Andrew Wilson’s presence is unmistakable the instant you meet him. Not just because of his commanding skill as a dancer and puppeteer, but because of the genuine warmth and honesty he offered to our conversation. Currently touring with the national production of Life of Pi, Wilson’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and a deep-rooted connection to South Jersey.
Though Wilson now calls New York City home, his ties to New Jersey run deep. “My mom was born in Philadelphia and then moved to a town called Somerdale,” he shared. “I have cousins scattered all around Camden County.” His childhood memories are filled with visits to South Jersey landmarks: “Stone Harbor, the West Deptford Mall, Haddonfield for their Thanksgiving parade — it was all so enchanting to me.”
Even now, Wilson’s affection for the area is palpable. “I have massive love for South Jersey and Philly. You have no idea,” he said. Recalling his many trips to the area during his youth, “Driving the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you knew you were getting close to Philly when KYW News Radio 1060 would start coming on. It was like music to my little ears.”
Despite growing up in Grove City, Pennsylvania — a town he describes as “infamously conservative” — Wilson always felt a pull toward the vibrancy and inclusivity of the Philadelphia region. “I couldn’t wait to get out. My favorite place in Pittsburgh is the airport,” he joked. “But Philadelphia, I adore. The Gayborhood is my favorite. We always start at Knock and end up at the Bike Stop,” Wilson shared with a wry smile.
Wilson’s path to the stage wasn’t straightforward. “I always wanted to be a dancer and a performer, but I didn’t see any men doing that,” he said. “I had never met an out gay person.” That changed when he moved to New York at 18 to live with his aunt. “It saved my life,” he said. “Within three months, I met my first out gay people and came out of the closet. That’s when my performing arts career really began.”
He deferred college, packed his bags, and took a leap of faith. “My aunt was one of the first people who really saw me,” he recalled. “She came to visit during my high school musical, and everything changed.”
Wilson’s journey to Life of Pi was as unexpected as it was transformative. After a period of depression and self-doubt during the pandemic, he sought healing through a psychedelic retreat in Peru. “I was horribly depressed. The performing arts had taken a nap, and I hadn’t performed in a while,” he said. “I signed up for an ayahuasca retreat in Cusco.”
While in Peru, a friend sent him an audition notice for a puppeteering role in Life of Pi. “I sent in a little submission of me doing some puppeteering and movement,” he said. “I didn’t think anything would come of it.” But the universe had other plans. “I got an email saying the team wanted to see me — an hour after I landed back at JFK from my retreat. It felt like a sign.”
He walked into the audition with a new mindset. “I didn’t have time for my ego to get in the way. I just showed up. And it felt electric.” Days later, he was offered the role of Richard Parker, the tiger.
Portraying a tiger on stage is no small feat. “We’re a team of eight puppeteers, and we rotate roles. When I play Richard Parker, I’m usually the tail,” Wilson explained. “We all make the sounds together. It’s like a sound bath—we learn how to growl from the gut.”
But Richard Parker is more than just a puppet. “Some people view Richard Parker as Pi himself. So when Pi says, ‘I hate you, Richard Parker,’ it’s like saying, ‘I hate you, Andrew.’ And by the end, Pi says, ‘I love you completely.’ It’s a journey of self-acceptance.”
Wilson sees the tiger as a metaphor for the wild, untamed parts of ourselves. “Richard Parker represents your wild potential and how scary it can be. I’ve always been scared of my potential, of the ferocious being inside me. But he also represents the pure, childlike self — the part of you that’s just hungry, tired, and honest.”
Despite his standout role, Wilson remains devoted to ensemble work. “I love being in the ensemble. It’s everything to me,” he said. “Even the principals in our show become puppeteers. It’s about serving the work.”
He’s not chasing the spotlight. “I don’t have a dream role. I just love being part of something bigger than myself. The ensemble is the foundation of a good show.”
Wilson is also passionate about representation and inclusivity in theater. “Theater is often a safe space, especially for younger people,” he said. “But it still has glass ceilings to break. We need to stop using ageist, sexist, and gender-conforming language.”
He praised productions like Life of Pi for embracing gender fluidity. “We have a female understudy for Pi, and when she performs, Richard Parker becomes ‘she.’ It doesn’t take anything away from the story — it enhances it.”
He also highlighted the importance of queer visibility. “Jinkx Monsoon is a perfect example. She doesn’t apologize for anything. She just shows up and serves the role.”
Offstage, Wilson is just as vibrant. “I love coffee shops, hiking, solo travel, and museums,” he said. “I always have a deck of tarot or oracle cards backstage. I’m kind of known for that.”
He recently got a tiger tattoo on his leg — an homage to Richard Parker. “Most of my tattoos are from Philly. There’s a great shop on South Street I always go to.”
And yes, he’s still a gymnast. “I’ll still go to gymnastics classes. I love figure skating too. Michelle Kwan is my idol. She came to see the show in LA, and I cried. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met.”
As the tour brought Life of Pi to Philadelphia, Wilson was excited to reconnect with family and the city he loves. “We were in Philly for two weeks. I’ll visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see “The Gross Clinic”. It’s one of my favorite paintings.”
When asked what advice he’d give to LGBTQ artists, Wilson didn’t hesitate. “Be honest with yourself. Find the spark that makes you feel better when you’re just with yourself. That’s where your power is.”
He added, “Theater is ahead of many industries, but we still have work to do. It takes adults being mindful of their language and young artists expressing what they need to thrive.”
Wilson’s time with Life of Pi is winding down, but the impact of the show — and the tiger — will stay with him forever. With his tiger tattoo, his South Jersey roots, and his unwavering spirit, Wilson is a force to be reckoned with — on stage and off.
