February Spotlight: Quinton Miller
Quinton is a high schooler with a big love for theatre and an even bigger willingness to jump in wherever he’s needed. Onstage this season, you’ll see him in THE LIGHTNING THIEF as Luke, and he’s also serving as the alternate for Grover.
QCT audiences may also recognize Quinton from THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH (Ensemble) and THE HOBBIT (Fili/Goblin), where he brought energy, heart, and serious commitment to every role. Offstage, Quinton loves volunteering at QCT, diving into new experiences, and building friendships along the way.
We’re excited to shine a light on Quinton and hear more about what keeps him coming back to QCT.
You play Luke, one of the most complex characters in THE LIGHTNING THIEF. What drew you to this role, and what has surprised you most about playing him?
The complexity of Luke was what drew me to him. He has so much to him that draws me to him. He tries to hide his emotions and be a stronger person, but he really just wants to see the wrongs in his life turned right. I would say the fact that I can connect with a lot more than I thought I would have has surprised me. He just wants to remember his friends and pay back those who try to hurt his friends. Even if it means changing the world.
Luke’s journey is very different from the heroes we usually root for. How do you approach playing a character who lives in those gray areas?
Luke is very different from me, but I always have to try to find a way to sympathize with the character, even when he tries to find reasons to do wrong. Luke has a dark past and anger that makes him act out, but not in ways you expect. It’s not till the last second that you realize he wants things to change drastically. I also try putting myself in the characters’ shoes. If I know his true reasoning for what he’s doing, however bad it is, I can control his emotions and his actions a lot more.
You’re also the understudy for Grover. How do you prepare for a role you may or may not step into, and how does that preparation impact your work in the show overall?
To prepare for Grover, I have to just trust that Brendan has a plan. I do everything I can to learn Grover’s part from watching and doing, and I practice his lines outside rehearsal, but I just have to be prepared to jump in at any point. I do have to prepare about double for this show because I have to be ready at any point to change the character I’m playing. I also have quite a bit more fighting to learn, but I think that’s an upside.
Understudying requires a lot of trust and flexibility. What have you learned about collaboration and responsibility through that process at QCT?
I’ve learned that you need to trust the cast throughout the show. Matthew, who plays Percy, is one of the cast members that I know I can rely upon throughout the show. He’s an incredible actor, and when I’m transitioning characters, he’s always ready to work with what I might do differently from Conall (Grover) or Aidan (Luke understudy). I also have to be able to ask Conall for notes or staging that I may have missed when I’m working as Luke. I also have to put in the work of knowing both parts and be able to perform both with the same energy as the other. It’s a lot of work, but I know I have others whom I can rely upon to help me.
What keeps you involved at QCT, and what does volunteering mean to you in a community theatre setting?
I think the friendships I’ve made through QCT have kept me coming back. I’ve made friends through each production, and each time I perform with them, it is a time to let that bond grow. To perform at a community theater and volunteer my time there is a blessing. I’ve learned a lot, and I just get to have a lot of fun. I also know some of the people who go watch the performances, and it’s always fun to have family and friends watch me have fun onstage. It always brings a smile to my face when I get to perform a fun show for others.
For someone who loves theatre but isn’t sure where they fit—onstage or off—what would you say about getting involved at QCT?
Jump in. I was right out of third grade when I was told I should audition for STUART LITTLE. I was lucky enough to get casted and now I keep coming back. I can promise you, you will make friends and find people in your community who care for you. Even if you don’t want to be in the spotlight, being backstage on the crew can make you part of the QCT community. You will find those who care for you at QCT, and I promise you, you won’t regret auditioning or volunteering. As this show says a lot, “Normal is a myth”, and at QCT, normal is a myth. There’s only community.