The first time Carl Hendrick Louis was told that he was going to be an artist, he didn’t believe it. He was just a youngin in kindergarten when his teacher practically saw that he had it in him. Then bit by bit, her intuition turned out to be correct. Turns out that he was already developing an interest in theater—though his first participation in a class theatrical production didn’t materialize until his college years.
Dr. Matthew McGuire, the head of the acting program at Fordham University and one of Carl Hendrick’s former professors at that institution contends that the actor impresses with his performances. “Carl is a magician,” observes McGuire. “He conjures his performances from his bloodlines.”
The native New Yorker has had some plump material to work with. He played the role of Walter Lee Young, the headstrong and conflicted protagonist of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play “A Raisin in The Sun”. This is a role that has been played by every famed stage actor from Sydney Poitier, Danny Glover to Joe Morton, but the actor—far from being intimidated—played the role with confidence.
If she’s alive somewhere, and has kept track of her student, the actor’s kindergarten teacher must be smiling from ear to ear with pride. Her former student demonstrates his versatility time after time. He tackles a character from a 17th Century French play, like he had a Laurence Olivier or a Paul Roberson as his tutor-coach. “He imagines constellations and connects the dots,” observes McGuire. The actor has been making moves not only in the theater, but also in films. He was part of the cast of film festival darling The Unknown Soldier, which won the Best Feature Film Award at the Philadelphia Film Festival, not to mention a John Cassavetes nom at the Independent Spirit Awards.
The actor is already moving to other lanes. In 2013, he earned his MFA from New York University in acting. McGuire, a man who played a significant role during the actor’s formative years at Fordham University, makes this observation of his one-time pupil: “His future looks like a tree, his arms always reaching higher for the light while his legs send roots ever deeper.”
Kreyolicious: When you were in high school, did other kids make fun of you because you liked theater?
They did not, because at my high school we did have theater classes or productions, but we did go to the movies a lot. Films and TV was our equivalence to theater where I grew up and who didn’t want to be on a TV show or in a movie? People usually have a character they love or adore and fantasize about being that character.
Kreyolicious: You played Walter in Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin In the Sun“. I remember once we had to watch the movie in class. This is a play that was written in the 1930s, of course. As someone who had a leading role in modern reenactments of this play, what are your thoughts on it, and why nearly 100 years after its creation, it resonates with so many.
It still resonates with many people because it’s a classic American play about the African-American experience with wonderful universal themes. One of the core themes of Hansberry’s play is about a family trying their best to make a living and buy a house in a better neighborhood. What family today couldn’t relate to that story? Now as for me playing that part, I only played a third of Walter. I received that part at New York University’s Graduate Acting Program. In the production, I played a different character in each act. I was thrilled and honored to play that part, as well as the other parts. Knowing how the play came to be and being aware of the original cast and creative team made it special. Lloyd Richards, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee were at the beginning of this back in the 1950’s and it’s still being produced…it gave me an extra push in my work to express the deepest truth for all my characters.
Kreyolicious: Have you ever had a hard time shaking off a character?
Not that I can remember. I’m just playing on stage just like how kids play everyday. One second they’re happy bouncing off the walls, the next second they’re in tears. They play and keep moving forward.
Photography Credit: Laura Rose
Kreyolicious: Some people content themselves with just getting an acting coach or just a few sessions of training. You actually have an MFA in Acting.
Each actor has their own path and they know what tools they need to equip themselves for their craft. My path lent itself to an MFA because I knew I didn’t have all the tools that I needed in order for my instrument to work at it’s fullest potential. After being out in the real world for a while, auditioning, and seeing amazing productions with excellent performances, I knew that I wasn’t able to produce the kind of work with where my craft was at that time. I believed I needed a rigorous program where I can solely focus on my craft and that’s what I went out to do.
Kreyolicious: And going back to your days in undergrad, did your parents take it well when they found out that you were getting a Bachelor’s in Acting?
My mother was not happy at first because I forfeited a full tuition scholarship that also led to the potential of a full-time job immediately after graduation in my junior year in college. However, she eventually turned around because she knew I going to finish college and make something out of myself.
Kreyolicious: What’s usually their reaction when they come see one of your performances?
Their reaction is always positive—especially if it’s a part they wouldn’t have imagined I would play. For instance, my current play, “Little Children Dream of God” [written by his friend Jeff Augustin], at the Roundabout Theatre Company they are extremely happy and proud. It’s a beautiful story about a Haitian woman coming to Miami to start a new life for the sake of her unborn child. They loved it because the play explores Haitian and Haitian-American experiences.
Kreyolicious: You’ve done film. You’ve done theater. Which drains you the most?
I have a lot more experience in theatre than film. However, from the few films that I’ve done, I’d have to say theater. For theater, I must have stamina and concentration for longer durations. However, film is a different medium that I am accustomed to for the time being.
Kreyolicious: You’ve had so many acting teachers. What have they taught you?
I sure did and I hope I’ll have more. I’m grateful I’ve had them all. The first one that comes to mind is one of my favorite acting teachers, Matthew Maguire from Fordham University. This is a very important lesson, which can be used in all walks of life and I live by this lesson. Acting class started at 10 A.M. That meant my scene partner and I were on stage at 10 a.m. ready to do our scene. It does not mean showing up at 10 a.m., getting our costumes pieces and props, setting up the stage, and then starting the scene at 10:06 a.m.. That meant we were late.
Be sure to check out PART 2 of my interview with Carl Hendrick Louis. It will be available through THIS LINK.
CLICK TO VISIT CARL HENDRICK LOUIS’ WEBSITE| CARL HENDRICK LOUIS ON TWITTER | CARL HENDRICK LOUIS ON FACEBOOK
