Ep405 - Aaron Bartz: The Redemption of Draco (and Dirty Birds at 8AM)

Aaron Bartz brings a grounded, thoughtful energy to the role of Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and in this conversation, he shares just how much life and imagination go into keeping the magic alive night after night. From flying and fire to illusions and high-stakes contingencies, Aaron walks us through what it’s like to debut on Broadway in one of the most technically demanding plays out there—and why so many actors in the production come from classical Shakespeare backgrounds. We also explore Aaron’s journey from Great Falls, Montana to the Lyric Theatre in NYC, including a pivotal classroom moment that set him on the path to acting, and how a love of storytelling (and a little persistence) helped him land gigs that ultimately led to an MFA from Yale. Now a father of two, Aaron reflects on how playing Draco as a parent has shifted his own understanding of growth, vulnerability, and legacy. Aaron Bartz is an actor and writer currently starring as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. He earned his MFA from the Yale School of Drama and began his career with regional Shakespeare productions across the country. He toured nationally with the Montana Repertory Theatre in To Kill a Mockingbird, and his previous work includes Loves Labour’s Lost, Macbeth, and other classical works. This episode is brought to you by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Aaron: Instagram: @aaronbartz Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [e-mail]. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices