Faces of ITS: Kyle Reese

Kyle Reese

How has theatre impacted your life?
Theatre has provided me with a fulfilling family and art form. From my friendships to the skills I have learned being onstage, theatre has become a second home that has enriched every aspect of my life.

What is one lesson you’ve learned from theatre?
A lesson theatre has certainly taught me is that the difference between something made from only an acceptable amount of effort and something made from strenuous effort is massive. If one is not going above and beyond on whatever they’re doing, particularly onstage, it shows. I find this to be applicable to almost anything.

What has been your favorite theatre experience so far?
It is difficult to say what my favorite theatre experience has been, as there have been so many great moments throughout my theatre endeavors. However, if I had to choose one, I suppose I would go with the competition process of Waylen my freshman year. [Note: Owensboro took its production of Waylen to the Kentucky Thespian Festival, the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Alabama, and the 2018 International Thespian Festival as part of the Chapter Select Showcase.] There were so many great memories and friendships formed through the long process of performing the show, and I undoubtedly will never forget the impact the show had on me.

Who is your theatre hero?
I really admire Donald Glover. The way he has incorporated theatrics into not only his film career but also his music is very impressive and artful in my opinion.

What theatrical character or show best describes your life?
A character’s story I particularly relate to is the story of Mortimer Mortimer from Failure: A Love Story. Morty’s personality and experiences are, to say the least, quite different from my own, but his arc aligns with some of my more spiritual beliefs. Though his life was traumatic in many regards, Mortimer finds a way to reconcile that for himself, abandoning his wealth and worldly pursuits for a simpler, peaceful existence. I am not sure if [playwright] Philip Dawkins was a practitioner of Taoist principles, but I find Mortimer’s progression to be a good reflection of those ideals, coming from someone who’s into that sort of thing.