Gay actor went after role in ‘Angels in America’ like a bloodhound

Nick Westrate on the importance of remembering AIDS in the ‘80s

By PATRICK FOLLIARD

By

playing

Prior Walter

in Tony

Kushner’s

“Angels in America,

Part One:

Millennium

Approaches”

at Arena Stage, New York actor Nick Westrate is hitting a career milestone. The part of Prior, a young gay New Yorker besieged by AIDS and abandonment, is a role he’s long wanted to do, and almost did several times, but somehow it never worked out until now with Arena’s stagedin-the-round production helmed by Hungarian director János Szász.

Set in mid-80s New York City, the 1993 Pulitzer and Tony and Pulitzer-winning epic is an American tragedy tempered by humor. After Prior is diagnosed with AIDS, his partner Louis leaves him for Joe, an ex-Mormon conservative whose wife Harper is having a Valium-fueled nervous breakdown. Thrown into the mix are – among others—loathsome lawyer Roy Cohn (a vicious, closeted conservative who died of AIDS in 1986), the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, and an angel who appears to Prior and decrees his role as a prophet, a mantle Prior struggles with donning.

For the out actor, saying the playwright’s words is both a thrill and responsibility: “Tony Kushner is the most remarkable living playwright we have. His words are poetry, and he makes poetry practical and the political personal. He’s second to none in that way.”

Westrate grew up on a Christmas tree farm in southern Michigan. At 17, he left his home state for New York to study acting at the Juilliard School. After a busy but rough start, an eclectic and successful career ensued. His ample stage credits include originating roles for Harvey Fierstein’s “Casa Valentina” and Theresa Rebeck’s comedy “Bernhardt/Hamlet.” He toured in “The King’s Speech” as Bertie (the monarch who overcame a debilitating stutter to inspire a nation), played feckless young Leo in Ivo van Hove’s “The Little Foxes” and the depressed Donald in the 2010 off-Broadway revival of “The Boys in the Band.” On television, he was Robert Townsend for three seasons on AMC’s “Turn: Washington’s Spies,” and on film, he starred in William Sullivan s merican Insurrection.”

When asked how the part of Prior came to him, Westrate replies without hesitation, “I sought after it like a bloodhound.” Short version is Westrate heard Szász was doing “Angels” at Arena. He liked his work but didn’t know how to contact him, so he reached out to an Eastern European contact who put them in touch. They met in New York in October and hit it off. After a few hours of reading sections of the play together, director and actor decided to join forces.

It was a fit, and I knew that rena had the resources and integrity to do it well,” he adds.

WASHINGTON BLADE: You’re too young to remember the early days of AIDS. How do you tap into the terror?

NICK WESTRATE: A lot of reading, things like Andy Shilts’ “And the Band Played On” and Paul Monette’s great memoir “Borrowed Time.” And the more you learn about people and how cases of the virus ravaged their bodies, the more terrifying it becomes. You can only take in so much at a time and luckily, I’ve had a long runway to prepare for this.

Terror is also knowing the joy and liberation before the fall. How free gay life was becoming and how much fun everyone was having. If this had never happened, we’d be so much further along. We would have discovered 400 genders by now and wouldn’t have Ron DeSantis braying about it. AIDS was such a huge missile into the soul of our community. he crisis filled the tanks of the bigoted and the hateful and shifted us politically and personally in ways we still can’t fathom. And that’s why it’s so important why we’re doing this play and keep doing this play and never stop talking about it.

BLADE: You had an auspicious meeting with János Szász in October. How’s working with him?

WESTRATE: He’s a marvel. Not only does he direct without an agenda but he brings a unique perspective: János was driven out of Hungary by fascist leader Viktor Orbán for being Jewish and leftist. He and his wife and children are refugees in this country. An interesting viewpoint, especially at this time when refugees are streaming across borders in Europe, America, the Middle East, and Africa.

BLADE: In this moment of trans and drag persecution do you think about that?

WESTRATE: All the time. Prior and Belize [Prior’s best friend played by Justin Weaks] are former drag queens.

BLADE: Talk about the sand.

