SoapCityAlina: How did you get the role of Curtis?

Ernest Wadell: I had an audition that didn't go too well. I just was screwing up, not knowing the lines. But I got called back, anyway. I'm really hard on myself, but that time, I thought I did ok. When I came in and auditioned, the character's name was Kyle, which I probably would have liked a little bit better, just because "Curtis" is very close to "Ernest." It's just kind of annoying.

SCA: Did they tell you anything about the kind of person Kyle/Curtis was supposed to be?

EW: They didn't. They just told me to go and act. But now, I'm starting to figure out who Curtis is. I'm learning that he's very ambitious.

SCA: What was your first day of work like?

EW: My first day at work was pretty crazy. It was the Thanksgiving show, and people were doubling up in dressing rooms; there were so many people here. But it was good. It was a lot of fun. Because everything was so rushed, I had to just do it and not think about it. I worked with Peter (Parros; Ben), with Tamara (Tunie; Jessica) and Joanna (HartsHorne; Sarah). I found that everybody here is pretty friendly and nice – I feel comfortable.

SCA: In addition to this job, you're also a full-time student at Tisch School for the Arts at NYU. How are you handling juggling both school and work?

EW: I'm in my third year. Right now I'm about to register for classes again. Hopefully I can take classes in the afternoon. Recently they've been keeping me pretty much in the morning here. I know I'm just going to keep managing somehow. I'm moving to classes in the evening. I should be done in May. I want to be good. I'm in school for theatre and I feel like I'm not a great actorBnd I want to be great. Also, I got this big lecture when I was at home for break about school, about how school is such an investment and then to not get a degree, it's like throwing money in the trash.