Henry Simmons
Henry Simmons stars on CBS' hit show, Shark. He will be seen next in the play "Betrayal" alongside Sophina Brown and Rick Wasserman. We got the scoop on this new production.
The Star Scoop:
Your fans will know you from "Shark." Will they be surprised by what they see in "Betrayal?"
Henry Simmons:
Yes, I believe they will be surprised because this is unlike anything I’ve ever done before. Usually in film and TV I’ve played characters that are brooding, but there is no place for playing subtext in this play. Harold Pinter is a brilliant playwright and as an actor I’ve learned I have to trust in his writing and allow the story to tell itself.
The Star Scoop:
Why did you want to be involved in the play "Betrayal?"
Simmons:
I want to grow as an actor, and the only way to do that is to challenge myself. I’ve certainly done that in pursuing this play. This is a play where the characters background, attitude, values, morals, and sensibilities are completely foreign to me. Not to mention the dialect. In the rehearsal process alone I have seen growth and I couldn’t be happier.
The Star Scoop:
How does "Betrayal" differ from working on "Shark?" What different challenges does a play present for you as an actor?
Simmons:
Theater is tremendously different than TV because of the level of intimacy with the audience. In television the intimacy derives from people being able to “read” the characters thoughts because of the proximity of the camera to the actor’s face. In theater the intimacy derives from the audience seeing the actor in the flesh, and hopefully sharing the experience along with the actor.
The Star Scoop:
Are you interested in doing more live theater in the future?
Simmons:
Absolutely! The Playground is a theater company that I got involved with and we’re producing this play as well. The idea is to do at least one staged play a year where all the actors’ in the company are challenged. We are all hungry to perform on stage and have a deep respect for theater.