WESTRATE: Yes, there’s a lot of sand [28,000 pounds of sand to fill a -foot diameter circle at si inches deep . János was very moved and inspired by footage from “How to Survive a Plague” that shows people throwing the ashes of loved ones over the fence and on to the White House lawn. It’s important for János that we’re doing this play in the ashes of the dead.

BLADE: For some gay theatergoers “Angels” is a tough show. They’re hesitant to revisit that time.

WESTRATE: I understand if you don’t want to see it on a specific day but gird your loins and put on your grownup panties and come to the theater, it needs to be witnessed and attention must be paid.

BLADE: And the physicality of the role? Prior becomes increasingly ill throughout the play.

WESTRATE: A lot of things. Again, there’s reading including media material and actual accounts – there’s a great book called “From A Burning House,” a nonliterary compilation of short letters from people living with the virus. There’s artistic preparation involving the movement director and costume and wig and makeup designers as well, and figuring out how to e press all that.

Also, I lost 30 pounds to play the part. Because of the long run up to the play, I was able to do it gradually.

BLADE: Tell us about the cast.

WESTRATE: Half the cast are queer people. It’s so amazing to do this play with gay people — the references and understanding is there. You don’t have to apologize; the kissing isn’t weird. There’s an almost immediate intimacy of doing this play together that’s very beautiful.

I’ve worked with straight actors in gay plays who’ve asked “OK, why Judy Garland?” Or they tell me how they’ve researched to be gay. It’s borderline offensive. But when you’re with gorgeous queer people it just happens so naturally so easily. [Castmates] Billie Krishawn, Justin Weaks, Michael Kevin Darnall and I have such a shorthand with each other. We have a text chain and send it each other weird GIFs. It’s a lot of fun.

I have my aunts (gay men who’ve survived the crisis) coming to see the show, and I’m here for those who aren’t here. I get emotional just talking about it. It’s a huge responsibility that none of us are taking lightly.

BLADE: It’s timely?

WESTRATE: Not long ago we had a president who was barking “bring me my Roy Cohn.” Looking around America, you might wonder how the fuck did we get here. Why are we persecuting our most vulnerable people? Why are so many so greedy, specious, and blind? Come see this play. This is where so much of it started.

BLADE: Clearly it means a lot to you.

WESTRATE: I’ve loved the play since I started to love plays. And I’ve seen many productions: the most recent Broadway version, Michael Greif’s on Broadway, Ivo van ove s at B . ike ichols film. Doing a full production is very important to me.

I’ve worked with a lot of the great gay writers like Mart Crowley and Harvey Fierstein and Edmund White and now my friend Tony Kushner. It’s meaningful for me to do these pieces from not only the American theatrical canon but also the gay canon.

BLADE: Thanks for taking time.

WESTRATE: Nothing makes me happier than talking about this play and this production.

29545 Patrick Henry Circle, Millsboro, DE

MLS: DESU2036358

PRICE - $624,900

37494 Pettinaro Drive, Ocean View, DE

MLS: DESU2035544

OPEN HOUSE - Sat 3/25 | 12-2 pm

PRICE - $345,000

GORGEOUS, LIKE NEW HOME IN MAINTENANCE-FREE INDEPENDENCE!

A lovinglymaintained Schell Brothers’ “Whimbrel” 3BR/2BA homelocatedon a premiumcorner lotinthe award-winning 55+ community, iswaitingfor you! Thishomefeaturesanopenfloor planwithhigh-ceilings & luxuryvinylplankflooring, a gourmetkitchen, wetbar, three-seasonroom, energyefficientsolarpanelsandsomuchmore! Allwithin a shortdrivetobeaches, shoppinganddining!

PRICE - $1,299,000

IDEAL INVESTMENT!

Thishighlydesirable 1stfloor END UNIT 2 BR/2BA condooffersbeautifulwaterviewsof wetlandsandstreams. Newerluxuryvinylplankflooring, HVAC system, hotwatertank, washeranddryer, ceilingfansandstove. Detachedgarageincludedinthissale. Bethany Bay communityoffers a boatramp, fishingpier, 9-holegolfcourse, pool, gym, walkingpaths, tennis, basketball, pickleballandvolleyballcourts!

Thiscondois a turnkeyinvestmentthat’s readyforspringandsummer!

PRICE - $3,250,000