Sitting on the edge of the stage where his dream of an acting career began to take shape, Albany High »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵgraduate Lucas Aurelio Phayre-Gonzalez spent time Thursday afternoon visiting with the current generation of Falcon theater performers.
A 2014 graduate, Phayre-Gonzalez returned to the Capital Region from his home in London to serve as the commencement speaker this weekend at his “other” alma mater – Russell Sage College.
On Thursday afternoon, he visited Albany High to tour the school’s new facilities and meet with theater students preparing for the upcoming production of “Black Girl in Summer Surrounded by Butterflies.”
You can to check out photos.
Phayre-Gonzalez played Paul Suarez in season three of the popular Netflix series “Bridgerton.” He talked with students in Brian Avery’s theater program for about a half an hour before they started rehearsals Thursday.
While Phayre-Gonzalez told the students that frequent rejection is a reality for aspiring actors, he encouraged them to believe in themselves and not be afraid to take chances to follow their dreams – as he did six years ago when he moved from New York City to London.
Also a goalie on the most successful soccer team in Albany High history in the fall of 2013, Phayre-Gonzalez performed in numerous stage productions during his time as a Falcon.
That included his personal favorite, “Cabaret," in 2011 as well as “My Fair Lady" in 2012, "West Side Story" in 2013 and, as a senior in 2014, "Smokey Joe's Café” and the Promising Playwrights Festival.
Albany High’s production of “Black Girl in Summer Surrounded by Butterflies” is scheduled May 30-June 1. The first act is written by another former Falcon – Aaron Moore.
As a senior in 2010, Moore was among the stars in Albany High’s production of “Into the Woods” – the show that turned out to be the catalyst for Phayre-Gonzalez’s acting dream.
“I remember seeing it and saying, ‘I’m going to do THAT,’” he told WNYT/TV-13 and Spectrum News during his visit Thursday.
