Centerstage with: Trevor Cox and Brendan Reynolds, of Cooper's 'Rotten'

You are: Trevor Cox and Brendan Reynolds, both seniors

We've seen you before in: Cox has been in several junior shows at the Paramount Theatre, including "Elf" (he was the dad), "Legally Blonde" and "Shrek." He has been in the Cooper musicals "My Fair Lady" and "Freaky Friday." Reynolds has made a four-year run through Cooper theater, appearing in those same shows and in "Sister Act" as a freshman.

Roles in "Something Rotten!":

► Cox: He is Nick Bottom, brother to Nigel. They struggle to find success in playhouses because a guy named Shakespeare is rocking the theater world. Maybe doing a musical is their answer. "Nick is a very determined and driven man. He really wants to just be the best, really," Cox said. "Sometimes he lets that get in the way of his relationships with his family, his brother, his wife, his friends. But he can be sort of angry and he'll do just about anything to be first, to be the winner. Be the first to write a musical. He's really poor, so he wants this musical to boost him economically."

► Reynolds: He is Nigel, Nick's brother and theater partner. "He is more on the anxious side," Reynolds said. "He's scared of things. He cares about too many things and wants to do everything right. His only goal is to, they flip-flop a lot, is to stay true to himself and lead others in that direction."

Both student actors said they, in many ways, mirror their characters.

"I am very driven," Cox said. "If I have something in front of me, I'm going to get it done. I'm going to do anything in my personal power to be the best I can. This was very easy. Not much acting going on."

"It's very easy to play (Nigel) because I'm very much the same way," Reynolds said. "It's not a lot of acting for me. It's a completely different characterization than I've played thus far because of how I'm so much like him."

What you've learned about yourself playing this character:

► Cox: "Life is so much more a teamwork thing," he said. "You can't even begin to imagine what's happening backstage. We're running around, putting on different costumes and people are helping us. We're moving around sets and props. It's really cool to think about how life is a teamwork sport, not like an individual type of thing." And Nick has taught him, too. "I've learned how much I need to cherish relationships and how much the people around you can really bring the best out of you. Even if it seems very hard or harsh, they truly want the best for you."

► Reynolds: "This has taught me how to give a lot grace and go with the flow more because I'm really want everything to be right, 24/7. But with a musical this big, a lot will go wrong. It's destined to be. It's just fun to be nice and graceful with everyone backstage. Especially a week out and we're all stressed." His character has taught him, as well, specifically how to deal with stress.

What the audience will get out of this production:

► Cox: "For sure the humor, because I think this is a really easy musical to sit through and I think it's really entertaining. Morally, even though it's really easy to get frustrated, the amount of hard work you put in will pay off. You just go to keep going."

► Reynolds: "It's funny and easy to watch. The obvious moral would be to cherish the people around you and not put your own personal needs in front of everyone else's."

What's next for you:

► Cox: He plans to attend Baylor University to major in music and minor in social work. He would like to be a music therapist, which he describes as "a whole new thing" that interests him and employs his talents.

► Reynolds: He likely is headed to Austin to study at the University of Texas. His field would be biology.

Both indicated continuing interest in theater if opportunities were presented.

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

If You Go

What: "Something Rotten!" Cooper High School's winter musical based on Henry VIII.

When: 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Where: CHS auditorium, 3639 Sayles Blvd.

Tickets: Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Cooper main office and at the door. Go to coopertheatre.com/rotten to stream the Friday evening performance.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Centerstage with: Trevor Cox, Brendan Reynolds, of Cooper's 'Rotten'