Tell us about yourself.
I am a passionate IT professional who loves the mountains, enjoys music, playing the guitar, and traveling. I’m not very fond of staying in one place — the United States is the fourth country I have lived in, and possibly not the last.
What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an actor?
I played the Tsar in my school graduation play "The Tale of Fedot the Shooter, Daring Fellow." Memories of that role inspired me to play the Tsar once again in the family project of Theater33 — "The Little Humpbacked Horse."
Which actor—past or present—do you most admire, and why?
From the past, probably - Evgeniy Mironov
From the present - Colin Farrel
But to be honest, my ideals change quite often.
What’s the most challenging role you’ve played, and what did you learn from it?
The most challenging role for me was Yasha the footman in Chekhov’s play The Cherry Orchard. I had to show arrogance and nastiness toward my scene partner, for whom I actually have warm and friendly feelings in real life.
How do you approach developing a character?
I think of them a lot.
What’s your process for preparing for a role, from first read to opening night?
I study the script and the play while simultaneously trying to understand the character traits of my role and his relationships with other characters. I build a possible biography for him in my mind. I look for similar situations from my own life and try to recreate the feelings and emotions that I or someone around me might have experienced. Once I have learned the lines, I focus on living through the entire story on stage during rehearsals and then carrying those emotions into the performance.
Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions?
I always make sure to feel the stage before the performance — I walk around it, sit down, or even lie down. About 10 to 15 minutes before the show starts, I begin to intentionally cultivate the mood needed for the first scene (a technique I learned from a more experienced colleague and wonderful actor, Tyler Polumsky)
How do you handle stage nerves or performance anxiety?
I blow on my palms when they start to sweat, and of course, we always have a group hug before going on stage.
How do you memorize lines and stay in character throughout a performance?
The most effective way for me to memorize the lines is to repeat them several times on stage while combining them with actions. And of course, the invaluable help of my wife, who reads the script with me at home, plays a big part as well.
Have you ever had a major on-stage mishap? How did you recover?
In my first play, I had to stand on a high and unstable platform and try to steady my shaking knees while delivering my lines.
What’s the most unforgettable moment you’ve experienced on stage?
The most unforgettable scenes for me were the romantic, and even slightly intimate, ones that I had to perform.
What’s a dream role you’d love to play one day?
I have never really thought about it, but I suppose this role should be dramatic and highly emotional — probably something that I feel is missing in my life.
What’s the biggest lesson theatre has taught you?
If life has lost its colors, find them on the stage.
How do you balance rehearsals, performances, and the rest of your life?
It's actually not that difficult — the main thing is to set the right priorities.
What advice would you give to someone new to acting?
Don’t stop — it’s worth it!
