Astoria Actor

When George Costacos first came to the United States, it was only supposed to be for a short time. But, 25 years later, steady work in acting has made it difficult for him to leave.
Costacos came from Athens, Greece in 1983 and began staying with an aunt and attending school, although the performing arts were not his focus at the time.
“I was not interested in acting,” Costacos, a resident of Astoria, said. “I went to college to study physical education and therapy because I was a champion gymnast so that seemed to be a natural progression.”
While at Hunter College, Costacos had to take an elective and decided on Greek theatre, knowing that it would be easy for him to get an A in.
“I did not know that it would wake up in me things that I dreamed about when I was a little kid,” said Costacos, who worked at his uncle’s open air cinema as a child. “I always loved the theatre and I loved the movies.”
To explore those feelings of interest even more, Costacos took an introduction to acting class. He decided to get away from the acting temptation and transferred to Queens College. While a student there, a friend asked Costacos to go with them to an audition for a dance concert for moral support.
As Costacos was sitting in the waiting room, a woman came out and insisted that he dance, even after her told her he didn’t dance. Costacos said that as a gymnast he used dance to warm up and so it was just a matter of following the steps.
From there, Costacos was cast in the dance concert. That spurred more acting opportunities and he soon found himself working straight for four years, eventually changing his major to theatre.
“I never stopped working,” Costacos said. “It just happened. That’s how I ended up staying in New York, because of the work.”
A member of Actors’ Equity, Costacos has now performed in various straight dramas and musicals and also does a great deal of concert work. His credits include “Greek Gift,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “The Emigrants,” among others.
To date, Costacos’ most memorable job was when he was part of the opening ceremony performance for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
“I was the only member of Actors’ Equity … to be invited to perform in the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics,” he said. “It was amazing. I’m very honored they sought me out.”
Costacos said the entire cast of the opening ceremony totaled about 3,000 people. There was a segment of 300 professionals that brought Greek history to life. Costacos was a fencer during a part that showed the revival of the modern Olympics.
Costacos has now been participating on MetroStar Talent Challenge, which is a competition for professional Broadway and cabaret performers.
“It’s nice because it challenges me,” Costacos said. “The win is doing your best job. That’s the win of every situation.”
In collaboration with musical director Seth Weinstein, Costacos is now putting together a new one-man show that will highlight the best of Broadway. He said that they hope to have it on stage by October.
“This show is about basically my love affair with Broadway,” Costacos said.
For more information about Costacos, visit www.GeorgeCostacos.com.