Carlos Brumfield
Carlos Brumfield has been appearing on DFW stages in plays and musicals for seven years. I first noticed Carlos in a small part in a play at Rover Dramawerks in early 2020. I wrote in my review of the play that Carlos “showed leading man potential.” Two years and a pandemic later, that prediction came to fruition when Carlos starred as Robin Hood in Sherwood at MainStage Irving-Las Colinas delighting audiences with his mastery of comedy and adventure.
When was your first time on stage?
In kindergarten, I played a fly and I buzzed around bothering people and the stage has been with me ever since. It was my first taste of feeling affirmed and my mom cheered me on and it made me want to do all the other school programs that year. I still remember some of the Christmas songs.
When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
I would recite scenes from movies and television shows for my family and I knew I liked entertaining. My mom bought me a recorder for Christmas so I recorded my scenes and we all watched my movies. My mom recognized she had a performer on her hands and started pulling me out of my room to entertain friends and family.
Who is your greatest mentor?
Chancellor Skidmore is a slam poet named “Zero” who made me want my performing to touch hearts and minds and be provocative and never be afraid to push the envelope.
What role have you enjoyed the most in your career so far?
Being a clown in THE 39 STEPS was so much fun that it felt like childhood play. Being able to quickly switch between characters was challenging and exciting. It took extreme focus, but I enjoyed it. It was total fun.
Do you have a dream role?
I have two. I’d like to be Walter Lee in the musical RAISIN and later in my career I would like to be SWEENEY TODD. When I was 18 I got the RAISIN cast album from a friend and I could not stop listening to Walter Lee sing “Running to Meet the Man.” I’d like to try Sweeney Todd because he is such a dark protagonist and so different from myself.
What person would you like to be on stage with?
Whoopi Goldberg and Angela Bassett would be my two choices. I would also love to play Samuel L. Jackson’s son or something on stage as I feel his style is closer to mine and I respect his work. I would also have loved to have acted with Sidney Poitier, as he is an icon.
What performances have you seen that impressed you?
STEDE BONNET: A F*cking Pirate Musical at Theatre Three and RAGTIME at Lyric Stage. Also seeing MEMPHIS on tour in LA was a revelation. TAKE ME OUT on Broadway was a gorgeous piece of theatre. The masculinity of the piece appealed to me. Especially seeing straight men be vulnerable on stage.
What are your career goals?
To win a Tony and an Oscar and to be a working actor until I can’t get on my feet anymore. I would also like to direct and write plays. Most importantly, I want to be a lifelong learner and to be the best Carlos I can possibly be.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I have incredibly eclectic music tastes and that if I was not an actor, I would be a zoologist or therapist. And later in life, I would like to be a philanthropist.
