He has often turned to the show’s star, Victoria Clark, for guidance. She is a 63-year-old Tony winner (for “The Light in the Piazza”), and he is a 19-year-old novice, and in the show they both play high school students around 16 years old. “It was incredibly intimidating,” Cooley said. “I thought, ‘Oh God, she’s so experienced. She’s probably going to be annoyed by my amateurishness.
Instead, Clark has become a combination of mentor and friend; before each show, the two share a quick hug at the counter of the rink where his character works. “Of course I’ve felt very motherly towards him, but I’ve tried to put that aside, and I’m also aware, with my 40+ years on Justin, there could be some sort of power dynamic, but I’m I’m super aware of that,” Clark said. “It wouldn’t make any sense to cast someone who’s more experienced because it would look fake, and with Justin there’s a truth and beauty to his performance that I have to emulate. in many ways he has been my teacher.
The show’s director, Jessica Stone, was initially hesitant to cast Cooley because he was so green, but she said he was an enthusiastic student and at one point took her aside to ask the questions he was nervous about asking. set everyone. And she said the Clark-Cooley dynamic has paid off. “His youth and gentleness and openness, and his lack of the life that puts us all through, overwhelms Vicki,” she said, “and Vicki’s years of skill and work and experience overwhelms Justin.”
He’s got a lot to learn, and not just to slow down the burgers and steam his vocal cords. “I had to learn to feed myself,” he said. “How not to stay up late and play video games. It was definitely a step up in my maturity to work in the professional world. I’m still figuring out a lot of things.”
Tesori recalls a day when she ran into Cooley on her way to Trader Joe’s and he blurted out, “Hey, how do you cook?”
