May 4, 2023

For Colton Royce, a 2013 graduate of Seneca’s Acting for Camera & Voice (ACV) program, that’s what work looks like these days since he landed a role in Netflix’s upcoming eight-episode miniseries The Madness. 

The conspiracy thriller stars American actor, playwright and director Colman Domingo, who has appeared in HBO’s Euphoria for which he’s won the Emmy, AMC’s The Walking Dead, and most recently completed production on Warner Bros.’ The Color Purple.

After stumbling upon a murder deep in the Poconos woods, Muncie Daniels (played by Mr. Domingo) must fight for his innocence … and his life. Mr. Royce plays Officer Dahill, a tough and gritty police officer from Philadelphia, who is skeptical of Mr. Domingo’s character.

“Working with Colman was like being in a masterclass,” said Mr. Royce. “To share a scene with an Emmy Award-winning actor of his calibre brought out the best in me as an actor.” 

After high school, Mr. Royce knew he wanted to become a screen actor but had his reservations about applying to a major theatre school. 

“I wanted to be in movies and TV shows, and I saw that Seneca offered a camera and voice acting program that also touched on the basics of theatre,” said Mr. Royce. “The program had the best of both worlds. I learned the foundations of acting on stage and how to perform in front of the camera.”  

At Seneca, Mr. Royce absorbed skills that he credits for his success today. He says that teamwork and applying learned concepts, such as adaptability and building on-screen chemistry, remain some of the most vital teachings from the ACV program. The guidance, encouragement and industry experience provided by his instructors were also invaluable. 

“The foundations that I learned at Seneca have guided me throughout my career,” said Mr. Royce. “The mentorship that I received was also vital for me to understand what I needed to do to be successful in this industry.”

“Colton was a great student; enthusiastic, ambitious and professional,” says Julia Paton, Professor and Interim Program Coordinator, ACV. “I cast him in The Servant of Two Masters for the Fringe Festival at the Factory Theatre. He was delightful and inventive in the play. He was a joy to teach and direct!”

From voice warm up and auditioning techniques, to learning how to edit and present a demo reel, the ACV program offered courses and techniques that prepared Mr. Royce for life as an actor. Aside from his work in The Madness, which will be released in 2024, he has starred in several television shows, including the hit series The Boys. Currently, Mr. Royce is busy working on a thriller which will stream on a platform owned by FOX. 

“Use this time to try different ideas and techniques that might work for you,” he said. “You'll fail more than you’ll succeed, so become comfortable making mistakes because, as an actor, you'll make plenty along the way — it's all about how you bounce back.”