SL_Spotlight_David_Corenswet_1119_Spotlight 11 / 13 / 19 11 : 46 AM Page 1 What happened when the nine - year - s old would - be actor S P O T L I G H T Q & A grew up ? My vivid memories of Philadelphia are from my time doing theater as a kid . I was in Macbeth at the Pennsylvania Shake - speare Festival ; my first musical , La Vie En Bleu , about the life of Picasso , I did at the Walnut Street Theatre . … I got to grow up learning from the greatest Philadelphia actors and directors . The Natural My last Philly regional play was an elaborate production of Our Town at age 16 , back at the An acting career seemed fated for Arden , again directed by Terry Nolen . I played Joe David Corenswet , star of Netflix’s and Si Crowell ( the paper boys ) . Terry decided that we would walk the entire audience over to The Politician . BY DEBRA WALLACE Christ Church for the wedding in the second act , then return to the theater for the final act . It was a David Corenswet remembers being just a young boy , marveling at his singular Old City experience . older sister Amy’s performance in Fiddler on the Roof at the Narberth Community Theatre . He leaned over to tell his father , “ If it’s possible , I’d like to do something like Please tell me about your college years . that one day . ” Although I knew I loved theater , I knew almost Only nine years old at the time , Corenswet didn’t quite understand it all , but he nothing about making a life out of it , so I applied to shared his dream with the right person . His father — a dedicated actor for several UPenn and planned to study psychology . But after years after college — set out to find his son a play . To his delight , the Arden Theatre doing a student production of the play Rope , I happened to be holding auditions under artistic director Terry Nolen , and Corenswet decided I’d roll the dice and audition for the drama got his first role as Bert in their production of All My division at Juilliard . Sons — two little scenes in the first act . A thespian was born . What was the audition like ? Years later , Corenswet starred in the 2018 With the help of my high school theater teacher indie film Affairs of State and appeared briefly Phil Brown , I prepared a couple of crazy mono - on the final season of House of Cards . But that logues and headed up to New York City with my was just the beginning . Earlier this year , the dad . It’s a hell of an experience , the audition 26 - year - old L.A . - based actor had his big break weekend . I was floored to see a bunch of kids as on The Politician . The show is a quirky Netflix eager as I was to figure out what “ acting ” really comedy from writer - producer Ryan Murphy meant . It felt like my tribe . By the skin of my teeth , ( Glee ) , about cutthroat , wealthy high I graduated in 2016 . school students who have their own outlandish ideas about winning . Tell me all about your Netflix show The He plays troubled teen River Politician . Barkley , in the midst of a fight It’s a political satire about wealthy high school stu - for student body president . dents who think their student government elec - We spoke with Corenswet tions require House of Cards - level conniving — about his new show , talking loads of plotting , backstabbing , attempted murder . to Gwyneth Paltrow in Man - I actually auditioned for the part of Ricardo , but darin , and dogs . River was always more my speed . Within a week or two , I was headed to L.A . to start shooting . Tell me about your standout scene with Gwyneth Paltrow , in which you are both speaking Mandarin . We just made the sounds we were told to make . Mandarin’s no joke , so it was a totally nerve - wracking scene to shoot — on the first day , no less ! But Gwyneth is so lovely and down to earth . She’s also , I think , a highlight of the series . What do you hope for your future ? Gosh , I hope I end up with a dog . A big dog . Maybe one big dog for wrestling , and one travel - sized dog for long flights . ? SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 2019 64 |