Official Christopher Shea Website: What started you on the road to acting and what has kept you on that path? What kind of challenges have you had to endure? How did you decide that this was your passion?

Christopher Shea: I can't really remember a time when I didn't act or when I didn't want to be an actor. It started in Junior High school doing plays and that was it. Hooked.

OCSW: What was the most difficult role you've had to play and why? Your favorite? The worst?

Chris: The most difficult one hasn't come around yet. I'm waiting and looking forward to digging into that. The most favorite is possibly the Devil in a musical called Once Upon a Primetime with Neurotic Young Urbanites. For obvious reasons: it's the DEVIL.

OCSW: How do you think you've grown as an actor over the years compared to when you first started?

Chris: Still growing, hopefully.

OCSW: Do you prefer television or traditional theatre as your medium? What are some pros and cons of each?

Chris: Theatre, def. It's alive in a way TV is not, but performing for a live audience on TV is great fun as well.

OCSW: The fact that the Neurotic Young Urbanites consists of a group friends working together for so many years fascinates me. How do you all manage to get along and work together for so long without going crazy or getting sick of each other? How do you keep the ideas fresh?

Chris: Of course we get sick of each other, but we love working together and know each other really well, and know this kind of opportunity doesn't come around much. We've been away from each other for awhile now and I miss it and them a ton.

OCSW: How do you decide what kind of personality, mannerisms, voice, etc. to give to each specific character? Is there anything in particular you do help yourself prepare to get in character?

Chris: Nothing in particular; it all depends on the script and I try to just trust my instinct and go for it; everything else just comes, or it doesn't and then I freak out and am totally screwed.

OCSW: What kind of styles of dance can you perform?

Chris: I used to tap a lot but haven't in years. Weird. I just remembered I had a dream last night where I was tapping up a storm. I was pretty good, too. Dreams are good like that.

OCSW: In addition to singing, can you play any musical instruments?

Chris: Nope, just me and my voice. Played guitar once or twice in shows and then promptly forgot everything I learned after we closed the show.

OCSW: You have a wonderful voice; have you ever considered doing voice work such as audiobooks?

Chris: Sure, if it comes around. I've auditioned for a few.

OCSW: You really seem to shine more in villainous roles; would you consider playing villains more often?

Chris: Absolutely. They are usually more interesting and often very well-written and almost always more fun.

OCSW: Have you ever watched or been a fan of Star Trek before your portrayal of Keevan on Star Trek: DS9?

Chris: No, never. My brother is a huge fan so I got all the backstories from him.

OCSW: What were the makeup processes for your numerous characters on the various Star Trek shows like? For example, the makeup for Saowin from ST: Voyager and Sajen from ST: Enterprise looked particularly uncomfortable.

Chris: They are all pretty grueling. At least 3 hours in the makeup chair. Showing up in the dark at 4 in the morning to be ready on set by 7, then you're in there for about 12 hours. But the teams behind the shows, the makeup people are geniuses; what they do is astounding. With Saowin, I had no nose and had to eat through a straw. Good times.

OCSW: In ST: Voyager in the episode "Think Tank," your character Saowin bumps face first into the jellyfish tank at the end of his scene; was that a joking reference to the reanimated dead Keevan repeatedly running into the wall in "The Magnificent Ferengi," or just pure coincidence?

Chris: Pure coincidence, for me, at least.

OCSW: How does it feel to be a part of Star Trek history? If they made another Star Trek series, do you think you'd like to participate in it?

Chris: I love it; it's a blast to perform. I'd do it in a heartbeat if they asked me too.

OCSW: I've always been curious about this since I've never been able to find any information about it: what was the "Gershwin to Porter" production that you performed at Radio City Music Hall?

Chris: A one night only benefit. It was on my resume in the early days because not much else was, but performing on that enormous legendary stage was awesome.

OCSW: Thank you very much for the interview!