Ask the artist: david alan anderson

David Alan Anderson began his association with the IRT in 1990, and his stunning work in such productions as Fences, The Mountaintop, and Looking Over the President's Shoulder has made him a favorite with IRT audiences. David sat down with us to share a little bit about his work and more. 

What has been your favorite role to play, so far?

Often for actors, the favorite role is the current role. It means we're working! I'd have to say Alonzo Fields from Looking Over the President's Shoulder. Not just because he's current, but since my first meeting with him back in 2001, thru my first portrayal in 2003, thru this past season, his journey has left an impression on me that I doubt I'll ever forget.
 
Other favorites would include Troy from Fences, by August Wilson, and Walter Lee from A Raisin in the Sun. Both are classic roles that require and demand soul searching.
 
If you weren't an actor, what would you be doing?

​I'm not sure...A dear friend, who is also a giant in the field of acting, once said that if she weren't acting she'd probably be an ax murderer. I understood.

If you could eat dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I would have dinner with my late maternal grandmother. I never had the opportunity to meet her. There are many unanswered questions about her journey I'd have the chance to ask. She also gave me my Mom. I could thank her.
 
What are you reading/watching for artistic inspiration these days?

I'm currently reading The Witch of Edmonton by John Ford, Thomas Dekker, and William Rowley. It's been adapted into a play that I will be working on in the fall. (Editor's note: The Witch of Edmonton will be produced by Writers Theatre in Chicago.)
 
What super power do you most wish you had?
As a kid I always dreamed of stepping out of my house, leaping into the air and flying... Soaring high above the trees, the clouds. So breezy and quiet.

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