“It was hilarious because I
didn’t know the play; I didn’t
know the role existed in it; and
Kevin failed to mention that he
was planning on asking me all
along!”
The two friends have been part
of readings together in New
York City and were both in an
episode of Modern Family (in
which Hanlon physically picks
his friend up). Hanlon is glad Ca-
hoon brought him back to New
Brunswick, where he’s seeing a
different part of the area thanks
to the temporary home for the
theatre while the New Brunswick
Performing Arts Center is being
constructed.
“We’re in the middle of a
farm!” said Hanlon, speaking
of the former New Jersey Ag-
ricultural Museum that George
Street has turned into a beauti-
ful theatre space. “We’re sur-
rounded by sheep and cows,
it’s pretty awesome. It’s like a
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 46
dream - especially coming from
the concrete jungle of Harlem
where I live.”
Hanlon’s character is a little
depressed about his birthday
because he’s not doing what he
wanted to do for his career. He’s
in love with Tansy, but they have
a rather complicated relation-
ship. She’s moving out of town
and he hasn’t come to grips with
that. “So, he starts off the play a
little bit of a curmudgeon,” ex-
plained Hanlon.
The Nerd is centered around
rapid-fire dialogue between
the characters and depends on
comic timing. By casting actors
who knew each other well, that
timing did not take long to find a
rhythm.
“Kevin did a great job of cast-
ing some of the funniest actors
I’ve met in New York and Los
Angeles (where Jonathan Kite
resides),” said Hanlon. “To be
honest, we’ve all known each
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