Nicholls Brings "Dead Man" Alive
NEIRAD enilno edition
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Charlie Nicholls is a dead man walking. The DHS senior was selected to play the lead in Theatre 308’s powerful drama premiering November 20th.
The 17-year-old may be playing a man on death row in this play, but the role is certainly not a harbinger of his career. Charlie has been acting since he can remember in shows spanning from middle school to productions in the city, including his favorite role to date playing Charlie Cowell in “The Music Man,” as well as roles in “Oliver,” “Oklahoma,” “Once Upon A Mattress” (with the Darien Players), “Three By Agatha” at the Darien Art Center, and many more. He plans to continue acting through college but says, “I’m not sure about majoring in acting but I will definitely try to be a part of their program. I guess we’ll just see where it goes.”
Junior Kathleen Cameron, is costarring in the play based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean. Cameron said she Charlie’s performance could spark an examination of this polarizing issue.
“I hope the play brings about dialogue in the community,” Cameron said. “I hope people walk away from the play having learned something about the death penalty.”
Charlie's Top 5 Actors:
- Johnny Depp
- Dustin Hoffman
- Sean Penn
- Jack Nicholson
- Denzel Washington
Sophomore Elizabeth Leimkuhler describes Charlie as a “very talented in roles that depict him as a convicted murderer”, and fellow senior Reilly Horan said, “he proved himself as an actor in ‘The Laramie Project’ and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop in this year’s production.”
The secrets behind Charlie’s acting success, he says, are understanding people; allowing himself to step out of his perception of reality and into the deepest part of his character and genuinely feeling the character’s emotions and what may shape this character’s future.
Charlie has not only changed Theatre 308 in his days as an actor, but it has also altered him for the better to prepare him for his next challenge in this competitive world of acting.
"Dead Man Walking” will be performed Nov. 20-22 in the DHS auditorium.
