CODY REES - Actor

Written by Duo Tang & Edited by Phil
Mar 8, 2017
4 min read

To be is to do, to do is to feel. As an actor, you have to feel the raw emotion that your character is meant to go through. You have to make it look like your true emotions in order to capture the audience’s attention. Cody Rees is a 22 year old individual that works hard at his craft all day and night in order to perform on the court, on the stage, and most importantly life itself. THE CHARACTER OF CODY REES Cody Rees, was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Growing up full of energy, his parents placed him in community theatre classes at the age of six. At his very first exposure to the theatre world, he instantly fell in love with performing for people. He never questioned himself or his love for performing. He just didn’t know how to stop, and with the support of his family and friends, he took his career serious at the age of six. That energy also followed him into tennis and skateboarding. To Cody, performing is relevant at every stage of his life. Whether it is on the tennis court, competing to win a game or landing a trick on a skateboard. Cody executes the role of an athlete on the tennis court while his competitors and supporters watch from the sidelines. This athlete also comes out when he performs tricks on his skateboard. Then recording those tricks with a fisheye camera and placing them on a digital platform for an audience to view.Even though Cody does not skateboard anymore, it helps him improve the way he performs the way he did now.

In middle school, Cody was granted a role in the Tony Award winning Lookingglass Theatre's Young Ensemble. This was a tremendous achievement and gave Cody more confidence in himself as an actor, and brought confidence to his life. After five years of training at the Lookingglass Theatre he attended Colorado Mesa University with a Theatre and Varsity Tennis scholarship. Sports and Theatre have a lot in common.

Acting filled every aspect of his life, Cody doesn't just pretend to be the character when he is on the stage. He lives, breathes, eats and embodies that character mentally and physically. While attending school in Colorado, he spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful mountain range that surrounded his environment. Cody has a strong love for the outdoors and breathing in the fresh air. To explore the world is to explore one’s own internal feelings and emotions. Exploring nature in a way is like exploring the human emotions. Nature is unpredictable and so is raw human emotion. His curiosity of the world leads him down the path of exploration into his own emotions. The different types of emotions that he explores helps to broaden his perspective of understanding pain, suffering, and happiness. As well as the best and worst feelings/emotions that a person can offer. One of the ways that Cody Rees becomes better at developing and playing each different character is to have a personality journal. Cody practices a character by embodying the different traits that the character would have. From the personality, emotions, body movements, or how that person would think Cody takes all those ideas and records them in his journal. Writing as the character would write. This is a way Cody cements and remembers those traits and he can tap into those notes for future reference whenever he needs to.

Playing a character in a role means Cody is exploring a part of himself, and expresses that role however he wants to. Every character is a different journey of exploration into who he is. Engaging in different roles brings upon new experiences. Playing a new character is like hiking a new mountain. Each is unique in their own way and there is always uncharted territory to explore. The question that Cody asks himself every day is “How do I create someone out of myself into a role that is authentic that people can believe in and feel invested in?” In three words Cody would describe himself as a Dynamic, Distinct, and Diligent. He is an actor known for his dramatic leading roles. Check out all of his roles below:

Film

Trust Student Lookingglass Theatre Co. (dir. David Schwimmer, Filmed for Live Performance)

Losing Logan Logan Independent Book Trailer

Theatre Performance

The Wonder Team Bo Pioneer Playhouse (World Premier dir. Robby Henson)

Is He Dead? Claude Pioneer Playhouse (dir. Richey Nash)

Walking Across Egypt Inmate Pioneer Playhouse (dir. Brian King)

Richard III Catesby, Ensemble Oxford Shakespeare Co. (dir. Ron Song Destro)

Christmas Carol Bob Cratchet Robinson Theatre (dir. Maridee Slater)

Rabbit Hole Howie Mesa Experimental Theatre

Anna in the Tropics Palomo Mesa Experimental Theatre

Alls Well That Ends All Lord Robinson Theatre (dir. Tim Pinnow)

On The Verge Nicky Paradise, etc. Robinson Theatre (dir. Shay Lydick)

Crazy Eights Cliff Mesa One Act Festival

One of Cody’s dream roles is to be a character for Hamlet, a play written by Shakespeare. The characters are very profound. Cody does not want to play Hamlet himself, because of the suicidal, depressing, and oppressive personality traits that Hamlet entails. Cody engages his acting with his own personal life. Due to Cody’s dedication to the roles he plays, he feels that the sad and depressing demise of the Hamlet character would take a toll on his own personal life. That is the type of power an actor has. Dwelling into the raw emotion that the character has to go through.

Not only is Cody an actor and performer but he is also a Director. Cody’s new project Constellations has Cody in the Director’s chair compiling and piecing together the story. Leading the actors and transforming them into the characters that are needed for the play. Thus, furthering Cody’s plethora of experience in the Theatre world by taking chances with different positions. As well as exploring himself by diving into new unexplored territory expanding his talents and achieving new goals.