Name: Grant Huneycutt
Role: Wade
Hometown: Greenwood, AR
Degree: bachelors in musical theater from Oklahoma City University
Grant Huneycutt is returning to Arkansas on his first national tour with Water For Elephants. We were able to ask Huneycutt a few questions about his love of musical theater and bringing the tour to The Natural State.
When did you become interested in musical theater?
When I was in first grade, I moved to Los Angeles with my dad to pursue acting, and I had a few jobs here and there, but nothing major. We moved back to Arkansas and were looking for some way for me to continue acting. My parents found a local children’s theater at University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. They were doing Seussical the Musical, and I ended up getting the lead. I’m 23 now, and I haven’t looked back since.
You play Wade who is a complicated character. Is it a difficult role to play?
He is faced with very difficult decisions throughout his time at the circus, but specifically during the events of the show. Some of these are literally life and death. My job as an actor is to convey that with truth and believability, and sometimes with dark characters that can be difficult and very easily seep into your real life.
But one reason Wade makes these bad choices is because he doesn’t have the community that he needs, and that’s where we differ. The people on this show with me are some of the best people out there. We’re all one big family, and I like to think that that comes across on stage.
Do you have any People who have supported you as you’ve pursued a career on stage?
Yes! My biggest supporters have been my friends and family. They have always believed and supported me. They have come to every show they can no matter where it is.
Will you have any of those friends and family in the crowd when you come to Walton Arts Center?
Oh absolutely! Everyone I’ve ever met has told me they’ve got their tickets, and I love it. I am ecstatic to come home and to show everyone who’s ever seen one of my shows or believed in me in any way that it was all for something. I want every single one of them to know they had a part to play in me getting to where I am now. I am truly blessed in so many ways, but to bring my first big show home for all the people who care about me is something I’ll never forget.
What do you want people to know about this show?
Well, this show is my favorite show I’ve seen on Broadway. I was lucky enough to see it in March 2024. When I saw the show, I left saying two things: this show is going to tour well and I want to play Wade one day. so honestly, my favorite part of being on the road with this show is being able to bring it around the country.
Even if you’ve seen the movie or read the book, our show is a bit different. Not only are some of the plot points and characters shifted slightly, but we are able to use incredible storytelling techniques like acrobatics and puppets, to name a few, to bring the story to life and really draw audiences in.
What would you tell someone, growing up in Arkansas or anywhere, who wants to follow their dream like you did?
It is OK for people to have dreams to follow. I love Arkansas, but my dream has taken me to other places and that’s OK. Let your life take you where you want to go. You’re never too big to continue growing in your own life.