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Some people’s profiles are like “I like theatre. I hope you do too,” which gives me nothing, and others are like, “Here are the top 100 things to know about me.” I think I would be hard pressed to come up with 100 things that I honestly thought you’d be interested to know about me. So here’s a happy medium:
I’ve been involved in theatre since I was a kid growing up in a medium-sized Midwestern town. I was active in theatre throughout high school, mostly as an actor and a pianist. I came out as a homo at the tender age of 17, and my theatre friends barely blinked an eye—and I quickly learned that theatre geeks were the ones I wanted to hang out with.
In college, I studied for two years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. At the time, SMU was a great training program for classical acting, but didn’t have a musical theatre program, and, as I was mostly being cast in musicals outside the theatre department, I eventually transferred to the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, and earned a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.
Most summers throughout college I did a season of summer stock in places like Nebraska, Colorado and St. Louis, doing fun shows like Greater Tuna, 110 in the Shade, and Something’s Afoot, among many others.
After graduating from college I spent a wonderful year and a half as an intern at the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, in Santa Maria, CA (now most famous for hosting the Michael Jackson trial) making next to nothing, cementing lifelong friendships, playing great roles in fun shows (Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Will Parker in Oklahoma), and gaining lots of valuable experience, as well as credit toward my Equity card.
After a quick Christmas cabaret in Ashland, OR, I headed to the Big Apple to forge my way there. Again, my most significant employment was doing summer stock in places like Pennsylvania and Vermont. In New York City I mostly did readings of weird musicals that never went anywhere (one was about the inception of Weight Watchers), as well as a show or two in Brooklyn and a couple of independent films. As I look back on the experience, it was a great time, but I now understand the phrase “youth is wasted on the young…”
While in New York, I stumbled upon a great gig as a keyboardist for the mid-90s Broadway revival of Grease. A friend, Steven Freeman, was the regular keyboardist and invited me to sit in the pit with him one night. After looking over his shoulder at the music, I felt confident I could play the score. I joined the musicians union, and subbed for Steve pretty consistently in the pit. As he was the “understudy” for the conductor, I got to play if Steve was out, or if the conductor was out.
I continued to work in mostly union houses as a non-union performer until I was finally offered my Equity card. It was at that point that I made the difficult, but honest decision that I probably didn’t have the goods to take that next step.
I reluctantly gave up that long sought after dream, and eventually ended up in San Francisco. After several theatre-free years, I started getting involved in the Bay Area theatre scene as a musician.
After eight years in San Francisco, my partner’s job has taken us to a University town in North Central Florida. We’ve both been involved in the theatre scene here, and, as has been a lifelong theme, have made great friends and have gained wonderful experience.
Man in Chair came about after reading a few articles about blogging, and taking some valuable advice from a friend about following your passion. Theatre is my passion. After 39 years on this earth, I’ve finally come to realize that theatre is in my life to stay. I just have to be open to the various incarnations it inhabits.
Joe and I try to get to New York at least once a year to do one of those nine-shows-in-eight-days marathons. We’re definitely due, and since I’ve started writing Man In Chair and vicariously immersing myself in the New York theatre scene, I am longing more and more to be in the midst of that world again.
As Man In Chair has evolved, it has settled into a mix of theatre news peppered with entertainment for theatre geeks (like Theatre Geek TV, What I Learned from Musical Theatre and the Theatre Puzzles from [title of show]. I do make a tremendous effort to find news stories that might not make the main sites, (like playbill.com and broadwayworld.com) that will still be of interest to geeks like myself.
I have always been attracted to the fringe of popular culture, and as I’ve written before I like to go to films or theatre that I don’t know much about in the hopes of finding a gem that I can then share with others of the same ilk. Man In Chair is my new venue for that compulsion, and I hope that its readers are entertained, informed, and surprised by what they find here.
Hmmm….that actually may be 100 things. Enough about me. Enjoy Man In Chair.
Hey–
I stumbled on your blog via the stats from the A&F site, which I run. I’m glad you enjoyed GLORIOUS ONES, and I also think it’s great that you are in some way following your passion. I guess doing the A&F site is my way of doing that, b/c my “real job”, sadly, has nothing to do with theater.
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and say I’ll be reading your blog.
Ronni
Hi,
Was looking for MacBeth tickets and found you. Like water in a dry dry place, very refreshing to meet someone with your point of view. I am from Jamaica, and well I dare to arrange excursions to the theatre every chance I get. Which is by no means an easy feat, but is more than worth the expense.
I have long held this love for all things of the stage, I congratulate you and hope that your passion is never dimmed.
Much love,
Nats
I GOOGLEd looking for more information on the Pasadena Playhouse production premiering during their current season and found your website. What a fabulous life you have had so far! At least it seems that way to me as I see it from my side of the fence. Living in Philadelphia makes New York an easy day trip for theatre and such. Best of luck to you in your future efforts. I’ll keep checking back to your blog.