Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 4: Casey Baum (Eugene)

In Part Four of a series of interviews with the director and cast of Prince George’s Little Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, meet Casey Baum (Eugene).

Joel: Please introduce yourself, and tell our readers how you heard about Prince George’s Little Theatre’s auditions for Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Casey: My name is Casey Baum and I play Eugene in PGLT’s production of Brighton Beach Memors. I am a rising freshman at the Key School and I have been interested in acting ever since my parents introduced me to it at the age of 8. I specifically became interested in this role when I had to memorize a monologue for a school I was auditioning for. My acting instructor at the time recommended doing an excerpt from Brighton Beach Memoirs, as it was one of her favorite shows. I had been familiar with Neil Simon before, but had never heard of this show. When I read the play, the hilarity and depth of the character Eugene appealed to me so much that as a result, my fondness for the playwright, along with the character and the show only grew. After hearing of this opportunity, I sprang to the phone to get a few of my acting friends to join me at the auditions. Ever since, I have been rehearsing and working on a show that I’m sure will strike a chord with all of it’s viewers.

Introduce us to Eugene, Why do you enjoy playing him and how do you relate to him?

The character of Eugene is a teenage boy struggling with the reality of growing up and all the problems that come along with it.  I love playing the character of Eugene because I can relate to him. As an actor, I love being able to incorporate some of my own memories and emotions into the role. The humor of the character is also a major plus.

How do you think the audience will react to the play?

I am super excited for an audience because I can’t wait for their reactions. The audience will undoubtedly enjoy many aspects of the show. The comedy, the ever-growing plot, and the personalities of the characters are just a few examples. Brighton Beach Memoirs is a fantastic show that viewers will love and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate.