From a Minnesota Ballet prodigy to a Duluth Playhouse favorite, Antony Ferguson has spent nearly his entire life on stage. This month, he steps into one of his most energetic roles yet as Ogie in “Waitress.”
Duluth native and Denfeld High School grad Antony Ferguson started with the Minnesota Ballet at the incredibly young age of 3 years old. Staying for the next 16 years, he took classes and performed in showcases, “The Nutcracker,” and other ballets.
“Performing in front of an audience is a great feeling, and that was enough to keep me at ballet in my early years,” said Ferguson. “Honestly, however, I really didn’t like going to ballet until I was in maybe 6th or 7th grade (and all my teachers knew it).”
He acknowledged, “At some point, however, I decided to start trying, and I began to appreciate the work that it took, as well as the thrill of performance, especially in varying roles.”
“When I’m able, I try to give myself ballet class or take adult ballet at the Minnesota Ballet to maintain my skills. I sometimes teach dance at the Playhouse, and I often serve as a dance captain when I’m in the ensemble of a musical,” he added.
‘I think I owe a lot of my resilience and drive to my teachers at the Minnesota Ballet. Ballet is an intense and athletic art form that requires a lot of dedication, and my instructors never let us forget it. My time at the ballet really set me up for success, in both mentality and the skills important to succeed in the dance and physicality theatre asks for.”
Switching Focus from Ballet to Acting
Antony decided to stay in Duluth for college and received his Bachelor of Arts from UMD in May of 2020, with a major in theatre and a minor in applied dance. At UMD, he acted in several shows including “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Sister Act,” and “The Little Prince.”
“Once I began acting in college, I quickly began to appreciate getting into character; getting the chance to feel different things and to have experiences outside of your own is a huge reason why I keep acting. The feeling that I’ve done a good job and connected with the audience is important to me,” he explained.
Since graduating from college, he has built a wide-ranging resume in acting roles in over fifteen shows at the Duluth Playhouse, including most recently in “The Light in the Piazza,” “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong,” ”Jersey Boys,” “9 to 5 the Musical,” and “Next to Normal.”
“There are a lot of roles I’m proud to have played, many of which I feel like I did well, but I’m always trying to do better… It’s the shows where my personal goals and the intended effect of the show align that feel the best, where I know I’ve done a good job in service of what the audience should be taking away from the production.”
“I’m currently looking to expand the directing side of my resume, but don’t intend to stop performing anytime soon,” he said. “My eyes are on grad school in the next couple of years.”
Paying the Bills
Like many artists who work several jobs to keep afloat, Antony is no exception. He currently works as a server at Olive Garden and as a representative for member services at the Duluth Family YMCA. He has also previously worked as a legal assistant and a service advocate at Target.
Taking many arts-oriented jobs, including directing at Denfeld High School, UMD, and the Hillside Youth Theatre, has also broadened his resume. Antony has also taught many different styles of dance for the Duluth Playhouse and UMD.
Loving Duluth as a Supportive Arts Town
“Duluth feels like an oasis for the arts; a lot of support exists in a city this size, and I’ve always been grateful for that,” Ferguson said.
He noted, “I’m always excited for the next opportunity, excited to work with all the talented people, and excited to be a part of producing meaningful and exciting theatre in Duluth.”
Colorful Role in “Waitress”
His next role at the Playhouse is in the cast of “Waitress.” Ferguson is playing Oklahoma ‘Ogie’ Herbert Eincorn, who is described as “a 32-year-old asthmatic tax auditor, who drives a subcompact Toyota Yaris. He loves his mother and has all his hair, as well as a passion for poetry, Pavarotti, and puzzles. He is also an amateur magician, does competitive clog dancing, and only eats white food on Wednesdays.
“My main goal in ‘Waitress’ is to make Ogie as lovable as possible; his songs and scenes are funny and endearing, so hopefully this isn’t too tall a task,” he explained. “I’ve had roles of varying sizes throughout my career, but I’d say Ogie is one that definitely fits the idea of a ‘princess track,’ a lot of recognition for very little stage time.”
He says that the song “Never Ever Getting Rid Of Me” is his most challenging moment in this show, as it combines a high tessitura, nonstop lyrics, and physical effort.
“One of the things that makes me really excited about playing Ogie is the opportunity to use a lot of energy on stage. I don’t always have the space to let loose in a role, and I’m happy to have the chance to feel like I’m bouncing off the ceiling with what this role demands.”
Information about the Duluth Playhouse Production of “Waitress”
Directed/Choreographed by Ann Bergeron
Music Direction by Elise Santa
“Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and a rocky marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop until a baking contest and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she’s been missing all along — courage.” (From Duluth Playhouse website)
LOCATION
NorShor Theatre
211 E Superior St. Duluth, MN 55802
DATES
July 11-27, 2025
Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm
Sun Matinees at 2 pm
ASL Interpretation July 25 at 7:30 pm
Audio Description July 13 at 2 pm
TICKETS
The Playhouse is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
On show dates, the Box Office opens at 5:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. for matinees.
Box Office: (218) 733-7555 or boxoffice@duluthplayhouse.org
Purchase Online Tickets Here
