role, I did get to play Dr. Orin Scrivello, DDS, plus all the other quick-change roles. It was a friggin' blast. My first professional audition was for Henrik Egerman in Writers Theatre's production of "A Little Night Music," and I got it!

2) Where are you originally from? Born and raised in Monterey, California. (The aquarium there RULES.)

3) Currently working on / recently closed? I just opened the world premiere musical "My Name Is Annie King", produced by Underscore Theatre Company. (It's a folk rock show about a cult, so, like, yeah, come see it.) Next up is Pride Films and Plays' production of Douglas Carter Beane's play The Nance.

4) When did you first know you wanted a career in theater? Getting laughs cross-dressing in Act Two of "Little Shop" was rather electrifying. Theatre allowed me to express myself in ways previously inconceivable.

5) What's your dream role production? Typical answer, I know, but I've always wanted to try out the Baker in "Into The Woods. Also: Ed Kynaston in "Compleat Female Stage Beauty" by Jeffrey Hatcher; either Wilson or Addison in "Road Show" and any role written by Pigpen Theatre Co.

6) Favorite post-performance haunt? Where is the wine? It's usually at my apartment.

7) Living or dead, who would you drop everything to see perform? Toss-up between Lin-Manuel Miranda, Beyoncé, or Sufjan Stevens.

8) What's your greatest vice/guilty pleasure? Pequod's Pizza, hands down. Also, empanadas from Cafe Tola, Jeni's ice cream, and food comas.

9) What are you currently listening to/watching/reading? "RuPaul's Drag Race," "Parks & Recreation," Circle Mirror Transformation, by Annie Baker; new albums by Feist, Caddywhompus, Father John Misty, and Kendrick Lamar.

10) Describe the Chicago theater community in three words: Pavement pounding positivity.

MY NAME IS ANNIE KING runs through May 28th at Underscore's new resident home Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. Tickets are currently available at underscoretheatre.org.

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