Kevin Aponte is having a banner season on Triangle stages — from delighting young audiences in “The Wheels on the Bus,” to tackling sharp comedy in “The Thanksgiving Play,” to gearing up for the festive “Heart of Christmas Cabaret.” We caught up with the Raleigh-based performer, director, and sound designer to talk local theater, holiday spirit, and the best barbecue in North Carolina.

Top three local venues

Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre at NCSU. Aponte said that set designer Jayme Mellema is "absolute genius."
DPAC. Aponte loves this regional touring theater and said he would love to perform there.
Theater Raleigh. Aponte hasn't performed there (yet), but he had nothing but praise. "They have this like infinitely transformable space that they have done so much with. They've turned it into a beautiful diner for 'Waitress.' They've turned it into a very smoky, almost concert hall for 'Jersey Boys.' They've turned it into the beach right now for 'Once on This Island,' sand and all."

Young theater-goers

Raleigh Little Theater's “Wheels on the Bus” is back by popular demand. As the star of the show, Aponte has some thoughts about why he thinks this play resonated with local families.

Aponte's immediate response? "The title! It's a recognizable song. I think Ms. Rachel has done us a lot of good by bringing this song back into popularity."

Kids get up close and personal during this production of "The Wheels on the Bus," starring Kevin Aponte | Photo courtesy of Raleigh Little Theater

Aponte also credits the writer, Ernie Nolan, for making the play so interactive. "When you're doing theater for very young audiences, getting them involved is the best way to make a lasting impression."

Where would the bus stop in Raleigh?

Aponte may just play Bert the bus driver, but if he really drove the bus, he'd be making two stops:

Marbles Kids Museum. "I'm 100% going to Marbles. It's a very fun kids museum, and it teaches a lot of different things."
Dix Park. "A great play space. They actually just opened up like a 17-acre playground."

Best spots to get into the holiday spirit

Up next for Aponte? "The Heart of Christmas." "Christmas became a thing for me here in Raleigh," Aponte said, and he had two recommendations for our readers:

North Hill Tree Lighting. For Aponte, this is "a must" for its gorgeous tree and performances.
Lighting displays. Aponte couldn't pick one. His pro tip? "If you find one, stop."

The play that sticks with him

We talked about "26 Pebbles" with the Justice Theater Project. Aponte remembers this one-act play about the Sandy Hook community because it allowed him to connect with his audience.

Director Brian Yandle told Aponte not to force emotion: "If you cry, that's okay, but don't force it, because it will be noticeable."

Aponte took that advice to heart. He said, "There were nights where I would be telling this story, and I would just see someone else in the audience catch a tear, and that's what would get me. It was that sharing of emotion back and forth. ... It was a shared experience more than it was performative."

Kevin Aponte served in the Navy, attended culinary school, and worked in several industries before the theater scene scooped him up. | Photo courtesy of Kevin Aponte

Favorite spots in Raleigh

Aponte couldn't finish the interview without shouting out some of his favorite local spots. Here are his top picks:

Best barbecue: Longleaf Swine. He said it's the best brisket in North Carolina, but he also loves the story behind the restaurant. "It’s run by two guys who have been best friends since they were kids, and I feel like that vibe exists in their food."
Best bookstore: According to Aponte, Reader’s Corner is where you’re going to get the best selection. Quail Ridge is the prettiest.
Best ice cream: Fresh on Glenwood. "Hands down. I’ve been on a mission to find the best ice cream in town, and it is Fresh at a very far number one."

Where to catch Aponte in the act

"The Wheels on the Bus." Aponte will be playing Bert the Bus Driver until the show closes on Sunday, Nov. 23
"The Thanksgiving Play." Catch this comedy before it closes on Sunday, Nov. 23.
"The Heart of Christmas." Mark your calendars for this play running Dec. 11-14.