Video: A RAISIN IN THE SUN's Toussaint Battiste & Camden McKinnon are On the Rise!

Hello, everyone, and welcome to On the Rise with Candace Cordelia here at Broadway World

I'm your host, Candace Cordelia, and I must say I have not one but two very special guests on the show today

They are playing the role of Travis Younger in a Raisin in the Sun, which is taking place at the public theater in New York City

I have recently seen introduction, and it was truly a transformative experience

experience and quite a joy to watch these two young men getting into the role of Travis Younger

Toussaint and Camden, Toussaint Batiste and Camden McKinnon. It's so nice to have you on the show

How are you? Good. Good. How are you? I'm fantastic. I said men, but I should have met boys

because you're both still very young, but also very talented. It is such an honor and a pleasure to

have you on the show today. And I just want to say congratulations because the role of Travis

Younger, it is a challenge. It's quite a challenge, but it's also an honor to be able to play

this role and to also be in this show, a Raisin in the Sun. I know I read this play back when I was

young, and it truly was an amazing experience just to read the play. So to actually be a part of the

show in New York City had to have been such an experience for you

I want to ask you both Tucson and Camden. First I'll start with you, Tucson, because you are in this show

and it is your first theatrical performance. Not only that, but it's the first time that you are acting with your father

who plays Walter Lee Younger, Mr. Francois. How is that experience for you being in this show with your dad

I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm only 10 years old, and my very first production is in New York, off Broadway, at the public, with my dad in real life, playing my dad in the play

So I'm very grateful for this opportunity. Oh, wonderful. I love that

Was there anything very valuable to Sont that you learned from your dad as an actor while you were working together in a Raisin in the Sun

He taught me how to be a good actor. I like that

I really like that. Was there anything in specific such as how to be a good actor, anything more that you learned

in terms of technique or certain little tricks or anything about the play itself and really

getting into the role of Travis that you learned from your dad? Yeah, he helped him with my lines and I helped him with his lines

Really? So you helped him with his lines. What was that like for you helping your dad

Because your dad has a ton of acting experience. So what was that feeling like for you, Tucson

It's fun. That's really good. Very, very fun. And as it should be

And I'm glad to hear that because the play is a difficult play to be in

There are a lot of really difficult themes and social issues. So I'm really glad to hear that you had fun with your dad and you enjoyed the experience

And what about you, Camden? How was the experience of playing Travis Younger as well in a Raisin and the Son for you

It was just such an amazing opportunity, knowing that just at this young age, we're blessed with such a big role, just being able to be here and just connect, just not, like, just not be connected in the show, but actually in real life and how, like, we're all family in show and off show

And I really appreciate everybody, like, in the show, treating me as their son, even though I'm not their son in real life

but how they really make us feel like that and how it's just such an amazing opportunity

and how we all just have to get in the character. It's just amazing

Oh, wow. So you mentioned a good point because unlike Tucson, you are not the real life or one of Mr

Batiste's real life son. So how was that experience working with Mr. Batiste in the role of Travis

And what did you learn from him in your journey? an actor? Well, I just really thank Mr. Francois, even though I'm not his real son treating me as

if I were in real life and in the show. And I really appreciate him because he has taught me many

things of getting in the character and just making sure that we have to keep going and just

he's taught me a whole lot. That's really, really lovely to know Camden. I want to stick with you for

one other question, Camden, because as we were talking about before we got this interview started

you have film and television experience as well, and you have starred in P Valley, which is on

stars. But you're also going to be in a film that is slated for release next year in 2020

And it sounds amazing. Nicholas Cage will be in it. And I understand it's called Renfield

Can you tell us a little bit about that movie and your time working on set for the film Yes I really enjoyed playing well in Redenfield I played the role of Aunt Kids

And I just, and basically that role was me having to connect with my aunts as if they were my real pet

And playing with Nicholas Cage was just a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the experience

And it was a new one. how for you as an actor both doing things in television doing things in film and now being on off-Broadway and working in theater what is it about theater that you enjoy the most about theater

something that I think I really enjoy about theater is in acting how um doing film how you can like take a like different

takes over and over. I think that's just, I think that I just got so used to that

that I kind of brought it to theater and now I know that I have to, if I practice more

