Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Sela Shiloni
Actor Alkaio Thiele is preparing to embark on a magical journey in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Thiele talked to NYOTA about his character, Roman, working with Selena Gomez and David Henrie, and how musical theater got him into acting.
What originally sparked your interest in acting?
My parents have always wanted my brother and me to be well-rounded, so we were encouraged to try all kinds of activities before we decided they weren’t for us. I’ve been told that when I was young, all I ever did was sing and perform and draw attention to myself, so when I was 11, they told me I had to try musical theater one time before I decided I didn’t like it. I auditioned for a role in High School Musical at I Can Do That! Performing Arts Center in Danville, and the entire experience was life-changing. I was in tears after closing night and told my parents that this is exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Who are some of your acting inspirations?
Comedy is by far my favorite genre, so I really look up to Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Ryan Reynolds, Adam Sandler, Matthew Perry, Ty Burrell, and Max Greenfield. I sometimes model my delivery of lines after my comedic inspirations, so I’m curious if viewers will be able to spot them!
How does Wizards Beyond Waverly Place pay homage to the original show while still introducing something fresh for a new generation?
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place will have a ton of magical mishaps, just like the original! The new show will have updated pop-culture references and new jokes while continuing the themes of family, friendship, love, and acceptance.
Tell our readers about your character Roman, what did you do to step into his shoes?
The character I play in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is Roman Russo: a high-strung, uptight, rule-following bookworm who loves order, straight A’s, and being right. He’s a little neurotic and has a lot of similarities to young Justin Russo from the original series, who is now my dad. To prepare for the role, I watched a lot of the original series! My sense was that Roman is a lot like Justin Russo, so I made note of his mannerisms and incorporated them into my character. Roman is a pretty natural character to play for me because he and I are a lot alike. We are both avid readers, high achievers, and competitive. I’m more adventurous than Roman, and I love playing sports, whereas he would rather be in the library.
When someone is a wizard, mischief follows them. What were some of your favorite magical sequences or hijinks to film?
Without giving away too many spoilers: I really committed to riding on the school float, I found my inner strength with a magical shirt, and got to perform basketball moves I’ve only ever dreamed of. Getting possessed gave me a chance to explore Roman’s dark side.
Original cast members Selena Gomez and David Henrie have appearances in the show. Did they give advice to you and your co-stars while on set?
Selena and David were clear that they were doing everything in their power to make Wizards Beyond the best experience possible for us. We have really amazing people in our writer’s room, cast, and crew. From the first day of filming, it felt like I was already a part of this amazing family, and I think a big part of that was because there was so much overlap from the original series. David Henrie has created a safe space for being ourselves and taking risks. He was immediately clear that we should be going all out and would never be reprimanded for trying something or making a mistake. They’ve both told us to buckle up because this whole experience is going to be an insane ride. I’m all in.