At the Theatre Company: Debut. Regional Theatre credits include Tribes (Philadelphia Theatre Company, Pittsburgh’s City Theatre Company). Next year he will be performing in the world premiere of I Was Most Alive With You by Craig Lucas in Boston (Huntington Theatre Company). Tad recently appeared on ABC’s “Secrets and Lies.” Tad would like to dedicate this performance to his girlfriend, Andrea Weinzierl.

MEET TAD COOLEY
Billy in Tribes

• Hometown: Victoria, Texas
• Training: New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, one year
• What was the role that changed your life? When I was 14 years old, I entered in a talent contest at my junior high school. I created this character named Terry the Love Fairy. In my skit, I wore a giant pink tutu with a wand. Along with two backup fairy dancers, I performed an interpretive dance number to “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton for this girl to mend her broken heart. As ridiculous as the skit was, it had the entire school in an uproarious laughter. That was the feeling I knew I had to chase. I’m also pretty sure I made a teacher pee her pants.
• Why are you an actor? I ask myself this question time and time again. I suppose my answer would be the pure enjoyment you get when you’re onstage in front of hundreds of people, or on camera and seen by an unending number with the possibility of affecting at least one person out there somewhere. That alone makes my heart full and gives me a sense of purpose.
• What would you be doing for a career if you weren’t an actor? Neil deGrasse Tyson’s assistant. Because he’s the coolest guy on the planet.
• Ideal scene partner: Jeff Bridges. He is a majorly generous actor. And afterward, I would like to have a beer with him and ask the unending questions I have for him about The Big Lebowski, which is among my five favorite movies.
• Why does this play matter? It shows the importance of being heard, especially within your own family. I believe this play also raises awareness in communication within families. Billy and his family members all have flaws, but in the end they find acceptance with one another because they are a “Tribe.”
• What do you hope the audience gets out of experiencing Tribes? It’s such a moving and captivating play. I believe anyone can relate to it. I hope people leave sympathizing with Billy and understanding why he did what he did. We all make mistakes. Some are worse than others. But what Billy did was for acceptance. In the end, that’s what we all want in one way or another. I love talking to audience members after the show and hearing what feelings they have leaving the theatre.
• Finish this sentence: “All I want is … ”  Laughter.

Tribes: Ticket information
Performances  through Nov. 15
Ricketson Theatre
Performance schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. (No Saturday matinees during preview performances)
ASL interpreted & Audio described performance: 1:30 p.m. Nov. 7
Call 303-893-4100 or
BUY ONLINE
TTY: 303-893-9582
Groups of 15 or more: 303-446-4829
Also: Purchase in person at The Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby. Buy and print online at Denvercenter.org.

Please be advised that the Denver Center for the Performing Arts  – denvercenter.org – is the only authorized online ticket provider for the DCPA”s presentation of  ‘Tribes.’

Previous NewsCenter coverage of Tribes:
Go to the official Tribes show page
Photos: Tribes opening night
Video: Your first look at Tribes
Video: A message from Director Stephen Weitz
Perspectives: 5 Things we learned about Tribes
Tribes and the art of projections in a play about hearing loss
Tribes and the tyranny of language and listening
Tribes: Anytime there is an ‘us,’ there is a ‘them’
Theatre Company giddily going down rabbit hole in 2015-16
Casting announced for Theatre Company’s fall shows
Theatre Company introduces bold new artwork for 2015-16 season

More Tribes ‘Meet the Cast’ profiles (to date):
Kate Finch, Sylvia in Tribes
Isabel Ellison, Ruth in Tribes
Andrew Pastides, Daniel in Tribes