The Play That Goes Wrong has racked up a long list of awards over the years in both the U.S. and internationally, including a Tony Award for Best Set. The Play That Goes Wrong is unlike anything I have ever seen before and is certain to have you at the edge of your seat. The actors are tasked with reenacting a murder mystery as part of a college play production. But what the audience soon finds out – before the curtain even goes up to start the show – is things are already starting to go wrong, including the show’s dog running away and the set not being quite finished. What follows is a hilarious, non-stop, absolutely brilliant production that tests the actors’ ability to perform in a chaotic environment with the set literally falling apart around them. 

We were fortunate enough to meet with Ryan Vincent Anderson, an accomplished actor, writer and voice actor, who starred as Trevor in The Play That Goes Wrong. If you have not gotten the chance to see The Play That Goes Wrong on or off Broadway, you are in luck because the Bronxville High School is putting on its own version next month! We hope you enjoy the interview that follows below with Ryan Vincent Anderson. 

• What is your favorite part of playing Trevor in The Show That Goes Wrong?

My favorite part in playing Trevor is that it is unlike any role I have ever played. Meaning that there is a lot of freedom that goes along with Trevor. There is also a lot of interaction with the audience. That is something I am not used to but enjoy a lot. 

• Everything goes wrong. Has anyone ever gotten hurt?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. People have gotten hurt. We literally right now have someone about to come back over the next couple of weeks after a fracture in her ankle. The majority of injuries are scrapes and bruises. There have been some moderate to almost major accidents. But those are few and far between.

• What is your favorite scene from The Play That Goes Wrong?

That’s tough but I think it’s the death scene of the Thomas Colleymoore’ character at the very end – because it is just so extravagant! I like that and if I were playing that role I would enjoy that scene very much.

• You have played very serious roles on TV, film and theater – even a lot of Shakespeare. Do you prefer the serious roles or the funny ones?

That’s a good question. I can’t live without either. I have to have both serious and funny things in my life – my personal life and my professional life. I can’t live without either. So, I don’t prefer one over the other. But I definitely – if I’m only doing comedy for a long period of time – then I crave drama – and vice versa.  

• How long have you been acting?

I started to act when I was at Carnegie Mellon studying architecture back in 2000 or 2001.

• Did you act in high school?

I had an opportunity to act in junior high school because we had drama but I was too shy and just said no. In high school, we did not have enough funding to have a drama program. I went to school in Queens, NY and as a city school we did not have a lot of money and didn’t have drama. 

• Did anyone in your family act?

Yes actually. I am one of four children in my family and my younger brother also acts. He went and got his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in acting as well just as I did.

• What is the most helpful advice you were ever given and who gave it to you?

That is hard to answer because I get a lot of advice from a lot of different places in life. So, I can’t really say for sure. But I am always open to really good advice. I take what works with me and I don’t let it penetrate what doesn’t work with me. So, I don’t know who is the best but I do hear a lot of good advice from a lot of different people.

• What advice would you give to aspiring high school Broadway performers?

First and foremost follow your passion – follow your enthusiasm – whatever you are enthused and passionate about – keep going in that direction. Whether it be Broadway performing or not. But specifically with performing I would omit the word Broadway because performing doesn’t have to be on Broadway. I’ve performed all over the country and it is just a love – a passion. So, I would say to develop a tough skin so you know yourself inside – you know who you are and you don’t allow other people to penetrate that tough skin to tell you who you are. And then you just follow the passion with that.

The Facts: 

Location: New World Stages (NYC)

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours

Ticket Price Range: $90 – $110

Website: www.broadwaygoeswrong.com