Meet Mr. Cornwell.

This summer, the Chicago based talent is starring as Starveling (and Fairy) in Chicago Shakespere Theatre’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Before he heads to the stage on July 18th, Justin Cornwell virtually sat down with BTSCelebs to talk about his life on and off the stage.

BTSCelebs: Who is Justin Cornwell?

Justin Cornwell: I am an actor/musician/artist living and working in Chicago. I am constantly in search of adventure and I am a lover of all things creative and fresh.

What inspired you to pursue acting?

I had an artistic bug from an early age. My mother always encouraged me to pursue every creative opportunity I could. I am also a traditional trained artist, but when I did my first play in the sixth grade I was cast as the lead and fell in love with the art form instantly. It felt like a natural progression from brush and canvas to text and stage

Name the one movie (and actor) that impressed you with their moving performance, and tell us why they touched you.

Denzel Washington in Glory. He had an extreme emotional dynamic to his performance. It touched me because I could feel the massive weight In the mind of that character. All the performances were spectacular it was a great movie.

Out of all of your film, commercial, theatre, and voice-over work, which production was your favorite?

I would have to say that my favorite production would be “Othello the remix” at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It was special because I made lasting friendships and got to work with guys I had watched on tv for years. The singing and dancing in that production was incredible and that show went on to win all the awards it was nominated for. Great experience all around.

Justin Cornwell will answer the following questions in part 2 of our interview:

How has acting challenged you as a person? Similarly, what have you learned about yourself as a result of these challenges? **

Do you see yourself working behind the scenes? Ex. Directing **

Tell us about your upcoming “Midsummer Night’s Dream” show

Are there any other productions we can anticipate to see you in the near future?

A Special Thanks to Justin Cornwell and Gray Talent Group for the interview and photo.  **Thank You to Phylicia for the “starred” questions. **