The Third Olsen you Will Hear of
When one imagines the stage you think of red velvet curtains, the stage lights twinkling, and the crowd erupting into applause, but rarely does one think of all the lines that have to be memorized, and the “totally normal” practice of being timed while someone undresses and redresses you. The person I interviewed was Fort Lewis College junior and actor Jonathan Olsen.
Coming from the bustling town of Port Alsworth, AK, population 159 according to the 2010 Census, Olsen gave a brief insight into what goes on in his head on stage, and his hopes for the future.
Chelsey: So, let’s just dive right in. Why theater and acting?
Jonathan: Well, there are a lot of reasons. My favorite though…is I portray different people on stage and it’s a real experience. I learn about different times and places that otherwise, I wouldn’t have known. Plus, It was what I had the most fun doing in high school. I went to a very, very, small school in Alaska. My graduating class was four…
[suprise followed by a five-minute tangent]
Chelsey: So, when you were growing up did you have any artist or actors that you looked up to?
Jonathan: A lot of musicians actually. It was mostly those who can play the classic instruments; a lot of violinists, cello players, and pianist. It takes dedication to learn an instrument and I admire that. I also have a friend whose sister teaches piano. She tried to teach me…it didn’t end well.
Chelsey: Haha, well there must’ve been something that stuck. So, do you ever panic when you’re on stage? What do you think about?
Jonathan: I’m always panic. Haha, no, actually I’ve done six productions here, two a year. And I must be doing something right ’cause I’m still here. I think about…not tripping, wondering if I had packed my cold cream so I can get the makeup off, and try to remember to breathe.
Chelsey: Breathing is important. Hahaha, so the reason for this interview was to talk to someone who I thought contributes to culture. Do you consider yourself a cultural maker?
Jonathan: Oh. Um, I definitely want to try in the future. Cultural maker is such a big title and I guess it’s what I want to be.
Chelsey: So, there is this connection Native Americans have to their communities. When Native’s go to college, usually there’s this intent to return home and do better for their people. Do you think about returning home and sharing what you’ve learned?
Jonathan: Yeah! I do think about that! I talk to other Native’s on set and we talk about going back home and trying to fix the problems that our communities face. And there are people who think that being an actor or just being creative is supposed to be fun, but since being here I’ve learned a lot. You know? Coming from a very small and grid locked place you get comfortable with people who look and think like you but here. You broaden yourself. I want to go home and start a theatre department at my high school.
The 2017–2018 theatre season presents “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui,” Arturo Ui is a witty and savage satire of the rise of Hitler — recast into a fictional, small-time Chicago gangster’s takeover of the city’s greengrocery trade in the 1930s. And will be showing March 29, 30, 31 & April 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 pm. FLC student’s are free with ID!
