UPTOWN — Uptown actor Colter Smith will make his Chicago theater debut this weekend in Mark Robert's new production "New Country."
Smith moved to Chicago in 2011 to pursue his acting career, but took a hiatus from acting to pay back college loans after a few unsuccessful gigs, he said.
"I haven't done a whole lot and that was mostly my own doing," said Smith, adding he filmed a small independent film that was never named or released as far as he knew. "That kind of rubbed me the wrong way and I didn't want to [act]. This was actually my second audition."
Smith plays country star Justin Spears' star-struck bellboy Ollie in the 90-minute production, which follows Spears' bachelor party in Nashville that goes "wildly amiss" following some shenanigans from "his entourage of ruthless managers, faux fans and friends, and his favorite pig-farming uncle." Spears is played by Michael Monroe Goodman, according to a news release for the show.
The southern bellboy-role of Ollie was a perfect fit for Smith, who grew up in Texas and graduated from Southern Methodist University's School of Arts. The character is "fun and youthful... and sees the world with endless possibilities," Smith said.
"I grew up on the back of a ranch. I came from the most cliche cowboy-lifestyle you can think of," Smith said adding "the heartfelt dark comedy showcases the entire cast."
The play is the eighth written by stand-up comedian and actor Mark Roberts, who created the CBS hit "Mike and Molly" and was a writer for CBS's "Two and a Half Men." Roberts, who began his theatrical career in Urbana-Champaign in 1982, considers it the beginning of an ongoing artistic investment in the Chicago community, the release said.
"My writing has always lent itself to Midwestern voices and sensibilities. It only makes sense that I should be generating my work here. The talent here is something special, full of actors and artists I’ve wanted to work with for years," said Roberts, who plays Spears' "uncensored, pig-farming uncle."
Working with the more experienced cast was "educational" for Smith, but working with Roberts is a much harder experience to put into words, he said.
"If you can find time to stop laughing, it's great. Just being in the same room as the guy is an experience," adding he was off-put by Roberts' humbleness. "He doesn't feel like he's above anyone. He wants to work and collaborate."
The comedic drama is running at the Den Theatre, at 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., from Saturday until May 14. Productions are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $45 and are available here.
"It's exciting. It feels really good to be getting a paycheck in the theater," Smith said. "I'm just excited to be a part of this. To have this be my first experience... with this caliber of talent around me to push me has been nothing, but a pleasure."
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