Actors from “High” Talk About Their Characters

Michael Berresse on Father Delpapp

What attracted you to do this show? The majority of my stage career has been spent doing Broadway musicals, including six revivals. Although they have all had their assets, it was creating the original musicals like The Light In The Piazza, Busker Alley and [title of show] that remain my most satisfying experiences. Building something from the ground up has a completely unique set of challenges and rewards. With High, I not only have that unique opportunity to create something new, I also get to give my body and voice a rest!

Specifically to this story, I was very attracted to the fact that the play is almost completely character driven. It places more pressure and excitement on the actors to execute the material without a net as it were. These characters are also not only deeply feeling, they are deeply flawed individuals and the examination of “faith” and “addiction” is an endless reservoir of opportunity for an actor to discover.

How have you prepared for your role/character? I was raised in a Catholic home and attended an all-male Catholic school so I have very visceral, very complex associations with both Catholicism and the priesthood. As a socially marginalized kid, I was drawn to the protective, enigmatic aura that the clerical community had. On the other hand, I was witness to some very destructive and self-destructive behavior within their ranks. I am relatively well-versed in Catholic tenets and rituals so it was more about demystifying and humanizing for myself these imperfect men and women that ultimately are not so different than the rest of us.

What have you learned by playing this character and what will you take away from this experience? In terms of story and function, the integrity of my character has made a 180 degree shift during the play’s development. As Matthew (the writer) continues to deepen Fr. Michael’s history and motivation, many other natural nuances are starting to emerge for me in playing the character. Interestingly, there is not only more drama, there is more stillness and more humor. He is far more whole now than he was when this process started four months ago.

What has been the biggest challenge/reward with this show? As I said, Father Michael has gone through quite a transformation during the development process. The challenge as well as the reward has been finding the right balance of patience, availability and challenge in helping to define the character, in creating a complete person, no matter how complex or contradictory. If the play lasted a decade, I’m convinced I would still continue to discover nightly new possibilities or threads or facets of behavior.

What do you hope people take away from seeing High? I hope that our audiences leave High feeling like these characters are not just theatrical devices but relatable, full-bodied, albeit deeply troubled people; people that remind them that despite our failings or damage or beliefs, we all have the opportunity to evolve, to grow and to not be afraid to open up the conversations necessary in order to do that.

Evan Jonigkeit on Cody Randall

How have you prepared to play your character? In preparation for the character of Cody I just absorbed as much information as I could. Thankfully my life hasn’t been directly touched by this kind of abuse or drug use, so I read as much as I could and took in as many films that dealt with the subject matter. I also lost a good deal of weight for the play in order to whittle my body down to a drug addict’s frame.

What has been the biggest challenge/reward with this show? The biggest challenge of this role has been the traveling and being away from my loved ones…and staying away from some of my favorite treats.

What do you hope people take away from the High? I hope people leave this play with questions. I hope they are taken into a world in which they care for the characters in a way that makes them question their own faith, whether they use that faith to excuse their actions or take advantage of the opportunities, “GOD” or whatever their deity, provides to reach out to the world around them. I also hope it helps those afflicted with addiction to come to terms and take one contrary action to begin the road to recovery. Finally, I hope this play helps all of us have conversations about this disease. Silence is as destructive as the disease itself.

What are your goals and aspirations for after High? I simply want to continue working. Whatever the medium, whatever the city - as long as I am busy I’m happy. I loved my life as a working Philadelphia actor and I am certain, if and when High moves to New York I will love my life working there.

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