Debuting Artist: Christopher Gausselin

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Christopher takes the stage for the very first time with OpenStage in The Minutes!

 

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

That’s a very loaded question so I’ll simplify it by saying my mother acted and my father is a visual artist so from an early age, they encouraged enriching your life through the arts.

I’m a native of Chicago and graduated from the University Illinois – Chicago with a degree in theater. I then moved to Dublin and was the first American to graduate from the National Theater School of Ireland. I write and direct as well and am a proud SAG member.

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

About a year and a half ago I decided to go to a general at Bas Bleu to shake some rust off and one of the directors said “Hey OpenStage is doing a general today as well. You should go to that”, a half hour later, I was in front of Sydney and crew.

Over the summer, Sydney reached out to see if I wanted to come and audition and after reading the play I was excited to give it a go. To jump back on-stage, I really wanted to work with a great script, solid director, a part I would love to explore and a beautiful place to play. I got all four with The Minutes.

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

I play Mayor Superba in the production and I’m most excited about working on an ensemble piece and finding the little moments of discovery in rehearsal.

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

The most enjoyable piece is seeing all of these characters start to develop through the process and finding the rhythm of the show.

What has been the most challenging part of bringing these characters to life?

Superba is a really well written, formed character so the obligation is to make sure I don’t miss anything between the lines.

What makes The Minutes a unique kind of play to work on?

Again, I’ll go to the writing. Tracy Letts has been an incredibly powerful, diverse, and entertaining writer. He’s a writer/actor that understands not only the process but what actors seek in the challenge of building a character. When you’re reading a play for the first time and you can mentally see it staged, you know you’ve got something pretty great in your hands.

Why do you think The MINUTES is significant or relevant to audiences today?

Sydney was sharply anticipatory with this selection. I’ll use the term Kairos or having the correct conversation at the right time. The show has so many hysterical moments. If you laugh, are moved and ask questions, we’ve done our jobs.

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

Superba’s final monologue is an absolute firecracker. I’ll leave it there.

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

I wouldn’t. 🙂

What is your favorite play and/or musical?

Incredibly tough question. I won’t commit to one, but I’ll give you –Someone who’ll watch over me, True West and the Scottish play. That’s a good mix.

What is your favorite role you’ve played in the past? Why was that role special to you?

Again, I can’t give you one, but I look back fondly having played Vronsky in Anna Karenina, Lovborg in Hedda Gabler, Pontius Pilate in The Master and Margarita and Iago in Othello.

Is there a dream role or type of production you hope to work on in the future?

For stage I would love to direct Shadow of a gunman by O’Casey. I’m currently adapting a play I wrote, “Loopers” for the screen.

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

I have 3 kids to that keep me busy, an incredible wife, I consult in communication, write, sit on a board and occasionally play a little hockey, hike the foothills with our 2 pups and golf.

 

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

The Minutes

By Tracy Letts

Directed by Sydney Parks Smith

March 22-April 19, 2025
Playing at The Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre

 

Come see Christopher take the stage in The Minutes, March 22-April 19!

Community, the Founder’s Day celebration, the coveted privilege of reserved parking— Business as usual for the Big Cherry City Council. But… where are the minutes from last week’s meeting? Newcomer Mr. Peel has some questions… What is “Lincoln Smackdown”? And where is council member Mr. Carp? This razor-sharp comedy by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of August: Osage County, exposes the underbelly of civic duty in a small town…with BIG secrets.

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