The cast of DCPA Education’s ‘The Snowy Day Other Stories,’ from left: Rachel Kae Taylor, Robert Lee Hardy and Zak Reynolds. Age recommendation: Pre-school to 3rd grade, with adult supervision. Photo by Adams VisCom for the DCPA NewsCenter.

MEET ROBERT LEE HARDY
Peter in The Snowy Day, playing through Nov. 18 in the Conservatory Theatre. Recent stage credits include A Time To Kill at the Vintage Theatre in Aurora; Flyin’ West, The Three Sisters and Home. TV and film credits include Jazz in the Diamond District, Jamesy Boy and HBO’s The Wire.

• Hometown: Baltimore
• Home now: Denver
• Training: I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film
• What’s your handle? @RobertLeeHardy on Twitter and Instagram
• What was the role that changed your life? The role was Cephus Miles from the play Home by Samm-Art Williams. I had to learn eight monologues, the production only had three characters — and it was over two hours long with no intermission! I understood Cephus. He was my grandfather, my uncle and my father. Cephus lost his home, was thrown in jail for not wanting to fight in the Vietnam War and became addicted to drugs. During the run of the show, I was going through a really rough point in my life, and Cephus inspired me. Despite all, he never lost his joyous goodwill or his indomitable spirit. He held onto to his faith in himself and ended up with a life filled with love and happiness.
• Why are you an actor? I love suspending reality. I have the power to use this gift bestowed upon me, to take people’s level of consciousness to a higher level.
• What do you be doing if you were not an actor? I would be a news anchor. I love the words, I love the camera and I love storytelling.
• Ideal scene partner: Jeffrey Wright (pictured right) and Heath Ledger. They literally know how to put on someone else’s shoes, and walk in them.
• Why does The Snowy Day matter? When I was a child I didn’t often see people who looked like me onstage, film or TV. The Snowy Day allows children to see that actors and artists come in all colors, shapes and sizes.
  
• What do you hope the audience gets out of this play? I want them to leave the show feeling inspired. Whether you can’t whistle or write well. If you believe in yourself, the possibilities are endless.
  

• Complete this sentence: “All I want is … “
  
  “… for the world to know that a career as an artist is realistic and ideal.”

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Robert Lee Hardy, right, starred as Carl Lee Hailey with Drew Hirschboeck as Jake Brigance in Vintage Theatre’s regional premiere production of ‘A Time to Kill’ in April. He has since joined DCPA Education’s ‘The Snowy Day.’   

The Snowy Day and Other Stories: Ticket information
From the joys of a first snowfall and learning how to whistle to thrilling encounters delivering a precious invitation, the delightful moments of childhood are perfectly captured in this medley of simple, sweet stories.

• Written by Ezra Jack Keats; adapted for the stage by Jerome Hairston
• Performances through Nov. 18
• School performances: Weekdays 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. (except Thursdays are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.)
• Public performances: 1:30 p.m. Saturdays
• Conservatory Theatre, located in the Robert and Judi Newman Center for Theatre Education, 1101 13^th St.
• Tickets $10 (discounts and scholarships available)
• Best suited for: Pre-K through third grade
• Call 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE
• Teachers: Inquire by clicking here or calling 303-446-4829

Previous NewsCenter coverage of The Snowy Day and Other Stories

• First rehearsal photos: Forecast calls for a Snowy Day at DCPA
• DCPA Education to launch Theatre for Young Audiences
• Meet Zak Reynolds of The Snowy Day, ‘a fan of being happy’
• Rachel Kae Taylor of The Snowy Day on the magic of being a kid