Name: Eli Frydman
Occupation: Concord High School sophomore/actor
What got you into acting?
So it was really my sister (Maya). My sister did acting for a few years before I did and I’ve always thought my sister is like the coolest person. She’s like a real role model. And so I was like, if she’s doing it it’s got to be cool, so I gave it a try and it was a lot of fun and it just kind of went from there.
What is the most challenging role you’ve ever played?
Salieri in Amadeus. The magnitude of it is just so much greater than anything else really in theater cause you’re looking at a three and a half hour show and one character has 80 percent of the dialogue. And it’s a very technically challenging show for the actor.
How did it feel to win the Bob Stuart Top Acting Award?
It was really great. It was actually presented by my friend Griffin Stuart, Bob Stuart was his grandfather, and it was just a really warm moment. It was a really great feeling because I had just spent a wonderful weekend (at the High School State Theater Festival) with a bunch of really, really talented performers. It was just a really nice affirmation, just for the whole system, not even for just myself. It was wonderful for myself of course, but it was just a really unique experience.
Do you have plans to drop out of school and move to Hollywood?
Oh, I wish. If I could I would. No I wouldn’t want to drop out, but I would love to go to Hollywood and try movie acting if I could reasonably do that, although it’s doubtful.
Do you ever practice lines at home in front of the mirror?
No I don’t. I don’t like practicing in front of a mirror cause I feel like the best way to portray a character is using the honest, raw emotions that you feel. And if you look in a mirror, then you start trying to put less authentic feelings into it because it isn’t really what you’re doing, you’re just saying well maybe this would look good and I think honestly it’s just better to have it be real.
What would be your dream role?
In theater, maybe Hamlet. In film, probably Jack Sparrow.
If you were to cast your leading lady for your next role, who would it be?
Jennifer Lawrence.
Who has been the biggest influence in your budding acting career?
Karen Braz is the director of the Children’s Theater Project at the Community Players of Concord. She is a wonderful actress and a wonderful director and she’s a real inspiration. She really just is in it for the kids to try and make us better people and better actors and she’s a wonderful role model.
Would you rather be a famous movie star or a critically acclaimed stage actor?
It depends what movie I’m famous for or what movies, but just generically probably theater.
How much time do you put into memorizing lines?
Well for me, while I was memorizing all of the dialogue for Amadeus, it was like an hour to two hours a day of just sitting there reading the text over and over again, saying it with the paper, saying it without the paper, nothing fancy. I don’t use any fancy memorization techniques. I just look at it until I know it, repeat it until I know it, but it takes a while for sure.
Have you ever forgotten a line while on stage?
Yeah, all the time, it definitely happens. In Amadeus I forgot lines, in everything I’ve been in I’ve forgotten lines. At some point, you just know your character so well that even if you don’t know the wording or the exact response you understand how they would react. And then you can base what you do and say after that on that and the get back on track.
What’s the most nerve racking part about a production?
I think it’s probably opening night because it’s the first time you’ve had a real full audience. It’s so different cause you don’t know how they’re going to react and what they’re going to laugh at and when you’re going to have to change things slightly and how that pressure is going to affect you cause it’s always different. That’s the most terrifying moment, is when the lights come up on opening night.
When you tried out for Amadeus, did you read for a certain character?
No, I actually almost didn’t try out for Amadeus. I was unsure going into it whether I was going to audition or not. It was like five minutes before the audition and I was like ‘yeah I guess I’ll just go and do it.’ I worked on the stuff because it’s a great part and I love the part of Salieri.
Guilty pleasure?
Reading Orson Scott Card novels over and over again.
Hidden Talent?
I play trombone, but it’s not very hidden though. Maybe math, I don’t know.
