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Ep120 - Nik Walker: Hamilton, Ain't Too Proud, NYU Professor(!)

Ep120 - Nik Walker: Hamilton, Ain't Too Proud, NYU Professor(!)

FromThe Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales


Ep120 - Nik Walker: Hamilton, Ain't Too Proud, NYU Professor(!)

FromThe Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

ratings:
Length:
87 minutes
Released:
Dec 9, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Nik Walker is an artist, educator, and activist who made his Broadway debut in Motown The Musical. He spent 3 years with the Broadway and touring companies of Hamilton, adding both Aaron Burr and George Washington to his resume. Other stage credits include Peter and the Starcatcher (off-Broadway), and regional productions at La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe and The Denver Center, to name a few. He can also be seen on TV in Law & Order: SVU. Nik is a self-proclaimed cinefile and theme park nerd, and co-hosts his own movie analysis podcast called Little Justice The Podcast. He also co-hosts a video series on Broadwayworld.com called The Chaos Twins. Nik currently leads the Broadway cast of Ain’t Too Proud playing Otis Williams, and is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, New York University.
Nik shares that his mother worked a job as a news anchor when he was growing up, so she wasn’t really home a lot. So it was movies that played babysitter and kept his imagination going. But movies and stories played an even bigger and more important role in focusing him as a child after he was diagnosed with ADHD, eventually leading to his early involvement in theater. And later, a BFA in Theater from NYU. 
During our conversation, Nik speaks candidly about coming to Broadway with very little dance background, sharing that Motown was his first brush with dancing professionally and getting paid for it. He shares memories of intense dance training for Ain’t Too Proud while still on tour with Hamilton - 5 hours of dance a day, and a performance of Hamilton in the evening - and the sense of pride he gained as a result of “being comfortable with letting go of your comfort zone”. Nik also opens up about the journey he has taken during the COVID pandemic which brought him back to NYU, this time as a professor. And while he acknowledges performing in Ain’t Too Proud and teaching at the same time will be a lot of work, he not only feels rewarded by his new job, but knows he is contributing to the education and growth of the next generation of theater artists. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

His affinity for Jeff Goldblum, and Jurassic Park (together, and separately) 

His love for theme parks 

Becoming a professor at NYU

His joy as part of Ain’t Too Proud 

Being an activist 

The necessity for change within the Broadway community


Connect with Nik:

Listen to Little Justice, the Podcast


Instagram: @nikkywalks


Twitter: @nikkywalks



Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast


Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast


Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast

TheTheatrePodcast.com

Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales


Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think.


A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!
Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David Seales
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Released:
Dec 9, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Intimate, personal conversations with the biggest talents from professional theatre, tv, film, and more. Hear their secrets, what makes them laugh, stresses them out, and how they manage the anxiety of success. We feature both stars and creatives such as producers, stage managers, directors, press and marketing agents, or even the people who own the theaters or productions themselves.​ This is a podcast for artists, made by artists. With over 2 decades of experience in film and theatre both as cast and creative, host Alan Seales speaks with Broadway, TV, film and beyond’s biggest talents to learn more about not only how the world of theatre and performing operate, but also what makes it so real and human. In-depth, personal, behind-the-scenes conversations will highlight special details of the industry that most people may not know exist, will always find out what makes the guests love their craft, what makes them tick, and what truly inspires them. Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.