Neighbor Stephen Sheffer On Acting, Adventuring & Starring In The Off-Broadway Play ‘New Country’

Neighbor Stephen Sheffer is a man of many hats.

An actor, singer, writer, and explorer (he recently completed the 220-mile John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevadas!) who originally hails from Canada and has been the events maestro at The Farm on Adderley and Sycamore for the past seven years, Stephen’s newest adventure entails starring in the play “New Country.” The show, by Mark Roberts, of “Two and a Half Men” and “Mike & Molly,” premieres off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan tomorrow, May 16.

The play centers around country music star Justin Spears (David Lind), who the play’s website describes as a good ol’ bad boy who’s about to tie the knot but has one night left to “party hearty with his entourage of ruthless, calculating managers, faux fans and friends, his favorite pig-farming uncle, and a plastic model.”

In this “rowdy, raucous rodeo” that quickly goes wrong, Stephen dons the part of Ollie, an employee of the Renaissance hotel in Nashville, aspiring country star and perhaps Justin Spears’ number one fan.

Stephen recently returned from a five-week stint in Alabama, where he and his fellow actors rehearsed for, and opened, “New Country,” and we wanted to catch up with him before the show begins about the performance, his life as an actor, finding a creative community in Ditmas Park, and more.

Tell us about “New Country!” What do you love about it? Can we expect to be hearing a full out Southern drawl from you?

“New Country” is a dirty, wicked comedy by Mark Roberts. Mark created the TV show “Mike & Molly,” exec produced “Two and a Half Men” and was a consultant on “The Big Bang Theory.” The script definitely has a rat-a-tat, ping-pongy energy but is very different than his sitcom work. It’s darker, more intense. More threat of violence. It’s the night before country music superstar Justin Spears’ wedding and hijinks ensue when his pig-farmer uncle shows up. It’s set in Nashville, Tennessee, and it’s about men behaving badly. It’s also about power, wanting power and what it takes to make it to the top. As for the drawl — oh hell yes, son! I love the cast. It’s an amazing ensemble of actors, and I pinch myself everyday that I get to share the stage with them.

You guys rehearsed the play in Alabama? Where in Alabama? What was that like? Have you traveled to the South before? Was it anything like you expected, or something entirely different?

Yes, we did! We were in Huntsville, Alabama for five weeks rehearsing and opening the show there. People are nice (to your face, at least). There are a lot of highways and cars. And styrofoam. Every drink is served in styrofoam. It was my first time to the Deep South, and I quite liked it – might’ve just been the weather, though. One of the perks of being down there was that we were guest artists at the University so we got gym passes to their top-notch fitness facility. We took huge advantage of this. I got really into boot camp, step-aerobics and muscleworks. Who knew? Also, we played basketball regularly. Nuttin else to GD do! I learned that I’m more athletic than I thought and that I sometimes tend to play rough.

Did you always know you wanted to be an actor? How did you first catch the acting bug?

I think so, yes. I started off as an unruly church goer, making noise and singing along (when I wasn’t supposed to) in the pew. My mum stuck me in the choir (a pretty full-on men and boys choir with cassocks, ruffs and what-not). From there, I got scooped up to do opera work as a boy soprano. So that’s how I first stepped on stage. Looking back, it was an amazing ‘break,’ as it were. Right out of the gate, I was working with professionals. Ah, childhood…it’s been pretty much downhill from there. Just kidding, just kidding. I went to a performing arts high school and then got into performing comedy in bars. Then I started making plays in Toronto before moving to New York where I studied acting more. I’ve been pounding the pavement for the last 10 years here, and it’s been awesome.

Having been in both films and plays, is there one you like more than the other?

They’re so different. Plays are about the ensemble and creating an energy together. Film is a bit more of a solitary medium, in a way. Of course, both film and television involve working together as a group to make something larger. And creating a character is creating a character. But, well, in film, scenes can be shot out of sequence. It’s, perhaps, less literal in a way. When doing a play, we’re ‘doing the play’ — it’s not being cut together in an editing room. So there’s kind of a different energy flow to how they come together.

We see you’re a neighbor from the north! Where in Canada did you grow up? When did you move to Ditmas Park — and what brought you to the neighborhood? And where do you go to get poutine here??

I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario! Our nation’s capital. Skated to school down the Rideau Canal when I was a youngster. I love to trot that detail out — people always say, “Only in Canada!” I’ve been in NYC since 2006, and I’ve been kicking around Ditmas Park for the last seven years, working at The Farm on Adderley / Sycamore. Poutine — oy! Sorry, can’t help you there. I’m a vegetarian. But, Montreal bagels (so much better than NY ones) from Mile End / Black Seed are legit and delish.

There are so many creative people in Ditmas Park — have you found an acting community here? Are there places you’ll go in the neighborhood if you want to be inspired for work?