I can get it the first time and you, you know, mess up sometimes, but still just be able to

be a better person while doing it. That's a great point. And this question now is for you

kind of given what Camden has stated and having this be your first theatrical performance and

playing Travis on off-Broadway, what did you learn from Camden in order to better prepare for

this role? I learned that whatever, whatever happens, like if you, if you, if you mispronounce your

lines or something like that, you can always, you have to always keep going because, you know

this is a real live production. There are people out there watching you. And even though you

screw up sometimes, you just got to keep going. That's very wise advice. I think a lot of actors

watching this interview will take that to heart for their own performances. So thank you for

sharing that, Tucson. You know, a raisin in the sun is an age old tale. It's

It's one that, as I stated before, when I started this interview with you both, I read when I was young, not as young as you too, but I definitely read it when I was a teenager

And seeing the play on stage was a completely different experience and one that I will never forget

The performances were just superb. And I learned a lot having to see this live out on stage

What did you two take away from this story, not just playing the role of Travis, but the story overall

Is there anything you can tell us that you learned from this experience? I learned about a dream deferred

When a dream gets deferred, like as links and used in the poem, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun

Or does it fester like a sword and then run? Or does it explode

I don't know. I love that. I love Langston Hughes poem and that's also a poem that I read when I was young as well

And thank you for bringing that up to some because many people watching this might not know that the play was inspired by that poem

And it is a beautiful poem. And it's okay to not know

It's okay to not have the answer about dreams. And that's quite okay

Maybe you will figure that out as time goes up. time goes on and that's okay as well. What do you think, Camden, about that poem or anything else

about the play, the themes such as family and anything else about family that you learn playing

Travis? Something that I have been able to carry from this play to my real life is that even though

like the element of money is like very good and it can really help you in life, if you have

have good connections and love your family members and your relatives and just show respect to

one another, then the bond that you share with other people will always come out stronger

Hmm. More powerful. Very beautiful. I really like that. Thank you so much for sharing that, Camden

I want to switch gears a little bit away from the play and talk about YouTube because you're

both budding actors. You're on the rise, as is the title of my show here

with Broadway World. And there's so much about you that I loved just getting to discover and know

So for instance, Tucson, I understand you have so many amazing hobbies. You are a cook

And you also are an aspiring acrobat, which I am fascinated by. And you are an aspiring Lego master

So my first question has to do with Legos. I love Legos. And how does one become an aspiring Lego master

I mean, anyone can do it. It takes a little bit of practice

Like you need to know how the pieces fit together. And you can build if you just think about it you can build amazing things That that really how you become an aspiring Lego master So what the coolest thing that you made so far with Legos

I've made a Lego, I made tons of things. I've made jets, cars, trucks

I even made a Lego Tyrannosaurus Rex once. Oh my gosh. Very fragile

Wow. So how long does it take to make? a Lego Tyrannosaurus rats

I mean, if you're a fast builder like me, about one to two hours, maybe

That's it. No instructions. No instructions, just using your imagination. It only takes like one to two hours

Oh my goodness. You're better than I am because it would take me one to two days to son

to create a Tyrannosaurus wreck. So you seem to definitely be a Lego master

Now, can you do competitions? Is that a part of being a true Lego master

I've never been in a competition, but I will say I can

I can be in a competition and maybe went for a second and third. I mean, there are other Lego masters out there besides me who are probably better than I am

But I would love to compete in the competition. We would like to see that, Toussat

I really hope that that becomes. a part of your journey as a Lego master

And I also love the fact that you are an acrobat. So how did you get into acrobatics

I mean, I took gymnastics when I was very young, and then I stopped and I just escalated

from there. Wow. So what is that like in terms of being an acrobat and also competitions

Is that a part of what you aspire to do to be in acrobatic competitions at all

Like I said, I've never been in an acrobatic competition either. But I love to do cartwheels, one-handed handstands at home

three push-ups in a handstand. I can turn in a 360-degree angle in one handstand

One time I even did three in one. Wow. Now, do you do this with your dad at all

Or do you both practice acrobatics, or is it just you? Well, sometimes, well, we had this thing when we used to, I don't know what happened with it, but we used to do pushups

I would do a certain number of pushups and then daddy had to follow

Oh, so who did? Morning routine that I like to do in the morning

That's great. How many push-ups can you and your dad do at the same time

I can do probably 50. Oh, that's a lot. that's more than me. That's quite a lot. Well, you are certainly accomplished Tucson. Thank you so much

for those lovely answers. I'm going to throw my question in the same realm of athletics to Camden

So Camden, I understand that you are a junior black belt in Taekwondo. So congratulations, that is a huge accomplishment

