Meet the Cast of HELLS CANYON
From above left, clockwise: Kaitlyn Cheng, Ryan Colbert, Becca Claire Hart, Gregory Yang, Matt Lytle
Keiko Green’s Hells Canyon is truly created for an ensemble cast, and we’re fortunate to have snagged these five! Gregory Yang and Ryan Colbert have returned to the Twin Cities to be a part of this world premiere—they’ve been working on projects in LA and New York—and Becca Claire Hart is making her Mu debut after gracing other Twin Cities stages. Kaitlyn Cheng and Matt Lytle are also making their Mu debuts, and we couldn’t be more excited that they’re bringing this story to life.
Get to know the actors, and see the show from Feb 24-Mar 17 at the Jungle Theater! Tickets are Pay As You Are.
Kaitlyn Cheng (Ariel)
What made you want to audition for this play? I grew up in the Bay Area, which has a large Asian population, and when I moved to Illinois I felt disconnected from that community, so ever since I moved to the Midwest, I'd been looking to connect with an Asian theater community. I auditioned for this play kind of on a whim, mostly to introduce myself to Theater Mu. I didn’t think anything would come from it, but I’m so glad that Katie and Lily gave me a shot and trusted me with this play and this role.
How do or don’t you see yourself in Ariel? When I read this play for the first time, I was immediately drawn to Ariel and the way she moves in the world because I know people like her. She constantly compromises to the detriment of her own sense of self and, ultimately to the detriment of others. She’s scared of her own strength and I find that internal battle interesting. Deep pain and anger are emotions that she never allows herself to truly feel until the very end and, at that point, it’s too late. Ariel so desperately wants to be heard, and when she’s not, she chooses to stay quiet, which builds resentment and fear.
Asians are often taught that silence is strength which might be true, but more often than not can feel suffocating. This was never said to me but this was taught to me through example. On a lighter note, Ariel really loves and values her friendships, and group harmony as a whole, which is maybe why she does what she does in the play, and there is something kind about that too: helping and loving your friends as if they are a part of you.
Ryan Colbert (Doug)
What’s it like coming back to the Twin Cities to be in this world premiere? Minneapolis is my home, it’s where my family is, so it’s always an immense to pleasure come back. To be working on this world premiere with such fabulous artists makes this adventure all the more fulfilling, and it’s my first time performing not just with Theater Mu but also on the Jungle stage—how fantastic!
Why should people see this play even if they don’t normally “do horror”? This play is so much more than its horrific moments. Yes, there will be blood. Maybe a lot. But the hauntings run much deeper than that. They are ancestral, powerful. True to the core of the American experience. We’re all haunted by the truth of our histories. They come back to us from out of the ground.
Becca Claire Hart
What has the rehearsal process been like so far? The rehearsal process has been a dream. Director Katie Bradley has made the room a space where everyone feels able to dive in and play. The cast and production team are so supportive, which is huge, as some parts of the show are pretty intense. It’s exciting to move forward every day and feel like we’re all pulling in the same direction.
What about the script stuck with you/stuck out to you when you first read it? Oh man…well, I love horror movies, so to see one unfold on a page was thrilling. But even before the supernatural comes into play, the characters are all dealing with so many interpersonal issues, which makes for a truly compelling story (to act and to watch!).
Matt Lytle
What do you think audiences will take away from this play? Audiences will love the heartbreak and the horror. They will love going along for the ride. This play is an “event” that the audience experiences alongside the characters. Hearts and hairs will be standing on end...
What has surprised you about the story? The emotional life of this play will sneak up on you fast. Sometimes the real threat comes from within.
Gregory Yang
What’s it like coming back to the Twin Cities to be in this world premiere? At first, I was kind of dreading it. The main reason being that I’ll be here through a frozen January-March. But fortunately for me (not the environment) it’s been a very mild winter. Can’t help but feel that I brought the LA heat. But weather aside, I was super excited to do this world premiere. Cabin culture is big in Minnesota, so I hope the audience members feel the rustic environment when they first lay eyes on the set. I’m also a huge fan of this play! Keiko has created sharp and fleshed-out characters, and has crafted situations that are a nightmare of fun for the actors. Lastly, without giving too much, when injustice happens to Asian communities in America, it is often silenced and invisible. So I’m happy that this play can shine a light on a historic incident of Asian hate. It allows the community to feel and be angry... and lowkey, I’m a fan of powerful, angry Asians.
What about your character, Tommy, has surprised you, or how do you relate to him? So the cast and I have been watching a lot of horror films together. In those films, there are always the character tropes (the leader jock, the quiet girl, the level-headed one, etc.) Tommy’s trope is the loud party animal.... which I so relate to. Lowkey I think that’s why Katie cast me. Jokes aside, he has surprised me tremendously. Tommy is a good listener, friend, and brother. There are moments when things are pretty crappy for him, but he is willing to push that aside and give his undivided attention to someone else who is hurting. Quiet empathy is such a beautiful quality to have.