Catching Up on the Acting Front

I hadn't realized that I had left this blog neglected for more than 5 years. This post will catch you up on the shows I've done in that stretch.

Shipoopi

In 2011, I played Marcellus in "The Music Man" at Garland Summer Musicals. The role is actually a tenor, but there were only two lines in "Shipoopi" that were above my range, so I did a little talk-singing to get through it. 

Mr. Laurence

Spring 2012 found me expanding my age range to play Mr. Laurence in "Little Women" at Rockwall Community Playhouse. This was the play, not the musical. The pic shows me with gray hair, but we changed it to white. I didn't get any pics with it that way. This was also when I had lost a lot of weight thanks to my marathon training and watching my eating. Alas, I have not kept the weight off.

Mr. Gatch

Mr. Toynbee

Just a few months after that, I was back on the boards at Garland Summer Musicals in the roles of Mr. Gatch & Mr. Toynbee. I had wanted to do this show for awhile, so that was nice. The only disappointment was that because of my dual roles, I wound up not getting to be in any musical numbers other than the opening. Because of the amount of gel that I had to use to get my hair slicked back and stay that way through Act 1, I had to take a shower as soon as I left the stage for the last time as Mr. Gatch. Then, the Director wanted me back as Gatch for the Curtain Call, so I had to pile it one again. My hair was fried, and I had to use baking powder on it to get all the residue out.

In Summer 2013, I got the opportunity to play one of my dream roles: John Adams in "1776". I was cast in the lead role at Rockwall Summer Musicals and enjoyed every minute of it. The only drawback to RSM is that shows only run one weekend for 4 performances. With the exception of the ponytail, which was an extension, the rest of the hair you see in the pics is all mine.

I took Summer 2014 off, but I got back up there in the Fall with my second ever production of "Rumors" by Neil Simon. Like the first time, this show was at Rockwall Community Playhouse. The difference was that this time, I was cast in the lead role of Lenny Ganz. I don't have any pictures from this one.



I don't know when I'll do my next show, but when I do, I promise to keep you informed.

The Joy of Community Theatre

I got a phone call at 6pm from the guy who plays one of the Wickersham Brothers in our production of Seussical. He said he had been throwing up all day and wouldn't be able to make tonight's show.

Well, we don't actually have a Stage Manager (whose problem it should have been), so I had to handle it. For those not familiar with the show, there are supposed to be three Wickersham Brothers, so it shouldn't be that big of a problem. You just shift a little placement. Maybe make sure some lines in songs are covered.

BUT, we only had 2 Wickersham Brothers.

It's really tough to make many things work with only one of them.

The only solution (because we are teen/adult male deficient in the chorus as well) was for me to step in. This is on top of already portraying General Schmitz and Yertle the Turtle.

So, I had to learn the dances to 2 songs (thankfully VERY easy steps) and the music on one of them.

Normally, this wouldn't have been a big issue, but I've been fighting a cold for about a week and a half. I nearly lost my voice completely during my big solo as General Schmitz, but I soldiered through and managed to get everything out all the way to the end of the show.

I am coming out of a long string of theatre work. Starting with last summer at Garland Summer Musicals, I've been involved pretty much non-stop and won't be getting a break until The Philadelphia Story closes April 19th. After GSM, I taught Children's Theatre camp at KCCT. Following that, I directed Brighton Beach Memoirs, directed and acted in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, played Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and finally played the lead role of Mike Connor in The Philadelphia Story.

I am the most burned out on theatre that I have ever been. I have my audition for GSM tonight, but I am looking forward to the period from April 20 until rehearsals start for GSM. I should be looking at a little over a month's respite. That's assuming I even get cast for Damn Yankees.

After that, we're taking a family trip to Michigan in July. Then, I may do whatever musical KCCT is doing next season (it's still not decided but we are leaning toward The Music Man), but I'm not planning on directing anything or doing any other shows in the near future.

Of course, that doesn't mean I won't wind up involved in a show. Just that I'm not planning anything right now.

Children's Theatre, Day Two

We had a pretty good day on Tuesday. We did a couple of more acting exercises, and I taught the kids about character development. After that, we held auditions for this year's show. Letting everyone read who wanted took a long time. Especially with some kids who can barely read, or who cannot read at all.

On the technical side, I discovered that the reason I couldn't get the stage lights to come on was because the breaker switch for the dimmer packs was off. Also, I figured out how to record on my computer using an external microphone, so we'll be able to do some things that I wasn't sure we'd be able to handle.

Today, we start blocking the show.

Children's Theatre, Day One

I am teaching the Children's Theatre camp at KCCT this summer. Burning about a whole week of vacation to do it, too. Missing a chance of a lifetime as well (although it might not be gone completely). Today was the first day. If my brain hasn't completely lost its functioning, I believe I have 26 kids ranging from Age 6 to 16.

We had a pretty good first day. The attention spans of some of the younger ones leave a little to be desired, but I guess that's to be expected. I've been a little spoiled. My #2 daughter is the youngest camper, and she behaved exceptionally, so I think the other kids should, too.

I am exhausted. It's time for a shower and then to bed. I am working half-days and teaching the camp in the afternoons, so I have to get up and drive downtown again in the morning.

Is there a future for Community Theatre?

I've been having an e-mail discussion with a friend of mine. I have posited the theory that in areas in and close to major cities, such as Dallas, the concept of "Community Theatre" may be past its time. The folks who used to be the backbone of such endeavors have become too busy with other things, e.g. their kids' soccer games & practices, their kids' baseball or softball games & practices, their kids' piano/ballet/karate lessons, activities related to church, etc. We've heard stories about the "over-programming" of our children's lives. What seems to be lost in many of those discussions is the necessary result of leaving adults with very little time to pursue hobbies or interests of their own.

Maybe there is still room for the Community Theatre. However, in order to survive, I believe they can't demand an inordinate amount of people's time. It's a double-edged sword. If you use local talent, it really takes more rehearsal to put up a good show, but those folks are the ones who don't have the time to commit to several week's of rehearsal. If you start using more of the regular theatre talent, you lose the nature of being a Community Theatre.

I may be completely wrong about the futility of Community Theatre in big cities and their suburbs. I'm not usually pessimistic about anything, but I'm pretty firm in my opinion on this. I'd love to hear some theories or explanations to the contrary.