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Meet, Ric Cedergren! He is joining us for The Hunchback of Notre Dame June 30, 2022 - July 10, 2022!
What is your favorite song in this show and why?
It is not possible to answer this question. It is a beautiful musical production from start to finish.
What have you loved so far about working with SART?
My wife and I used to live in Mars Hill and we attended many SART productions. At that time I never thought I would actually be in one. The SART team is very professional and welcoming. When I heard the list of actors in this play, many of whom I have seen before, I knew it would be fantastic and I simply hoped that I could be part of it all.
Tell us about your character. What’s your favorite thing about them? What do you love about getting to portray them?
I am thrilled to be ensemble in this cast. I play many roles. A soldier, a gargoyle, a puppet master, however, my primary role is King Louis XI, "The Prudent."
How did you get into theatre?
My father, also named Eric Cedergren, was an opera singer who did post-graduate studies at Julliard. Recordings of him can be listened to on YouTube. He had an amazing voice. My son Leif is a gifted entertainer as well, who has been accepted into the BFA fine arts acting program at Western Carolina. Leif and I are currently in the Parkway Playhouse production of WORKING. It has been my great pleasure to sing the song "Fathers and Sons," with him in this musical production directed by Janice Schreiber. My first role was as Texas Ranger Frank Hamer in the 2017 production "Bonnie and Clyde," the musical directed by Dwight Chiles.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the area?
I like to hike in this area, rain or shine, and year-round for many reasons. Fitness of course, but I also hike to clear my mind, learn my lines, and to connect with my surroundings. I am also excited about how the towns North of Asheville, such as Mars Hill, Burnsville, and Spruce Pine, have developed in recent years.
What about this production are you the most excited about?
Director J. Ethan Henry has some unbelievably creative ideas for this production. I wish I could say more (I also wish I knew more). I can say that this play will be unforgettable. You will not only laugh and cry. You will be amazed.
What’s your favorite part about performing?
I really enjoy working with dedicated and talented artists, and I am in awe that I am actually participating among them. I get a front-row seat and a behind-the-scenes view that never fails to move me. This experience is also a way to connect with my father and my son in their world. A world that is becoming my world as well.
Do you have any upcoming projects we should check out?
After having parts in both the Parkway Playhouse production of "Working" and the SART production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," I plan to take a short break. I do, however, plan to audition again for the next season.
Biography
Ric is a fairly recent arrival to the stage. Most recently, Ric performed under the direction of Jenny Martin, in the Appalachia-themed production of Dark of the Moon as Mr. Allen, the proud and frustrated mountain man and father of Barbara and Floyd, who “jest can’t seem to get no one to marry Barbara.” He also performed as a lead musician and singer in several of the songs in the play. Additionally, Ric performed as the kind and benevolent Mr. Brownlow in the musical Oliver Twist, directed by Erica Tyner. These performances followed his acting debut as the renowned Texas Ranger Frank Hamer in the musical Bonnie and Clyde, directed by Dwight Chiles. Ric and his wife Susan live in Burnsville. They have three children, Gressa, Wren, and Leif. Ric grew up in the Midwest in a musical family. His father was a professional opera singer and stage actor and both of his parents directed and/or sang in many choir ensembles, though at that time Ric was much more likely to be found on the baseball field. Ric is a teacher and also coaches golf & soccer, in Yancey County schools.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is showing at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre in Mars Hill, NC June 30, 2022 - July 10, 2022! Grab your tickets here: https://www.sartplays.com/hunchback
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