Colin Critchley may be young but his acting and experience can rival the best in the business. With Broadway and film under his belt, he’s destined for absolute greatness. CelebMix had the chance to talk to the star about his start, his film work, and what he has planned next.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMupnKmD1Zq/?taken-by=colincritchley&hl=en
What was it like to get your start on Broadway?
It was really exciting. The first show that I did was the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and it’s a really fun show where my character got to fly every night (on safety harnesses of course). After that, I did a short stint in Kinky Boots and then was lucky enough to work with Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Billy Crudup and Shuler Hensley on Waiting for Godot. What an incredible experience to be able to work with actors of that caliber. I learned so much from all of them. Being on stage is definitely a thrill and I really love the instant response from the audience. But it’s also a lot of pressure because you only have one chance to get it right. I feel like my experiences doing live theater really helped me to develop as an actor and a person.
What is your all-time Favorite Broadway show?
That’s a tough one. I loved Kinky Boots but my all-time favorite has to be Newsies. I think I saw it at least 5 times and I auditioned for the role of Les.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNSGrsqj9eO/?taken-by=colincritchley&hl=en
Tell us about Legends of the Hidden Temple.
Legends is a take on the game show, Legends of the Hidden Temple which was on Nickelodeon back in the 90s. I play Noah who is the middle sibling and he is OBSESSED with the Legends of the Hidden Temple. He has studied everything about the Temple and its secrets and it is his ultimate dream to be able to go into the temple. Through some impulsive behavior (which often gets him into trouble) he ends up trapping he and his siblings in the temple fighting for their lives. He realizes he must use his knowledge of the legends and the help of his two siblings to get them out alive. Through this adventure, he learns a lot about himself and becomes more bonded with his siblings. It’s a real heart-thumping, an adrenaline-pumping movie with non-stop action, great stunts, live animals and also some tender moments between the siblings.
What drew you to the role?
I think anyone who watches reruns of the old game show would agree that they would LOVE to be a contestant on the show. I was lucky enough to be the kid who gets to be a contestant but on an even grander scale. The sets of the movie are absolutely incredible and it was truly a dream come true to be able to work on this project. At the end of the movie, my character is the one that is lucky enough to do the Temple Run through the temple in order to save him and his siblings and a whole ancient civilization.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJWKPG9hU6l/?taken-by=colincritchley&hl=en
Tell us about Breaking Brooklyn.
In Breaking Brooklyn I play the role of Aaron, a 12-year-old homeless boy with a passion for dance who with his brother is rescued by an old showman, played by Louis Gossett, Jr., and he takes them to live with him and his estranged brother. The showman becomes a teacher and mentor for Aaron and their experiences heal both families. I had the opportunity to tap dance in the film which was awesome but also required tons of rehearsal and preparation. It’s much harder to do multiple takes when you’re dancing than it is when you’re just acting. Working opposite Lou Gossett, Jr. was something I will never forget. Lou is not only an incredible actor, but he is one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. We would improvise together and he taught me so much. I keep in touch with him to this day and will always think of him as a mentor. I loved working with the director, Paul Becker and we really had a great connection and working relationship. We shot the entire movie on location in Brooklyn which was very cool. I’m really excited for this film to come out, especially because it’s such a different role from the one I play in Legends.
Did your Broadway experience prepare you for that role?
I think my Broadway experience helped prepare me for all roles because it really taught me to think on my feet. Also, the amount of rehearsal that we do for Broadway was similar to the amount of rehearsal I did for the dance scenes for Breaking Brooklyn. Those dance scenes felt like mini-Broadway shows in a way.
Anything beyond that? More films, TV, Theater?
I wrapped another film over the summer which is more of a coming of age film called Life Now, Life Then. It’s about a group of boys whose lives are forever changed by events they experience together during the summer of 1994. I worked with five other boys and you can just imagine how much fun we had hanging around together on and off set. My character Sal was a fast-talking player type and I had a lot of fun transforming into that role. I love the opportunity to play so many very different characters. I really feel so lucky to do what I do and to have had the opportunities to work on such amazing projects. I also play the voice of a cartoon character in a show called Superwings on Sprout. I am currently recording Season 2. I play the role of Donnie and I really enjoy the process of voiceover work as well.
Where do you see your career headed?
I definitely want to continue taking roles that challenge me. I would also love to be on a tv show or series where I get to play a recurring character who I can develop over time. I try to be open to all roles and different types of projects. It’s really exciting to NOT know what’s coming next!!
*Featured Photo by Michael Creagh
If you want to find more out about Colin, you can follow his twitter at https://twitter.com/colin_critchley?lang=en
Do you love Colin Critchley? Tweet us at @CelebMix.