I played William in Brave New World Rep’s production of “As You Like It” a few years back — very fun and I met some great people that way (like neighbor Christine Siracusa, who’s great). Mostly, though, the creatives I’ve met have been through The Farm on Adderley and Sycamore. I’ve made some really great relationships having worked at both those spots — they seem to be magnets for creative and can-do people.

You’re also a singer and a writer? How have all of these things — singing, writing and acting — shaped your life?

I mean — I guess it’s just how I express myself. Right? So I’m happy I have an outlet to let everything out. That’s how I see it, really. My political views, my personal shit, my random thoughts — all of that filters through in singing, acting and writing.

What’s your ideal job?

I’d really like to see the television series I’ve been developing get off the ground. It’s called “Salmon Elbow,” and it’s about a woman who’s forced to return to the small tourist town in which she grew up. I wrote it with my friend Meghan Hemingway (who got me the job at The Farm way back when, actually), and we’ve got some really great momentum with it. We’re thrilled. We also wrote a feature comedy called “Birth Control” that we’re actively working on producing (and potentially hoping to shoot in Ditmas Park, btw…). Having both these projects come to fruition would be a dream come true. I’m also working on a couple other projects — a film about brothers reunited because their dad is in a coma called “GBS” by the amazing, amazing Jason Hall (not the “American Sniper” screenwriter, thank God). In fact, I premiered the role of Sam in the original stage play, also by Jason. And I’m also working on a nail-biting thriller called “Rivington” that’s set in Brooklyn and Vermont. All of these projects fall under the ‘ideal job’ category. Also, I want to do Broadway, more off-Broadway and do more regional work.

Top five favorite films — go!

Okay – these are five of my favorites, not my five favorites: “Waiting For Guffman,” “Weekend” (by Andrew Haigh), “Margot at the Wedding.” I recently watched “All About Eve,” and I loved it (Bette Davis is phenomenal). There’s a German film called “Everyone Else” by Maren Ade that is constantly on my mind.

What’s been one of the hardest, and one of the most rewarding, things about being an actor?

It’s just such a competitive field. And oftentimes, the most talented person doesn’t even get the job. There are just so many uncontrollable factors, you know? It can be hard to ‘let go’ of expectation. It can be grueling to constantly be looking for work. That being said, the reward is so huge and totally worth every ounce of struggle: it’s a natural high, really, acting. It’s a surge of energy. And when it’s working, when it’s true, when it’s connected — it’s just the best. It’s unlike anything else, really. Ah!

I read in your bio that you recently completed the John Muir Trail? Have you written anything about the experience? Can we expect to see a play/film about this in the future?

Why yes, I have written about it. In my journal, though. Unreal terrain up there. Unimagineable beauty (Google image search it NOW — you won’t be sorry). I want to do that hike again. Actually, I will do that hike again. Not sure re: play / film. The Reese Witherspoon one just came out, so…

You also want to paddle from Alaska to Vancouver, take a two-month hike through Turkey and complete all of New Zealand’s Great Walks? What draws you to these kinds of adventures?

I do, I do and I do. Or I should say: I will, I will and I will! It’s the intensity of it that I love. Being self-sufficient. Like being in a show, it’s all-consuming. It’s the same reason I loved working at summer camp, too (which I did for eight summers). Full immersion. Also, it’s nice to put ye ol’ cellphone to bed for a few continuous weeks now and again.

When you’re not doing 220-mile hikes, are there favorite places you’ll go in our area to escape the grind and get out into nature?

Peekamoose / Slide Mountain in the Catskills. Cold Spring, in a pinch. Prospect Park, mostly, though. I go in daily (pretty much). I love the peninsula and the trails up on the plateau. The one thing that bothers me (a lot) is the way-too-tall building that’s gone up on the East Side of the park that can be seen from some of my favorite spots. That should not have been allowed. In fact, I want to get involved with whatever community group is responsible for allowing decisions like that to pass. Not okay. Also, some of the ‘new roads’ that lead into the park are not okay. The park is for people and bikes, not cars. Get those cars out of there NOW. It really makes me angry. Slightly disproportionately so, but I don’t care.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Opening a theater in Ditmas Park?

Ten years: I want to be working internationally. I want to be leading projects and taking roles in other people’s projects. I want to be on Broadway. I want to stay in Brooklyn, but I’d really like to move to the country, too. My great-grandparents started a farm when they first moved to Canada. My family has some property there, and I’d like to ‘buy back’ one of the lake houses that my grandmother sold (for a pittance) in the 60s. I gotta get some money first, though. Any ideas?

To follow Stephen’s adventures, you can find him on Instagram, Twitter and his website.

“New Country” will run at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) from May 16 through June 20. To purchase tickets, visit the play’s website.