Meet the “Apartment 3A” cast: Kyle Switala says you’ll laugh until you cry

From From now until opening night on Feb. 22, the Livingston Post will be profiling cast members of the Hartland Players MainStage production of “Apartment 3A,” an adult comedy by Jeff Daniels.

1. Biographical info: Name, age, parent(s) name(s), siblings, year in school, activities, hobbies, future plans.
Kyle Switala; 25; hair stylist; bachelors in psychology and currently attending the University of Michigan – Flint for a master’sdegree in education; hobbies include reading, writing, acting, playing the violin; future plans are to complete school and teach English at a local high school, possibly own and operate a salon on the side.

2. Character info.
Tony is the manager of the cable TV station that Annie works at. He’s quick to confrontation, yet has a soft side. His family is important to him, but so is his job (which he’s very good at).

3. How did you get involved with the production?
Being on the Board of Directors for the Hartland Players, I’m kept in the loop of the shows we choose to do (if I don’t have a hand in selecting them). When I heard about this show, it sounded so interesting that I had to audition.

4. Have you been in any other theatrical productions? If so, what roles did you play?
Oh my… I’ve been in too many shows to remember, honestly. The most memorable roles have been Blue Boy in “Mona” at Brighton High; Snowboy in “West Side Story,” the Catapiller in “Alice in Wonderland,” Rocky in “The Rocky Horror Show,” and Hyde/ Lanyon in “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” all through The Hartland Players.

5. What do you most enjoy about being part of the production?
This group of people is one of the most hard-working, dedicated, and helpful groups of people I’ve ever worked with. I enjoy that this show has been a culmination of many of the cast and production team’s ideas.

6. Who is/are your inspiration(s)? Why?
As far as actors go, Johnny Depp has always been a source of versatile inspiration for me and Jim Carrey has always reminded me that you don’t have to take yourself too seriously. Jeremy Jordan is, hands-down, my inspiration for musical theater, as he has honed his craft into something beautiful.

7. What’s your favorite part of the experience of being in the production?
I’ve been able to tap into a side of my acting ability that I don’t normally get to: anger. Also, working with comparatively small group of people allows me to get more hands-on experience in other areas that I might not in a bigger production, like publicity.

8. What can audience members expect when they see the show?
To laugh until you cry. I do every rehearsal. If you’re into witty banter, uproariously awkward situations, and still somehow getting in touch with your compassionate side, this is the show for you.