Debuting Artist: Ethan Walker

And now, meine Damen und Herren… Mesdames et Messieurs… Ladies and Gentlemen—OpenStage is proud to welcome the Master of Ceremonies, Ethan Walker. 

Hi! My name is Ethan Walker and I am a recent graduate of UNCo’s musical theater program. I started doing theater when I was in 6th grade, and haven’t stopped since! In high school, I had a teacher named Aaron Deyoung, and he really jump-started my training and love for acting. I heard about OpenStage because I was understudying for another show Kenny was directing, “Murder on the Orient Express.” I am infatuated with “Cabaret” and wanted to work with Kenny again, only as an onstage actor, so it was a no-brainer to audition.

Very! I was Cliff at UNCo my junior year and Emcee has been a dream roll of mine ever since I saw the Alan Cummings version my Sophomore year of high school. It felt right to aim for Cliff in college, and I knew there would be another opportunity to play Emcee when I was a little older and ready to fully embrace the sexual nature of this show and here we are!

It illustrates the dangers of being asleep to radical doctrine and agendas that are forever present, right in our backyard. The devil isn’t in your enemies but in very plain, ordinary people that can be lead astray. Choosing to not care about legislation and current social movements because it doesn’t directly affect you is irresponsible and apathy must be recognized as dangerous.

Possibly! It depends on how musical theater evolves. Musical theater is becoming so much more modern and trying to achieve different aims for connection to current events. That being said, I do think “Cabaret” is timeless because of its relevance to most political environments. It has been reinvented a couple times (the 98 revival and also the recent west end version). I could see that chain of reinvention continuing.

Incredible. He is the most grounded and organized director I have ever worked with. He is efficient, direct, and is open to collaborating while guiding you to brilliant choices. Kenny provides the perfect space to feel safe being creative.

At the same time as “Cabaret,” I am finishing “The Scarlet Pimpernel” at Candlelight, then I am booked in “White Christmas” at Candlelight as well. I aspire to book shows at Arvada, DCPA, and book a cruise either as a singer or musical theater performer. As for shows, I have a deep desire to play Orpheus in “Hadestown.” Elder Price in “Book of Mormon” would be fantastic to explore. I would also love to revisit Jack from “Newsies” at some point. There are more than a few roles I have grown to adore that I didn’t even know existed going into, so I am open to new projects and to just play!