Todd Black has a talented history acting on many of the stages here in Denver. His vast range of diverse plays include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Southern Baptist Sissies and most recently Sordid Lives. Now Black is staring in the Tony nominated Next Fall, produced by Firehouse Theater and Theatre Out Denver through Sept. 28.

You just closed a highly praised production of SORDID LIVES. How was that experience for you?

Amazing! I wanted to be in Sordid Lives for 12 years. I saw the movie, then the stage production at Theatre on Broadway in 2005. It was so gratifying to see (the most recent production) come to fruition. It all fell into place. What an amazing, talented group of people. Not to mention that the one-and-only Del Shores, the playwright, flew to Denver to be here for opening weekend. He was amazing: insightful, honest and very gracious!

Tell me a little bit about Next Fall and your role.

Next Fall is an unlikely love story between a 40-year-old would-be writer Adam and a 30-year-old actor Luke in New York. The catch is that Adam is an agnostic, Luke a devout Christian. Despite their differences, they remain together for five years until tragedy strikes. Everyone involved is forced to examine their own lives, their faith and what if means to truly believe. It’s beautifully written, full of wonderfully drawn characters that are flawed, but truly in search of inner peace. Adam is a character I can personally relate to on many levels: insecurities about aging, questioning faith and coming to terms with both.

What do you hope audiences take from this production?

I hope they’ll walk away understanding that everyone has, despite personal beliefs, the capacity for unconditional love and acceptance during our short time on this planet. Don’t wait to believe in love until next fall, believe in love now.

You have had quite a busy year playing roles as the priest in Murder on the Nile, George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Sissy in Sordid Lives. What draws you to the memorable characters that you play?

I think what draws me is the variety. One of the great things about being an actor is portraying different characters with different values, morals and inner complexities — and in the case of Sissy, different genders. I’m drawn to characters that are interesting, but flawed, who go through some kind of journey to get to the truth. It can be scary and thrilling to take a chance on a part that you may think you’re not right for, but pushing yourself to create a living, breathing human onstage is rewarding beyond words. Sharing that with an audience, connecting with people on a basic human level in a live setting are more important than ever in this increasingly isolated, detached, technological age.

Is there a play that you absolutely adore and would perform in over and over again?

I love Sordid Lives so much. I would do it again anytime. Jeffrey is another. Also Brian in The Shadow Box. <Virginia Wolff is a difficult, challenging piece, but I would play George again in a heartbeat. The dancer Gregory in Love! Valour! Compassion! is another wonderful role I’d do again. Playing Howard Crabtree in When Pigs Fly!. Another great one! I was going to say Naked Boys Singing!, but may have reached my expiration date on that one.

What’s next on your acting card after this? 

I am finally taking a little break and going to take a short vacation to Palm Springs. We’ll see after that!