Actor Reginald Robinson Jr has quite an impressive resume. The dedicated actor, who hails from Florida, has found a second home in Chicago among his acting family. “Romeo and Juliet”, “Henry V”, “Run, Chris, Run” and “Ghosts of Treasure Island “are just a few of the intriguing plays he has been apart of in The Windy City. The Florida State University grad (with a Masters in Fine Arts) is now starring as Jason in Debbie Tucker Green’s “dirty butterfly” at the Halcyon Theatre. BTSCelebs was recently given the opportunity to virtually sit down with Mr. Robinson and ask him a few questions about himself and his new project.
BTSCelebs: Who is Reginald Robinson Jr?
Reginald Robinson Jr: Who am I…I’m a Chicago actor by way of St. Petersburg, Florida. I’m playing Jason in Halcyon Theatre and The Blind Owl’s coproduction of “dirty butterfly”.
How did you get your start in theatre?
I got my start in theatre through American Stage Theatre’s summer camp in St. Pete. My mother enrolled me in it after seeing I had an interest in theatre, sparked by my father who was also an actor.
Tell us about one memorable moment during your very first production.
There have been many memorable moments, but the one that sticks out was during camp when I was Mr. Sylvester McMonkey McBean in Dr. Suess’ “The Sneetches”. In the show, through movement and ensemble presence, we used ourselves as props and set pieces. One of the things we created together was a car that I rode on. As a kid in summer camp it was fun to watch the production come to life without the use of any real props. As I’ve continued my education and career, I see how important the exercise was in laying the foundation for the most basic skill set in this profession.
Name one actor who is the biggest influence on your acting career. How have they influenced you?
Recently it’s been Max von Sydow. Max immerses himself into every role he has played and takes the smallest roles and transforms them into some of the most memorable moments of those movies. To most people his character work precedes his name and that is something to strive for.
Why did you choose to be apart of dirty butterfly?
The “dirty butterfly” script is interesting in the fact that it forces audience members to examine the effects of multiple viewpoints of a scenario. It confronts us with the choice to stand idly by or intervene. What we do or don’t do defines who we are.
Tell us about the character you play.
I play Jason in the show. He’s a caring individual who has been ensnared by voyeurism. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a sexual manner, but rather he needs closure to the story of what is playing out on the other side of the wall.
Photo Credit: Emily Williams
Are there any similarities between the character you play and your own personality?
There are a lot of similarities between Jason and all of us. We’ve all been that neighbor who stands still trying to not make noise while you listen to an argument in your shared hallway. It’s the reason reality tv is so popular. We can now sit on our couch and watch the action through a screen while feeling a few steps further removed .
What projects can fans look forward to seeing you in 2017?
Following “dirty butterfly” I will be in Level 11 Theatre’s “The Library” and the “Forty-Two Stories” with CityLit this spring.
* BTSCelebs sends a special thanks to Reginald Robinson Jr and The Silverman Group for the interview and photos. *
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