Austin Terrell, left, with the cast of ‘A Krumpus Story‘: Michael Morgan, Rachel Whyte, Jim Hitzke and Iona Leighton.

(The DCPA NewsCenter regularly profiles actors performing in theatre productions throughout the state of Colorado.)

MEET AUSTIN TERRELL

Nick in Boys Hair Club’s ‘A Krumpus Story,’ a new holiday comedy through Dec. 18 at Buntport Theater.

• Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
• Home now: Denver
• High school: Lubbock
  
• College: Baylor University (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance)
• What have you done for us lately? Ajax, Troilus and Cressida for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival
• What’s next? I will be playing Peter in Silent Sky for the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
  
• What is A Krumpus Story all about? It’s an original, off-color holiday romp that asks questions about knowing yourself, recognizing your own path and living the life you were born to live. We call it an dark holiday comedy for anyone who wants a little more spice in their holiday fare. In our story, Santa is the naughty one and hard justice compliments the figgy pudding. The show is full of surprises, from Elves to Mio, from Lebron James to peppermint balls, from absurd to touching. This show is hilarious, irreverent, and surprisingly moving.
  
• What is your role in all of this? Nick is a complex fellow. There is a constant balancing act going on in his head – he’s a master tactician in a very uncertain and wary world. The biggest challenge for me as an actor is not depending on a comedic “bag of tricks” – but instead letting the language and situations inform this dark little comedy.
• What do you love most about the challenge? When BHC approached me with the opportunity to read for their new holiday show, I was elated. Since the first reading, I’ve felt a connection to this piece, and it’s been a great joy to see it come to fruition. Denver is filled with creative forces like Leigh Miller, Andy Waldschmidt and Sam Provenzano. Getting to dig in with new and collaborative works makes everyone better, more well-rounded and more adventurous in their play.
• What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? It is not completely unknown, but I am an exceptional chef. I’ve never worked as one professionally – but if I can’t be on stage, I’d rather be in the kitchen. 
• What’s one thing you want to get off your chest? I sincerely believe Denver is in the beginning rumblings of a theatre explosion. I am very, very excited about this community’s potential, and I want to be a part of it in every way I can to make it a common ground for new works, activist theatre and heightened performance.

Austin Terrell in Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Troilus and Cressida in the summer of 2016. Photo by Jennifer M. Koskinen.

A Krumpus Story: Ticket information
• Written by Leigh Miller, Andy Waldschmidt and Sam Provenzan
• Through Dec. 18 at Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St. 
• Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 7 p.m. Sundays; also 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12
• Tickets $14
• Info: Call 303-321-5925 or go to the show’s ticketing page

Cast list:


• Austin Terrell
• Michael Morgan
• Rachel Whyte
• Iona Leighton
• Jim Hitzke

More ‘In the Spotlife’ profiles:
Meet Lauren Bahlman of Wide-Eyed West’s theMumblings
Meet Mark Collins of And Toto Too’s Lost Creatures
Meet Carley Cornelius of Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ Constellations
Meet Emily Paton Davies of Miners Alley Playhouse’s God of Carnage
Meet Sam Gregory of the Arvada Center’s Tartuffe

Meet John Hauser of Curious Theatre’s Hand to God
Meet Jeff Jesmer of Spotlight Theatre’sThe Crucible
Meet Wayne Kennedy of BDT Stage’s Mid-Life 2
Meet Seth Maisel of Town Hall Arts Center’s The Firestorm
Meet Tim McCracken of Local Theatre’s The Firestorm
Meet Angela Mendez of Beauty and the Beast
Meet Joelle Montoya of Su Teatro’s El Sol Que Tu Eres
Meet Anne Oberbroeckling of Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Ripcord
Meet Jessica Robblee of Buntport Theatre for All Ages’ Siren Song: A Pirate Odyssey
Meet Jane Shirley of Santa’s Big Red Sack
Meet Petra Ulyrich of Germinal Stage-Denver’s Johnny Got His Gun
Meet Megan Van De Hey of the Arvada Center’s Sister Act
Meet Sharon Kay White of the Arvada Center’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter