4 1/2 Questions with Craig Copas

At PA On Stage, we’re always trying to find out more about the people who make up the theatre community.  So, we came up with our 4 1/2 Questions.  That’s four specific, getting-to-know questions from the PA On Stage team — and one partial question that our interviewees can ‘make their own.’

Craig Copas is an actor, director, educator, and graphic artist.  He can soon be seen in Now and Then, which runs April 1-10 at Theatre Harrisburg.

1. If you had a coat of arms - what three things would be on it? 

I imagine it would be lots of silver and gold with a fabulous shield, with two flaming paintbrushes crossed over it. A wreath of stargazer lilies hanging in front, and two fiery phoenixes holding the shield aloft…..in other words, something very low key and understated. 

2. What is your best unexpected travel experience? 

Somehow I found myself in the middle of the Amazon jungle sleeping in a straw hut, covered by a net to keep tarantulas out. The temperature felt like 200 degrees, and the humidity made it feel as if I was a sleeping with a covering of hot water bottles.

Let me interrupt myself to state that I am an indoor person. I don’t like being outside, much less sleeping in a rain forest.

I eventually fell asleep, but was soon shaken awake in the middle of the night by our tour guide. He was speaking to me in Spanish, a language I don’t understand, so I woke myself up and followed him out of my hut. I saw my three travel companions all climbing onto a little boat.

Once we were all in the boat, it started to sink so low that I was sure we were going to start taking on water. I assumed “This is the end. I’m going to be eaten by a snake or some other reptile.”

Our tour guide rowed us down a small river through the jungle…away from my hut and the net that protected me from the bugs. Eventually we moved out of the covering of trees and into a clearing in the jungle.

Our tour guide said “Look up.”

I looked up and …it was like seeing the night sky for the first time. We were so far out in the rain forest there was no light pollution from any habitation or development: just a billion stars tossed like glitter across the sky. It was beautiful.

3. What is a film that you hate to admit you never saw?

The Godfather. I know I should watch it but I’m just not into the whole gangster, macho, gun thing.

4. What is your favorite comfort food?

Donuts. Wait…pizza! No, French fries! Actually, it’s breakfast…all the breakfast foods :) Hash browns, biscuits and gravy, French toast…nom, nom, nom 

½ Question What celebrity can’t you --

Tom Hanks. 

For more information about Now and Then, click below.