Cole Escola

My guest is comic writer and actor Cole Escola. They're nominated for two Tony Awards, Best Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play, for the Broadway show Oh Mary. More after a break. I'm Anne-Marie Baldonado, and this is Fresh Air.

My guest is comic writer and actor Cole Escola. They're nominated for two Tony Awards, Best Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play, for the Broadway show Oh Mary. More after a break. I'm Anne-Marie Baldonado, and this is Fresh Air.

When did you find performing? I think your first play was when you were 11?

When did you find performing? I think your first play was when you were 11?

When did you find performing? I think your first play was when you were 11?

That was my first professional acting job. But when I was, I think, five, we didn't have performing arts in our town, in Klatskanai. But there was this company called Missoula Children's Theater. And every year, two adults from this theater company would come to town for one week. And in that one week, they would do auditions on Monday, and the show was on Friday.

That was my first professional acting job. But when I was, I think, five, we didn't have performing arts in our town, in Klatskanai. But there was this company called Missoula Children's Theater. And every year, two adults from this theater company would come to town for one week. And in that one week, they would do auditions on Monday, and the show was on Friday.

That was my first professional acting job. But when I was, I think, five, we didn't have performing arts in our town, in Klatskanai. But there was this company called Missoula Children's Theater. And every year, two adults from this theater company would come to town for one week. And in that one week, they would do auditions on Monday, and the show was on Friday.

And I just lived for that one week, a year. But then, yeah, my first professional acting job was in a production of Grapes of Wrath. I played Winfield Jode. And it was in a town 30 miles away from Klatskanai, where I grew up. And... During that time, my grandmother lived in a nursing home, and it was much, much, much closer to the theater than where I lived.

And I just lived for that one week, a year. But then, yeah, my first professional acting job was in a production of Grapes of Wrath. I played Winfield Jode. And it was in a town 30 miles away from Klatskanai, where I grew up. And... During that time, my grandmother lived in a nursing home, and it was much, much, much closer to the theater than where I lived.

And I just lived for that one week, a year. But then, yeah, my first professional acting job was in a production of Grapes of Wrath. I played Winfield Jode. And it was in a town 30 miles away from Klatskanai, where I grew up. And... During that time, my grandmother lived in a nursing home, and it was much, much, much closer to the theater than where I lived.

So some nights after rehearsals, I would stay over at her nursing home.

So some nights after rehearsals, I would stay over at her nursing home.

So some nights after rehearsals, I would stay over at her nursing home.

What was it like being a kid in the nursing home?

What was it like being a kid in the nursing home?

What was it like being a kid in the nursing home?

Well, I wasn't sure that I was allowed to be there. I knew I could visit. I was pretty sure I wasn't allowed to spend the night. But I did anyway, and it felt... It was weird. I was lying to so many adults just so that I could be in this play. I think I lied to my mom and I told her like, oh, no, the play feeds us.

Well, I wasn't sure that I was allowed to be there. I knew I could visit. I was pretty sure I wasn't allowed to spend the night. But I did anyway, and it felt... It was weird. I was lying to so many adults just so that I could be in this play. I think I lied to my mom and I told her like, oh, no, the play feeds us.

Well, I wasn't sure that I was allowed to be there. I knew I could visit. I was pretty sure I wasn't allowed to spend the night. But I did anyway, and it felt... It was weird. I was lying to so many adults just so that I could be in this play. I think I lied to my mom and I told her like, oh, no, the play feeds us.