Kevin Berntson reading from ‘The Nest’ at the 2015 Colorado New Play Summit in February. Photo by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

MEET KEVIN BERNTSON
Ned Bartish in The Nest

At the DCPA Theatre Company: 2015 Colorado New Play Summit (The Nest). Other credits include the world premiere of Reunion (South Coast Rep), directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (The Nest), Sideways Stories (South Coast Rep), School for Wives and Boy (La Jolla Playhouse) and most recently, PRAIRIE-OKE in Los Angeles. Partial TV credits include “Inside Amy Schumer,” “Modern Family,” “Kickin’ It,” “Private Practice,” “Reno 911.” He’s also an instructor and performer at the Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles.

• Hometown: Los Angeles
• Training: MFA from UC-San Diego  
• Website: KevinBerntson.Com
• What was the role that changed your life: The first role that made me crave acting was one I didn’t get: Mr. McGregor in a second-grade production of Peter Rabbit. I got the mouse instead. But it was a somewhat telling insight that I loved to perform. Professionally, playing Peter in Greg Moss’ premiere Reunion meant a lot to me, working with such talented people and bringing me back to plays after so many years of TV work and improv/sketch comedy. 
• Why are you an actor? The feeling of going on a ride in a scene with other actors, of inhabiting someone else, hopefully successfully, the joy of laughter are the main reasons I act, along with the wonderful community of artists and friends who make life richer. The magic of showtime is addictive and delightful. 
• What would you be doing for a career if you weren’t an actor: A Buddhist monk, maybe.  Or a history teacher, like my father was.    
• Ideal scene partner: This is a fun question to ponder. There are so many brilliant ones, but one actor I kept coming back to is Michael Caine. His performance in Hannah and Her Sisters especially brings me great joy. He’s truly a master, and I can’t imagine the honor it would be to act with him. (Runners-up: Christopher Lee, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Martin, Dame Judy Dench and Charlie Chaplin).  
• Why does The Nest matter? Because Theresa Rebeck wrote it! She’s just so brilliant. And the themes of community; how men and women relate; misogyny, fear of the future – are all effortlessly entwined by a master of dialogue.  
• What do you hope the audience gets out of it? I hope the audience gets to laugh, and relate, and feel part of a group of somewhat lonely souls who are trying to scratch that itch and figure this whole ‘life’ thing out.
• Finish this sentence: “All I want is …” common courtesy, creativity, tolerance, joy and compassion. And I realize those things must begin with me, if I want them.

The Nest

• By Theresa Rebeck
• Jan. 22-Feb. 21
• Space Theatre
• When you have a seat at the bar called The Nest, no conversation is off-limits, whether you’re speaking or eavesdropping. That is, until a stranger walks in with a lucrative proposition. Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck’s plays “may make you laugh or shudder (or both)” according to American Theatre, and with its feisty humor and scorching dialogue, this explosive new comedy holds a cracked mirror up to friendships, romantic relationships and families.
• Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE


Previous NewsCenter coverage of The Nest:
The Nest flies in face of national gender trends
Five things we now know about that bar
Cast list announced
Theresa Rebeck is not getting angry: She’s getting even
​American Theatre magazine: The Colorado New Play Summit Is a Developing Story


Previous 2015-16 ‘Meet the Cast’ profiles:
Meet Adeoye of Lookingglass Alice and All the Way
Meet J. Paul Boehmer of As You Like It
Meet Molly Brennan of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Courtney Capek of A Christmas Carol
Meet Tad Cooley of Tribes
Meet Allen Dorsey of A Christmas Carol
Meet Kevin Douglas of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Napoleon M. Douglas of A Christmas Carol
Meet Isabel Ellison of Tribes
Meet Kate Finch of Tribes
Meet Ella Galaty of A Christmas Carol
Meet Ben Heil of A Christmas Carol
Meet Carolyn Holding of As You Like It
Meet Drew Horwitz of As You Like It
Meet Maurice Jones of As You Like It
Meet Geoffrey Kent of As You Like It and All the Way
Meet Emily Kron of As You Like It
Meet Nick LaMedica of As You Like It
Meet Andrew Pastides of Tribes
Meet Shannan Steele of A Christmas Carol
Meet Samuel Taylor of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Lindsey Noel Whiting of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Jake Williamson  of A Christmas Carol
Meet Matt Zambrano of As You Like It

Kevin Berntson at the first day of rehearsal for ‘The Nest’ in January. Photo by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.