Area actor joins St. Vincent for performance”It was odd at first, living in the dorms. I thought I should have one of those what-to-bring-to-college check lists,” Darren E. Focareta said about coming to Saint Vincent College, not as a student but as an actor.
A Pittsburgh-based actor, Focareta is making his first appearance with the Saint Vincent Theatre in The Murder Room, a zany spoof of British mysteries, which runs through Sunday. At 26, Focareta is not far beyond college.
He studied acting, musical theater and dance at Point Park College, and also attended the Point Park College Teen Conservatory and the Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Program.
Despite this experience, dorm life is new to him.
“I’m adjusting fine. Being here seems like a vacation, everything is self-contained. It’s like being in a time vacuum, definitely easier then doing a bus tour,” Focareta said.
Playing Jeb in an Encore Attractions National Tour of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ is one of many performances accomplished by the young actor. Other regional credits include a challenging female role in a cross-gendered production of “The Importance of Being Earnest’ with The Unseam’d Shakespeare Co., Pittsburgh, and “Red Herring’ with the City Theatre, where he earned his equity card.
In The Murder Room, Focareta plays Barry. “He’s a tall Texan among all the British folks,” he said.
His character gets engaged to Susan, played by Anne Reilly, on a steamship.
“After that, I throw a wrench into the murderer’s plan even though Barry is a little clueless. He’s a very amiable guy, but he’s a little clueless,” Focareta said.
Despite a limited 10-day rehearsal, Mr. Focareta is amazed by the ensemble cast, which includes Jarrod DiGiorgi, Lanene Charters, Patricia Reilly and Philip Winters.
“I love the scenes when everybody’s on stage because there’s such rapid fire dialogue and everybody’s so funny, it’s hard not to laugh.”
The actor has not always stayed in the Pittsburgh area.
He moved to New York City after college and worked as a ticket agent for the Roundabout Theatre Company located in Studio 54. He once sold tickets to Florence Henderson.
“It was strange. I kept telling myself, Mrs. Brady is at my window,” he said.
Currently, Focareta does not intend to return to New York City. “I might like to try playwrighting, but for now I want to act,” he said.
“Now it’s great to be at Saint Vincent,” he said. “The air is gorgeous and I work with a great group of people. The theatre is so well-run.”
For more information, contact the theatre box office at 724-537-8900.