MMC Alumnus Nick LaMedica ‘10 to Tour with War Horse

Nick LaMedica '10 performed in MMC’s 2009 Theatre Production Workshop of Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer.

Now cast in the first national tour of War Horse, LaMedica begins the tour in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre on June 13, 2012. War Horse will first be rehearsed and previewed at Boise State University in Idaho. The tour has stops scheduled in San Francisco, Dallas, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and East Lansing. 

As an Equity Membership Candidate (and now Actors’ Equity Member), LaMedica began auditioning back in October and carried on through a succession of callbacks that stretched into January. During this time, he not only read for several different roles but also practiced scenes with a coach and even learned how to work with the production’s horse puppets in a puppetry workshop. In late February, LaMedica finally learned that he had been chosen for the role as one of the puppeteers, playing the central horse character “Joey” as a foal. He will also serve as the understudy for the lead, Albert, as well as Billy and David. 

“It was such an amazing experience to be backstage at Lincoln Center and working in their rehearsal spaces,” LaMedica said in a feature article published on backstage.com. “That alone was a dream come true! In the last year, I’ve worked my way into the EMC program, gotten the opportunity to work with some incredible artists, and now I’ll be joining Equity and going on an amazing national tour – all the things I wouldn’t have had a chance to do if I didn’t stand out there at 6 a.m. in the cold to get seen.” 

Upon hearing of LaMedica’s latest theatre triumph, MMC’s Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Division David Mold, M.F.A., said, “Nick’s success does not surprise me as he was always a very hardworking and dedicated student. He constantly was challenging himself to grow as an artist and put in the real effort needed to succeed. He has worked as an actor consistently since graduation because he is always prepared and committed to the challenge at hand. The theatre arts faculty is thrilled for Nick to see how his career is developing.” 

Kevin Connell, M.F.A., associate professor of theatre arts, had the great fortune of working with LaMedica in the classroom and in production. Having cast LaMedica as a lead in his 2009 production of Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer, Connell said that throughout rehearsals, LaMedica displayed “tremendous growth, conquering the stumbling blocks and obstacles with a positive determination and sense of humor. In the end, his work embodied the most human of psychological and emotional expressions.” 

“I love to sit back and watch him work,” Connell said. “He is an actor that brings skill to the stage. He is a person that brings goodness, curiosity and positive intentions to each day. I am so proud of him and am so grateful to have shared a few years of learning with him.” 

Written by Gracesa Vanhentenryck ’15, who is an MMC communication arts major and a student worker in MMC’s Office of Institutional Advancement. 

Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, independent, liberal arts college. The mission of the College is to educate a socially and economically diverse student body by fostering intellectual achievement and personal growth and by providing opportunities for career development.

Published: April 03, 2012