Tony-Nominated Bullets Star Nick Cordero on Quitting School, Getting in Trouble & Woody Allen's Comedy Tips

Age: 35

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario

Current Role: A Tony-nominated breakthrough performance as tap-dancing, ghostwriting gangster Cheech in the musical adaptation of Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway.

Stage Cred: After playing Dennis in the national tour of Rock of Ages, Cordero made his Broadway debut in the ‘80s rock musical; he also originated the role of Toxie in off-Broadway’s The Toxic Avenger.

“When I was 10, I was in a gang of roughnecks who smoked cigarettes near the train tracks. It’s a good thing I got into theater early because I could’ve gotten into some trouble.”

“I left college at Ryerson University after two years to sing in a rock band, Lovemethod. My parents were trying to put two other kids through college so they were like, ‘Great!’”

“When I played Tony in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding in Toronto, there'd always be audience proposals. Sometimes it was exciting and the bride would be into it...other times she’d be gritting her teeth like, ‘You’re proposing to me here?!’”

“Woody Allen is the master of the punch line, but he doesn’t like to hit it right on the head. He told me, ‘Say the line like you'd say anything. If it’s funny, great. If not, it’s my fault, not yours.’”

“My tap-dancing skills weren't great before Bullets. I was aware of a time step, I’d heard of it! If Susan Stroman can make me look good, she’s a genius.”

“Getting a Tony nomination has been a gorgeous whirlwind. It’s been so humbling and exciting and emotional. I’ve worked for this my whole life, and I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

“Before getting this part, I was in classes to be a real estate agent. I needed to have something solid in my life; this business is so mercurial. In the future, I hope to have a continued relationship with real estate [laughs].”