Nathan Salstone
From Peter: Nathan spent two summers gracing East Texas audiences at the Texas Shakespeare Festival where I was lucky enough to get to meet him.
He’s a unicorn. The first time I heard him sing, I ran home to tell Kat I’d just heard the most beautiful voice in the world. He was in college at the time, but it was so glaringly obvious there was a huge market waiting for Nathan after he graduated. In my mind, however, his voice isn’t what made him so special.
Here he was, one of the most talented singers I’d ever heard, interning at a Shakespeare festival to improve his acting. He was already better than most of us, but I was floored at a commitment to the craft I hadn’t seen before. He had a generous and humble spirit to match. Knowing him before he graduated was like sitting at a rocket-launch… You just couldn’t wait for him to take off.
And he has. It’s been a joy to see him make a Broadway debut, be named one of 8 “Rising Stars” by Broadway Direct, and have exciting things coming up we can’t tell you about yet. He’s climbed a lot higher, a lot faster than most of us do, but he levels the field in this interview in a very refreshing way. He’s a great part of our industry, a committed craftsman, and one of my favorite people.
Nathan, for our readers who didn’t get to meet you as a 19-year-old intern and know you more as one of “Broadway’s Rising Stars”, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi! I feel very very happy and honored to be a part of this- Thank you both for having me. About me? Surely! I grew up in a northern suburb of Chicago and was raised in a house with my mother and two older sisters. I was always the quiet one in the family- introverted and always observing things, but mostly getting pushed aside by my sisters so they could be in the spotlight. Not having a male figure in the house, I followed in my sister’s footsteps and did children’s theater starting at the age of 5. After some time I surpassed my sisters in doing a few professional shows in Chicago and began training to become a real live professional myself! All the while picking up and learning the guitar, piano, drums, mandolin, ukulele, mouth trumpet… and a lot of other annoying instruments that my roommates, family members, neighbors and anyone else in a 2 block radius would hate me for.
Carnegie Mellon, your alma mater, is one of the most prestigious programs in the country. What led you to there and what was the most impactful thing CMU gave you?
I didn’t know very much going into the college audition process. I had only learned names of notable programs from high school teachers, performers I idolized, and where they went to school. I auditioned for 7 schools and was rejected from half because I had absolutely horrible grades in high school and didn’t care to work on them because I thought, “I’ll just go to college for theater so who cares about grades…?!” Well, it turned out a lot of schools care about grades. But it seemed Carnegie Mellon turned a blind eye and accepted me into their program. I chose CMU due to the emphasis on their students being more than just “triple threat” but to be fully rounded artists. On top of the average theater curriculum, the program enabled me to write shows and music, and most importantly how to collaborate.
You have a breathtaking voice and are an amazing instrumentalist (don’t believe us? Follow this man on Instagram!). You spent two summers, however, working at a Shakespeare festival and made your Broadway debut in a play. Did you make a conscious decision to spend as much time honing your acting craft as you did your musical ability?
Oh, Peter, you are such a mensch. Yes, I grew up in a very musical family. Playing many instruments and singing was a priority/large hobby/something I was naturally good at. When taking stock of my abilities and where I was lacking, I noticed that my acting chops needed major building. I learned to love Shakespeare through college, and all the more so BECAUSE it’s so musical. The Broadway debut thing being a play was just the luckiest way to start my career. I’m very grateful for starting there because people (stupidly) are more willing to consider me in all aspects of the industry.
Carnegie Mellon has a wonderful showcase, but I know you didn’t find your agent from showcase… Would you share that story with us?
Fun story -- There was a big snowstorm during the weekend of our showcase in NYC 2017 and we had to cancel one of the showings. I had a few responses from the showcase, but very little that I felt enthusiastic about. One great thing that did come from the showcase was the opportunity to sing at 54 Below in a “Broadway Loves” concert with Benjamin Rauhala. Ben made a very kind post about me on social media, an agent saw that post, messaged Ben saying, “I couldn’t see this showcase due to the storm, is he worth meeting?” From that crazy luck, a meeting was arranged and shortly after I was signed!
You’ve seen a lot of success even at this early point in your career. Do you ever feel pressure to keep up with that pace?
