Follow Nick on Twitter: @NickVerinaOC
As a professional actor in New York City for a decade, Nick was seen in the Broadway revival of Follies as “Young Ben” starring Bernadette Peters and as “Sonny” in the Broadway National Tour of Grease starring American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks. He has sung with symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Canada and has performed with Josh Groban, Teatro, and more. He's featured on numerous recordings including the Off-Broadway cast recording of That Time of the Year (with Kerri Garbis and Bridget Beirne) and the 2011 Broadway cast recording of Follies. He has a strong background in improv. He is an active member of Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. Nick has also run the gamut when it comes to the business of the entertainment world, from program design for The Colorado Festival of World Theatre to producing Off-Broadway shows in New York City.
What is your favorite moment in the training room?
It’s rewarding to see the journey our clients take from the beginning of a session to the end. After incorporating our tools and techniques to their presentations and/or stories, their confidence, delivery and clarity is transformed. I love seeing a speaker truly connect with their material and their audience. As a facilitator, it’s extremely rewarding to be a part of that.
What’s one thing you wish the business world would borrow from the acting world?
A lot of our clients are usually given material they have no personal connection with and are then told to deliver it. As and actor, our job is to make a connection with whatever words, lines, or script we are given. I strive to help all of our clients make a personal connection to their material no matter what the content or circumstances might be.
Which role or performance of your own has meant the most to you as an actor?
I loved the entire experience I had playing the role of Young Ben in the show Follies that premiered at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The entire experience was amazing, taking me to Broadway and finally Los Angeles. I met some of my best friends during that time and was given the opportunity to work with Broadway’s most memorable names and iconic figures.
What can’t you start your day without?
A joke and a cup of coffee.
You’ve won a vacation of your choosing! Where are you going?
Italy. Also, how long is this vacation? I’m hoping it’s longer than a week. Would want at least three months. Too greedy?