Tyler Hayes went to Kennesaw State University and received a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies with a concentration in Acting in 2014. About the same time as graduation, he earned representation with Houghton Talent here in Atlanta.
- Tyler can be spotted in five TV commercials for the 2016-17 campaign for the restaurant chain Runza in Nebraska, as well as three radio ads. I will also be on the upcoming Atlanta based web series Walter Frisk Lets Go! Last year he was in the world premier of Lillian Likes It and most recently was in the world premier of Dispossessed. Tyler has participated in the One Minute Play Festival at Actor’s Express the past two years.
In Dog Sees God, Tyler is playing Van (who is often known to carry a blanket.) He was generous enough to answer a few interview questions for us:
Q: Is this your first show with Live Arts Theatre?
A: Yes, this is my first show with Live Arts Theatre.
Q: What attracted you to Dog Sees God?
A: I was attracted to Dog Sees God pretty much the instant our director, Michael, told me about it. I had not heard about the play before this, but once I saw what it was about, I was instantly interested. Who wouldn’t want to be the high school version of these characters that have entertained children for decades? The play highlights a lot of problems that teenagers must deal with as they transition from kids to young adults, which is something all of us must go through, which is why a broad audience can connect with this play (16 and up).
Q: How does your character compare to you?
A: I think Van and I share many of the same qualities. Now the most blaring question I am sure that people would wonder is if I shared in the same “extra curricular” activities that Van partakes in throughout the play. I will just say that I had some really good times in high school, maybe not to the extent of Van, and leave it at that. I discovered recently during the rehearsal process that Van and I shared a very similar mindset in high school though. Van is really one of the only characters in this play that does not seem to struggle with his identity. Yeah, he is still changing, as we all do in high school, but he accepts the change and justifies it. I never really cared very much what people thought the last couple years of high school. If you like me for me, that’s fine, and if you do not, that’s also cool too. I think that’s why so many of my closest friends are from high school, because I never tried to disguise who I truly am or struggle with what people thought of me. I just lived my life. He is also a very accepting person and really passes no judgement on anyone for who they are. This did not stick out to me until pretty much right now. Michael asked me when he was thinking of casting me for the role, “What group did you associate with in high school? Like was I a jock, stoner, nerd, band geek, etc.” I told him, probably in a less articulate fashion, I did not consider myself a part of any particular “group” that are so prominent in our popular culture. I was fortunate enough to be friends with all walks of life in high school and I tried to always give people a chance. Now on the flip side of things, which I can see being slightly different than Van, after I pretty much gave you an opportunity and I made my mind up about you, it stayed that way. So, if I didn’t like you, then I would find ways to let it be known. When people see the show, I really hope they see more than just a stoner kid and can see that he is just trying to be a good person.
Q: Dog Sees God is based a beloved comic strip, and we get a look of what might happens when life gets real. Why do you think this is a good way to present difficult topics?
A: I think this play puts a mask over the real life problems all teenagers/young adults must go through. It’s like a really catchy song that seems all happy and fun, but when you actually take the time to truly listen to the words., it is about the most messed up aspects of life. Using the Peanuts characters lets the audience have this false sense of security, because even though the comic strips, cartoons, and movies may sometimes bring up real life situations, they seem less dark because these are just kids and people have the notion that kids do not have real problems. I expect people to think they are coming to see this cute, funny play where the peanut characters all grown up and not really expect it to bring up the intense topics that these characters face. It’s a good tool to bring up the darker side of the human experience.
We at Live Arts are looking forward to seeing more of Tyler, and so should you. Come see Dog Sees God, which runs from October 21-November 5, 2016 at the Belfry Playhouse (downstairs at Norcross Presbyterian Church), 3324 Medlock Bridge Rd, Norcross GA