Andrew James Gordon has been acting since childhood, and he will continuing adding to his resume with his upcoming portrayal of Charles Cyril Martin in “Roebling: The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge,” presented by Theater To Go at the State Museum in Trenton, Friday to Sunday, May 16 to 18.
Born in Australia, Gordon has lived in West Windsor since 2001. His mother, Jill, is the school nurse at Saint Ann School in Lawrenceville and his father, Neil, is a senior trial manager of clinical drug supply at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. His sister, Verity, a senior at High School North, is focusing on a career in fashion design. “They always come to opening night and are behind me 100 percent,” he says.
When Gordon was a student at the Lewis School he was encouraged by Georgine Hall, a teacher of drama and a professional actor. “She heard me do a monologue from ‘Big River’ with a southern accent and said ‘You should do it for life’ — and I intend to,” says Gordon. Soon after that he was in a production of “Hamlet” at McCarter Theater in 2005 as one of 10 adolescent males in a silent chorus.
During his years at High School North, he was in productions including “High School Musical.” He performed in “The Pregnancy Project,” a play about teen pregnancy, on stage in New York City in 2010 (The News, March 19, 2010).
After graduating from Mercer County Performing Arts High School and North in 2010 he studied at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, a two-year school, with a focus on acting. He studied the Meisner technique, acting for television and film, and more.
He has been in several films. His two most precious possessions are letters from his acting idols, Kenneth Branagh and Sir Derek Jacobi, who wrote to him with encouragement and advice on auditioning and the business of acting.
Gordon did small performances in New York City and played several superheroes at FAO Schwartz and Toys R Us. Among them were Captain America and Iron Man. “I would like to be in a Marvel film,” he says. Gordon’s goals include meeting two film directors — Bryan Singer, a 1984 graduate of WW-P High School; and Ethan Hawke, who was raised in West Windsor and attended WW-P High School.
He recently played one of the clowns in “The 39 Steps” at Kelsey Theater. “I met Ruth Markoe, the director of the Roebling play, and she invited me to audition,” he says. He was cast as Charles Cyril Martin (known as C.C. Martin).
To create his character in the Roebling play Gordon did more research than usual. “I wanted to be faithful to the original person,” says Gordon. “Martin was the chief engineer for John Roebling and then Washington Roebling. He worked with Emily Roebling to get the bridge done. He attended many meetings to see what needed to be done.”
The Roebling play is based on the true story of the journey to build the Brooklyn Bridge. John Roebling sets out to construct the most ambitious engineering project of the Industrial Revolution, but the project is beset with setbacks and tragedies that leave the Roebling family and the bridge project in crisis. The drama tells the story of John, Washington, and Emily Roebling as they persevered against all odds in their dedication to building the Brooklyn Bridge.
While in rehearsal for the Roebling play, Gordon played the part of Lucius, the servant to Brutus, in “Julius Caesar” at Actors’ Net of Bucks County. It was set in contemporary times. “It was like Ancient Rome meets ‘House of Cards,’” says Gordon, who was able to use his natural speaking accent. “I’ve been in the United States so long that it is easy to switch to and from an American accent,” says Gordon. In his next show, the comedy “Moon Over Buffalo” with Actors’ Net, he will portray Howard, the young weatherman.
“I know acting is a very tough business,” he told the News in 2010, “but in this economy there is no easy, safe occupation with guarantees. So with the support of my parents and my sister, Verity, I shall shoot for the moon and do what I love most of all.”
Roebling: The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge, Theater to Go, New Jersey State Museum, 206 West State Street, Trenton. Friday to Sunday, May 16 to 18. The story of John Roebling and his family as they persevered in their dedication to completing the Brooklyn Bridge. Written by Mark Violi, directed by Ruth Markoe, with score by Frank Gullon. $25 includes admission to the museum. 609-915-6409. www.roeblingplay.com.