How did you get started in the martial art form of Taekwondo

Well, I actually started taekwondo about to say a little bit before I started acting

And I started taekwondo when I was in Tennessee at West Side Taekwondo

And it was really hard at first. But I learned a lot of things and techniques that I could use in real life situations

And I do tend to spar with my dad at home. and sometimes and I tried to teach my little brother things too but I soon have a test to come up for my

solid black belt and I am hoping to like place because I because when I was in West Side

Saquendo when I did a test I got the like I was like number one of the year and I had got a

like a really tall trophy was like about my height and and I have like pictures of me standing

next to it and I really feel like taekwondo has really helped me like in exercising and being

consistent and really just helping me be a better person and integrity and honesty and everything

it really has had a major impact on my life. Are there any other martial arts you would like to

get into besides Taekwondo? If there's any type of martial arts I get into besides

Taekwondo, it would be no martial arts because I kind of like

Taekwondo a whole lot, but not saying that I would not want to try

in other forms of martial arts, which maybe soon I will, maybe soon I might switch over to another type of martial arts, but my goal is

My goal for martial art is to go one by one. So once I get my like once I get my degree in taekwondo then I probably switch to karate And then I probably switch to something else And then once I master all of it That my martial arts call You need to try Brazilian Jiu I probably will

I heard it's really fun from my friend Toussaint. So Toussaint, for you

what was the moment you decided to become an actor? My dad inspired me to, the whole cast really inspired me to be an actor

How so? Well, they taught me a lot of stuff, like not to give up and stuff like that

And I was like, I really want to do what my dad does because he makes it look like he's nothing

I agree. I wanted to try that and I have a few other things that I want to try too

I agree. What are the other things you would like to try, Tucson? Well, what I'm going to, what my plan in life is going, is, well, I want to act into, I go to Broadway

and then I'm going to go to the moon and the real moon or Mars, and then I'll come back

and then I'll be a paleontologist, a scientist who digs with dinosaur bones and studies

So I want to learn in paleontology and astronomy. me and then I'm going to go be an actor from time

That is amazing, Tucson. I love all of those things. What is it about paleontology that you like

That's very interesting. I'm already a dinosaur expert. I can name a lot of dinosaurs

He's great with dinosaurs. Really? What is your favorite dinosaur? Scorpius Rex

I have never heard. It's a hybrid. A hybrid. But if you don't include hybrids, I'd probably say paris oalophysus or pachycephalus or even carnators

For you, Camden, when did you decide to become an actor? I actually decided to become an actor, right

When I was about to turn five, I think like a few months before I turned five

but I was watching TV and I saw a guy playing on TV and I told my mom I wanted, I thought my mom I wanted to be an actor and she's been like my biggest support ever since

And she's always just been there to help help me in auditions

And she's always just been my biggest support. And I feel like without her, I wouldn't be here right now

and she has also really helped me to become a better person along with my other physical activities

But she is just really nice and she has carried me a long way, along with my dad and my little brother

who will soon be three next month, well this month on Saturday. And I just really thankful for my whole family and their support and what they've done for me

Do you both have any advice for young actors who may want to be in your shoes and become an actor themselves and be on off Broadway, Broadway, television, film, etc.

I think the most important thing they should know is if they want to be an actor, everybody out there who wants to be an actor, just remember to keep going

follow your dream keep going wonderful how about you Camden coming from me

I say hello to everybody who wants to be an actor and probably just

no matter how hard it gets just keep on going and whenever you feel like giving up

just remember why you want to be an actor and just why you want to

what is your goal or if, because if you don't keep going, that goal will never get accomplished

And you have to just know that you have to have that support

And you have to just have that will to keep going and not give up, no matter how

what people tell you, you have to follow your dreams in the sky's blue

So thank you both, Toussaint and Camden. You are lovely and it is so nice to meet

you. Congratulations on this role that you're still currently performing in and have achieved

And we look forward to seeing what's next for you both in your careers

Thank you. Thank you. You're so welcome. And thank you all for watching this episode of

On the Rise with Candace Cordelia here at Broadway World. Please before the last performance

run it to the public theater to watch a Raisin in the Sun. It's in New York City. You don't

want to miss this. It is fabulous. It is moving. And I think everyone should watch this. And it will be an

experience that you will not forget. And thank you once again for tuning in to this episode

And please stay tuned for more here at Broadway World. I'm your host, Candace Cordelia. And until

then, I'll see you later