Theatrical Profile: David Schmidt

September 18, 2:54 PMClassic TV ExaminerDoug Krentzlin

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David Schmidt in "Dr. Cook's Garden" 

This week’s profile is David Schmidt, who is returning to the stage playing the title role in American Century Theater’s production of Ira Levin’s thriller “Dr. Cook’s Garden” after an absence of 8 years. (For the last past 13 years, David has been teaching theater to Fairfax County high school students.)

It’s no surprise to learn that the kindly but suspicious Doc Cook is one of David’s favorite roles. “To be able to find the ‘dark side’ of humanity and make it believable and real for an audience was not only challenging,” he says, “but extremely exciting to uncover it lying in the deeper recesses of my being.” (For tickets to “Dr. Cook’s Garden,” now playing at the Gunston Arts Center, call 703-998-4555 or visit www.americancentury.com.)

One of the highlights of David’s career was doing repertory with Classic Stage Company in Greenwich Village during their inaugural 1971-72 season. His favorite show during this stint was “The Homecoming.” As David puts it, ”Creating such detailed, complex characters of Harold Pinter was a challenge that has not been equaled until now in ‘Dr. Cook’s Garden.’”

David also spent several years in summer stock playing such roles as Big Daddy in Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” at the Pocono Pines Playhouse. “Having originally played such a bigger-than-life role early in my career, I realize that Big Daddy is a role that now needs to be revisited after experiencing life,” says David.

“Work for the actor lies essentially in two areas: the ability to consistently create reality and the ability to express that reality.” – Lee Strasberg