Debuting Artist: Bradley Calahan

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Bradley is taking the stage for the very first time with OpenStage this season!

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into theatre?

I was a pretty shy kid and had no desire to be up in front of people. As such, I didn’t get into theatre till I was 16 and my parents actually forced me to audition. My first show was a children’s theatre rendition of Cinderella where I met someone who worked with a local high school theatre troupe, Debut Theatre Company. They recommended I get involved, and that pretty much sealed it. I ended up going to CSU for a Bachelor’s in Theatre Performance and have performed in many shows up through college. Due to the pandemic and life I ended up taking an unintended 6 year break from the theatre world, with OpenStage being my first time returning since that time.

How did you first hear about OpenStage, and what drew you to work with us for this show?

I had always heard good things about OpenStage, even since high school, and had seen several OpenStage productions over the years. I knew that if I were going to return to theatre it would more than likely be through auditioning for an OpenStage season. I ended up seeing OpenStage’s excellent production of SWEAT this past season and became inspired to ensure I didn’t miss the opportunity to audition next time around.

Pride and Prejudice isn’t your debut with OpenStage, The Minutes was. What was that experience like? Have you ever had a Stand-By/Understudy/Swing role before?

It was definitely a wild experience. I had never been a stand-by or swing role in the past, and I had certainly never been tasked with learning a show in such a short amount of time. I was thrilled to have been given the opportunity and had such an incredible time with the cast and crew, who were all immensely welcoming and delightful to work with. The experience I had with The Minutes was something truly unique and special (and terrifying). Who could ask for a better re-introduction to the world of theatre?

Who was your favorite character in The Minutes? Why them?

Mr. Oldfield was hilarious throughout. The way he would hit each of his lines was so perfect and comedically-timed that it made it a delight to watch him perform each time. Additionally, (to cheat and give two answers) it was an absolute pleasure to perform opposite Mayor Superba (Chris Gausselin) in the later scenes of the show.

What was your favorite moment/scene in that show?

Near the end, when Superba and Peel are having their showdown before the final close of the play. Chris did an excellent job in that role and gave me so much work with during his monologue. The tension and emotions were so palpable during those moments and I loved getting to channel that into the performance. Might be cliche to say “the climax of the play”, but it was such a great scene and such a great time as a performer.

What is your role in this Pride and prejudice, and what excited you most about working on this particular production?

In Pride and Prejudice, I am portraying Mr. Darcy. I’m most excited to be able to jump into such an energetic and comedic production, that differs so drastically from The Minutes and brings me back to the wonderful times I’ve had in similar roles in the past. Shows like this are such a wonderful experience, not only in the production itself, but also in the rehearsal process, and it’s a lovely time to get to laugh with the cast and crew and play around with different ideas.

What has been the most enjoyable or unexpected part of the rehearsal process so far?

The level of activity and movement that has been brought into the rehearsals has certainly been surprising. Darcy himself can be a very rigid or controlled character, and it’s been a lot of fun to get to be active and physical with the rest of the cast in the development process of the show and the character. It’s been great to see how these big movements and physical exercises can be utilized in a more controlled way, and finding places to break out of the mold and bring that physicality to the character.

What has been the most challenging part of bringing this character to life?

I think the biggest challenge has been finding and playing Darcy’s likability. He can seem to be a very unlikable character with a lot of negative views on people and society, but it’s been great to dig into where those feelings come from, what those feelings are really hiding, and finding ways to show who Darcy truly is underneath all of that. He has a lot of feelings, but he’s not very good at showing them, and finding out how to portray that is a unique sort of challenge.

What makes pride and prejudice a unique kind of play to work on?

I think, in general, the energy around this show is very unique. Heather (our director) has such a unique directing style that has really prioritized our physicality, the cast’s relationships with each other, and fostering that cohesive artistic mindset within all of us. The show itself is a wonderfully unique take on the Pride and Prejudice we all know, and brings a whole new feeling and atmosphere to the story to be able to tell it in a different way. It makes the show almost an entirely different story that highlights different aspects of the characters and the themes and brings new life to a familiar tale.

Why do you think pride and prejudice is significant or relevant to audiences today?

I think there are a number of themes here that will really resonate with audiences in today’s world. Even at its simplest, Pride and Prejudice is a chance for people to laugh and enjoy the absurdity of these characters. Darcy’s journey through the show is about taking a hard look at himself and the beliefs he holds and questioning their value and validity. Over the course of the show he has to open up his mind to a wildly different culture that the Bennet’s (particularly Lizzy) exist in, and find that there’s a real connection that he can make to that world through the similarities Darcy and Lizzy share. Ultimately he finds that there’s more than one way to approach the world, life, and our interactions with others. I think that’s a beautifully resonant story in today’s world.

What is your favorite moment or scene in the show, and why does it stand out to you?

Darcy is mostly a very subtle character, as he doesn’t like to show too much emotion or give anything away. That being said, there is one moment in the show when he gets to kind of break out of his shell a bit. It’s a fantastic challenge to portray these different feelings and thoughts through subtleties throughout, and it can feel a bit like holding your breath. This moment of vulnerability in the show feels like a moment of release, to finally be honest, and it’s a great moment of displaying what’s underneath the hard exterior that he portrays for much of the show.

If you could swap roles with any other character in this play for a day, who would it be and why?

Bingley seems like he would be a blast to play. Just the sweetest, most innocent and pure human with a heart of gold. Not to mention the duality of getting to play Mary alongside that. Both roles portrayed are such a comedic relief and that’s always a great time.

What is your favorite play?
 I think Noises Off may be my favorite play. I got the chance to be in it once, and it was one of the best times I’ve had doing theatre. Such a fun and physical show with a great cast of characters. It’s a hilarious and wild time.
What is your favorite role you’ve played in the past?
My favorite role was probably Francis Henshall in One Man Two Guvnors. It was such a demanding role and show in so many different ways, and it was an absolute joy to get to run around stage and be goofy and ridiculous for a couple of hours each night. Easily the best time I’ve ever had on stage, and I would relish the opportunity to return to the role someday.
What upcoming projects or roles are you excited about?

As cliche as it sounds, I’ve always really wanted to portray the role of Hamlet. It’s such a rich part with incredible challenges that I would love to be able to tackle someday. So many greats have played the role in the past, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing the variety of ways that the role has been played, that I’d love the opportunity to make it my own and see where that role and that production would take things.

What do you like to do in your free time, when you’re not working on theatre projects?

I’m a pretty avid gamer. Currently playing through the Oblivion Remaster, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Blue Prince, and getting excited for Outer Worlds 2, Borderlands 4, and Crimson Dawn. Apart from that, I like to write scripts and watch movies and shows. Super behind on shows right now, but recently have enjoyed the second seasons of Severance and The Last of Us.

 

Crow with yellow beak, yellow legs, broken gavel, holding 3 cherries in beak, one rooten, standing on minutes

Pride and Prejudice

By Kate Hamill
Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen

Directed by Heather Ostberg Johnson

June 7-July 12, 2025
Playing at The Park at Columbine Health Systems

 

Come see Bradley take the stage in Pride and Prejudice, June 7-July 12!

This isn’t your great-auntie’s Austen! Bold, surprising, and boisterous! The outspoken Lizzy Bennet is determined to never marry, but can she resist her enterprising mother, and society itself? Especially when that vaguely handsome, and impossibly aggravating Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn! Literature’s classic romance, Pride and Prejudice, has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life as it does in this effervescent adaptation. Because what turns us into greater fools than the high-stakes game of love? In the park and under the stars! Walk in, bike in, or drive in! Featuring nightly food trucks.

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