Get To Know Our Team: Kamal Hans as Dealer - ‘Cuba and His Teddy Bear’

From now till the end of the run we will highlight the talented individuals involved in helping make the Midwest Premiere of Cuba and His Teddy Bear possible with a brief questionnaire. Enjoy!

1. Where are you from?

If not from Chicago, how did you end up here? What is your ethnicity?   I am from Chicago.  I am East Indian.

2. What is your position in Cuba?

Dealer

3. What drew you to want to work on Cuba and His Teddy Bear?

The fact that I have worked with Madrid before and was looking forward to working with him again.  He sold it to me saying, “this is a role, no one would normally cast you in, but I think you will be great!”

4. Why is this a great piece of theater for Chicago?

Excellent portrayal of hard life in the streets, how everyone regardless of position in life or race faces the same types of family issues.

5. What makes Chicago Theater great to you?

Chicago theater is raw, real and in your face!

6. What do like about working with UTC/PTC? If you have worked with UTC/PTC before what show did you work on and how was your experience?

The actors are excellent; everyone involved is at the top of their game (designers, director, producers, actors, etc).

7. What do you do for work outside of your position in Cuba?

I run a South Asian distribution company called Zarda King.  We supply companies (retailers and wholesalers) throughout North America with over 1,100 items.

8. Also maybe, other than Cuba, what is your favorite play that you have worked on?

I have loved working in and my roles in A Passage to India, Chess, Amadeus, Merchant on Venice, and The Normal Heart.

9. Why are you pursuing theater in Chicago, rather than somewhere else?

Chicago is the greatest city in the world.

10. What’s your favorite line from a play?

I have many, but one that sticks with me is “she sang Happy Birthday to the Turkey”

For tickets click: I Support Theater in Chicago!

-FROM the STREETS to the STAGE

Interview by Ivan Vega