Does the pope shit in the woods? First off, what actor doesn’t want to be working? But secondly, to answer your very legitimate question and not be the asshole that I am, while I feel pressure from everywhere (family, friends, agents), it comes mostly from myself. When graduating from college, I set a list of goals and now that I’ve hit the main goal, my priorities shift to become a lot more specific. Instead of ‘being on Broadway’, now it’s ‘originate’ and ‘create my own material’ etc etc…
You perform at 54 Below all the time. What role does that venue of creation play in your growth and artistry?
I created a fun game for myself after a few times performing at 54 below… play as many instruments as I can and never sing the same song more than once. Performing in these concerts keeps my skills sharp, challenges me to go out of my comfort zone, and it’s also really helpful to have tons of footage of myself doing these silly things. I was lucky enough to perform my own solo cabaret at 54 Below featuring songs I had written. It gives me the chance to be comfortable being my most authentic self in front of supportive audiences.
What’s the most important thing you’ve done, personally or professionally, that has impacted your career?
1. Therapy is the best. 2. I’ll share one of my favorite quotes a friend told me that helps me daily in my career. “Everyone sits on the toilet shitting, writhing in pain.” Hahaha. meaning, when holding people you admire up on a pedestal, just remember that they, like you, sit on the toilet and are HUMAN. Cuz we’ve all been there. We’re all trying to get the same things out of life.
Where are you on your mountain?
I think(?) I can smell the peak of my current mountain and it smells SO GOOOOD. Getting close for big projects keeps me excited and the more often it happens, the more I think one has to land… right? Getting close has to be a sign…right? right?!! (cut to: Nathan in the fetal position on the floor having a dilemma debating deleting this entire response and questioning his entire career and existence). That being said I think my mountain is ever-changing and growing. I’ve hit some peaks but I know that there’s still a long way to go.
RAPID FIRE:
Favorite Broadway show: Ever? That’s too hard. I’ll name a few favorites I’ve seen in the past few years- Indecent. Hadestown. Spongebob.
TV show you binge: Bojack Horseman and Shameless. Both bring me such joy and SUCH depression.
Podcasts you love: Off-Camera with Sam Jones.
Any other obsessions?: I love spicy foods and I WANT A DOG.
Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: I identify as Jewish. I am proud to be Jewish. But in the question of religious I only really practice on the high holidays with the thought of giving respect to those who were punished for being Jewish and to live on with their memory and continuing to keep the religion alive.
New works or Classics?: OOF. Tough question. I mean…The classics are classics for a reason? But new works involves getting to create and put my own spin on it… Pass. Next question.
Show that gave you your Equity card: RAGS the Musical at The Goodspeed Opera House- Working with Stephen Schwartz and Charles Strouse. Aka shitting my pants every day trying not to act like an absolute idiot.
Food that feeds your soul: Buffalo Wings, Pizza, and Buffalo Wings
Any bad audition stories?: Long story short- My first audition at Telsey was for Boq in Wicked. I cut myself shaving the morning of the audition. Mid-audition while singing “March Of The Witch Hunters” my cut reopened and no one behind the table said anything. They looked at me utterly confused and disgusted and said: “Thank you, that’s all”. It wasn’t until 2 minutes after packing up that I stepped into the Telsey bathroom and discovered blood dripping from my chin. (PALM OVER FACE. Didn’t get the job).
Best part of dating a babe (and by babe, we mean the OBC Babe from The Cher Show, Micaela Diamond): Other than the fact that she’s the most down to earth, selfless, fun-loving, present, talented, humble and most beautiful person I’ve ever met?... Hm… She’s a great cook!
Favorite audition song: ‘After the Goldrush’ by Neil Young.
Job you didn’t expect to book: An out of town world premiere musical this coming Spring of 2020 with a dream creative team. AND I’ll get to play instruments on stage.
Biggest beef with the business: I’m going to flip this question on its head and say what I LOVE about the business. (Uh oh) I LOVE auditioning. Actors audition more often than doing actual performances so why don’t we make the most of it!?
Social media handles?: Instagram- @nathan_salstone
Anything you’d like to promote?: I love therapy.