Milford's Will Young covets roles in 'Our Town,' 'Ernie'

Published: Monday, March 28, 2011

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Actor Will Young (left) and Director Dennis North sit on the set of "Our Town" on the OCC Orchard Ridge Campus. Photo courtesy of Kurt L. Mathiak

Director Dennis North works with the cast of "Our Town" at OCC Orchard Ridge Campus. Photo courtesy of Kurt L. Mathiak

By NANCY McCAULEY BRANSTETTER
Special to The Oakland Press

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Actor Will Young plays the part of Stage Manager in "Our Town" at OCC Orchard Ridge Campus. Photo courtesy of Kurt L. Mathiak

Actors often wait a lifetime for their dream role. Will Young of Milford is pinching himself to make sure he isn’t dreaming, as he has not one but two perfect roles, and not back to back, but at the same time.

Young accepted the role of Stage Manger in the Oakland County Community College (OCC) Orchard Ridge Campus production of the American classic “Our Town,” before recently landing the part of Detroit Tigers broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell in the upcoming play “Ernie” by Mitch Album. Young smiled broadly as he described himself as one busy guy.

“I’m in rehearsals for Ernie six days a week for six to eight hours, before heading out to join the cast of ‘Our Town,’ ” Young said. “It would be impossible without the support of the ‘Ernie’ director and stage manager who arrange my schedule so I can get to the two weeks of ‘Our Town’ rehearsals.”

Young, who grew up in the small Minnesota town of Cokato, saw “Our Town” when he was in seventh grade, said he coveted the role of the Stage Manager, thinking he would never have an opportunity to perform it. Years later he landed the role in a production at the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, then was offered that childhood dream role again by his long-time friend and director, Dennis North.

“Will is an Equity Actor and this is the first time OCC has brought a professional actor into a production,” North said. “When I decided to do ‘Our Town’ this season, I thought of Will because for me, Will owns that role. You won’t find a better Stage Manager.”

Young is a member of Actors’ Equity Association which is the labor union that represents more than 48,000 actors and stage managers in the United States.

The majority of the 23 member cast of “Our Town” is OCC students and former students who say they are watching and learning from both North, who is also a professional actor, and Young.

“Will raises the bar,” Lilli Bishop (cast as Mrs. Gibbs) said. “He makes you want to be the best you can be.”

Young said he feels a sense of responsibility to model a professional work ethic and support his fellow actors.

“The first time he came to rehearsal, he knew all his lines,” Garett Harris (cast as George) said. “My jaw dropped.”

Balancing the two productions not only requires careful scheduling. Young explained that he needs great focus while on each stage. A self-proclaimed worrier, Young admits he is anxious about representing the icon and beloved Ernie Harwell, and is carefully studying his body movement and expression.

“ ’Ernie’ is a labor of love by Mitch, and I am honored to be chosen for the role,” Young said. “I have most of the lines in both shows, so I am now speaking for about nine hours a day between the two show rehearsals. I’m not complaining, believe me.”

Young added that both projects offer him phenomenal roles and both have beautiful words and are incredible pieces.

North described “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder as a spiritual play with a journey of love and loss. Noting the play has no formal set and few props, so audience must bring their imaginations to the performance.

“Our Town” can be seen at the Smith Theater on the Oakland County Community College Orchard Ridge Campus at 8 p.m. on March 31 and April 1 and 3, and at 3 p.m. on April 3. Tickets are available by calling 248-522-3666 or at the box office. Tickets for adults are $8 and $5 for students and seniors.

“Ernie” opens at City Theatre on April 28.

By NANCY BRANSTETTER
Special to The Oakland Press

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Antoinette Nikprelaj is Dr. Scarlet Sangfro in "Scar 23."

Antoinette Nikprelaj of Rochester is preparing for the role she hopes will launch her to Hollywood stardom. The 24-year-old actress is learning the skills she will need to save all mankind in the year 2099.

Nikprelaj is starring in the upcoming “Scar 23” — a futuristic, sci-fi thriller in which she plays a time-traveling scientist, heroically trying to save Earth — shot entirely at the Livonia-based Maxsar Digital Studios.

“I gave her a screen test and she was perfect. We put her in an apartment near the studio and away from her family so that she can concentrate on her training with our technical consultant Darcy Leutzinger of the Warren Police Department,” said Philippe Martinez, the film’s producer and director. “When I saw Antoinette, I knew she was our star, Scarlet.”

Nikprelaj’s Cinderella story began last year when the former model was urged by her cousin to audition as a stand-in for a Hollywood star who was originally set to play the kickboxing and fearless scientist in the Maxsar film, primed for its first feature-length CGI release.

After the meeting with Martinez, Nikprelaj walked away with the starring role of Dr. Scarlet Sangfro, replacing previously cast actress.

Months of pre-production self-defense and weapons training have been grueling, but the sacrifice proving most difficult for the young star is being away from her husband Nua and 3-year-old daughter Gianna.

“I miss them so much,” said Nikprelaj. “They are my life, but I am doing this also for them, because I see a great potential to become successful.”

In terms of training, she says that staying focused, especially in those sessions when the long hours have exhausted her, is her greatest challenge. Adding that pushing herself beyond her comfort zone taught her that she is a much stronger person than she thought.

“The pressure is on me to make it believable,” said Nikprelaj. “I am working with my acting coach, Megan Brown, on every detail including how to stand and where to put my hands. I actually play several versions of myself — one sexy, one strong and another is very sad.”

Nikprelaj moved into the Detroit area as a child with her Albanian-born parents.

She began modeling as a teenager, landing a national ad campaign for the women’s clothing chain “The Limited.” Her young career soon grew. She appeared in several music videos, then won roles in “Just Go With It” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” playing a mermaid opposite Johnny Depp’s iconic Captain Jack Sparrow.

“Johnny Depp is very kind and talented,” said Nikprelaj. “In the film he tries to kidnap one of mermaids so the mermaids fight the pirates. We had a chance to speak often, and he told me it is important to remain true to yourself, follow heart, and hope people like what you create.”

Depp’s insights are emanating through Nikprelaj in “Scar 23,” written by Stevie Robinson of Dearborn. The $16.5 million film will be the first full-feature computer generated (CGI) film shot in Michigan.

That means, however, that Nikprelaj will not act with anyone — she will stand in front of a 30-foot-tall, image generating green screen for every scene, some that include battles with all sorts of terrifying creatures.

“This will be an acting challenge,” she said. “My imagination has to be very elaborate. I will do lots of fighting, and I am learning to ride a custom made motorcycle, created just for me.”

The willowy 5-foot, 7-inch actress is currently putting in eight-to-nine hour days between her physical training and sessions with Brown.

Through it all, Nikprelag says she knows she’s lucky to have the opportunity, sometimes likening it to her own personal fairytale coming true.

“They have a nickname for me — ‘Cinderorky,’” she smiled. “That’s ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Rocky’ mixed together. An unbeatable combination.”

For more information about “Scar 23,” which is due out in 2012, visit www.cinepropictures.com.