An Ode to a Broadway Actor

War Horse

An Interview with Stephen James Anthony

 Read on to find out all about War Horse’s Stephen James Anthony and his part in this monumental five Tony award winning show!

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Tell us about yourself.
I was born and raised in Minnesota, the son of two social workers and the middle child between two sisters.

Where did your aspirations of being an actor come from?
I was a pretty imaginative kid, and spent much of my time producing home movies on my camcorder with the neighborhood gang.  Then I saw a production of the Music Man at the local community theater in Forest Lake – the small suburb of the Twin Cities where I grew up.  I was delighted by the show, particularly by the performance of the kid playing Winthrop, just a few years my senior.  I decided I had to give it a try, and was cast in my first show at the same theater at the age of 10.  Following subsequent shows and my continued interest, my mother agreed to take me to St. Paul to audition for a show at a professional theater downtown. I ended up being cast and began my small career as a child actor in the Twin Cities that continued until I left high school to study at Syracuse University.

In War Horse you played Baby Joey and are now playing the role of Billy. How did it feel when you found out you would be changing roles?
I was thrilled when I got the news. I had been understudying the role for the past year, and while I had found my role as a puppeteer immensely rewarding, I was excited at the prospect of returning my focus to my first love: acting.

How does it feel to be a part of such a monumental show as War Horse?
It’s been an amazing ride. I consider myself so lucky to be a small cog in a gigantic machine that this show is.  I am unbelievably grateful for the opportunity to learn a completely new art form in puppetry.  Being taught by Handspring Puppet Company was absolutely incredible.  I also feel fortunate because of how much the show meant to me when I saw it.  I was visiting my girlfriend in London during her study abroad semester and she asked if I’d like to see whatever show her class was seeing on the West End that week.  I said yes, of course.  As it turns out it was War Horse, in its second run at the National Theatre.  Not knowing anything about the show, I went in and was mesmerized.  Little did I know then, the show would come to NYC and I would have the opportunity to audition.  It was quite serendipitous.  

Tell us about your first night on Broadway.
The first preview for the show brought a great deal of exhilaration and a few nerves.  We had the luxury of a two month rehearsal process so we did feel prepared, but nonetheless, making my debut along with many others in the relatively young cast was nothing short of extraordinary.

Part of your acting studies took place at The Globe in London, what was that experience like?
My own time in London was the most memorable of my entire education.  I completely fell in love with the city and the amazing training we received from the masters at the Globe.  My only regret is arriving one year after the departure of former artistic director, Mark Rylance, someone I greatly admire.  

Mark Rylance is a phenomenal actor! Name three things in your dressing room.
My teapot (an essential for my intermission snack), my Arsenal blanket (the London soccer team I support- and useful for naps) and copious amounts of mic tape.

There you have it folks! Make sure you check Stephen out in WAR HORSE and check out his website too!

-Ashley, February 2012