MAN FROM ‘ATLANTA’
‘Mormon’ alum Brian Tyree Henry embraces the deep South
SERIES PREMIERE. Two young men who need to grow up real fast are the subject of FX’s new drama “Atlanta.” Earnest Marks (Donald Glover) and his cousin, Alfred Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), have music business aspirations. Alfred is a rapper with one hit to his name and Earnest thinks he can jump-start his own sad life by managing his career. “How” is the question. As seen in Tuesday’s back-to-back debut episodes, this duo finds itself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Henry, 34, who played The General in the original cast of “The Book of Mormon,” knows Atlanta. He went to school there, graduating with a degree in theater arts from Morehouse College and eventually receiving his MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He spoke to The Post about the South, Broadway and his surprising hobby: collecting pins.
How long were you n “Th Book o Mormon”?
I workshopped it for two years. I did it on Broadway for three.
Did you get tired of it?
Actually, no. Because I get to go out there and say “c-- t” on Broadway and watch the audience laugh every single day. It was great being lifted from the ground up and making that character who he is.
is “Atlanta” your rst Hollywood experience?
As far as being the lead on a series, yes.
What do you think so far?
I love it. That’s the great thing about being an actor: getting the opportunity to do something that really speaks to you. Every day I was filming in Atlanta, I said I’m not going to work; I’m going to be with my friends.
On “Atlanta,” which cousin’s more talented, Alfred or Earnest?
Well, clearly me! I am not only talented in rap but I have a found a way to go out and make a living. I have my own apartment! Earnest doesn’t have an apartment. But he sees the potential in me and brings it out in me. Which is even more important.
Dd you like filming in the South?
I love Atlanta. I was born in North Carolina. Fayetteville, North Carolina. That’s what I love about Atlanta. Even though it’s further South, it still feels like it’s ours. It feels like we created this metropolis of creativity. It’s black-owned and black-run. That’s what we do as a people that’s so great. We just create these communities that welcome anyone. We’re used to being turned away from different communities. We’re good at making communities that are welcoming.
What are your hobbies?
I’m a huge pin collector. One of my favorite pins right now is of Dan Conner [of “Roseanne”], who is one of my favorite characters on television. They’re on my hats, my shirts and my bag. I have a pin of “Sick Sad World,” the show Daria used to watch. —