My 2012-2013 Theatre Season

Well, yesterday I accepted what I have to assume will be my last show in the 2012-2013 theatre season. I mean, I guess I could squeeze something else in during April/May/June, but I also always like to leave time for a little family vacation in the Spring. Even at that, things will be falling hard upon each other from here until the last curtain falls in March. I'll probably just need a break.

September 28th to November 4th, 2012
City Lit Theatre

FRANKENSTEIN
by Mary Shelly
adapted by Bo List
Directed by Terry McCabe

Frankenstein, an instant best seller and an important ancestor of both the terror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation, genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.

As I've made more than clear, I'll be playing the Creature. I won't go on about it again.

January 5th to February 10th, 2013

a co-production of Stage Left Theatre and BoHo Theatre

PYGMALION

by George Bernard Shaw

Directed by Vance Smith

associate Director: Peter Robel

In this classic play that inspired the musical My Fair Lady, dialect expert Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can teach Cockney flower-girl Eliza Doolittle to pass as a “proper lady.” Stage Left teams with fellow Theater Wit Resident Company Boho Theatre to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first production of this timeless story.

I've been cast as Alfred Doolittle. I feel some sense of pride in the fact the I brought this show to Stage left. It's exciting to see it go up.

February 22nd to March 31st, 2013
City Lit Theatre

PEYTON PLACE
by Grace Metalious
World Premiere Adaptation by Paul Edwards
Directed by Paul Edwards

When Grace Metalious' debut novel about the dark underside of a small, respectable New England town was published in 1956, it quickly soared to the top of the bestseller lists with 60,000 copies sold within the first 10 days of its release. A landmark in twentieth-century American popular culture, Peyton Place spawned a successful feature film and a long-running television series - the first prime-time soap opera. 

I've been cast as Tom Makris...and I think it may provide one of my favorite lines I've ever gotten to say on stage. I laughed out loud when I read it..



I'm really happy about a number of things here. The most important thing, is that all of these roles are, very, very different. Not only emotionally, but the physical looks are gonna be miles apart. It's a great arc for my year of work.

We have the lyrical brutality of Frankenstein's Monster, which scares the crap out of me, because I, truly, don't know if I can pull it off. That alone makes it tremendously exciting for me. It's such an opportunity to show different facets of myself. Innocence, loneliness, betrayal, and love. It's a great part, and Bo List has managed to keep much of what I loved about the novel. Top that off, the brief make-up discussions I've been party to have been exciting in how extreme my look might end up being. So cool.

Then, the knowing hucksterism of Doolittle, and a chance to say a lot of things about class in society that I feel may be more on-the-nose than we'd like it to be. Plus, it's a hellishly funny part. A nice explosion outward from what, I think, will be a very internal performance as the Creature.

Ending with what I can only describe as my shot to play Don Draper. We go back internal, and a chance to be "Mr. Ruggedly Handsome." To indulge that sort of uber-masculinity that the 50's and 60's wallowed in. Plus, the pure sexuality of the whole story is gonna be great fun after two relatively sexless show, and it gets me that line I was talking about. I'm gonna need to order a whole case of Aqua-Velva.

I'm also happy to be back at City Lit, who's shown such faith and trust in me, and my work. Going all the way back to Puddin'head Wilson, through Dashiell Hamlet, and The Copperhead, they've bet on me a lot, and I'm happy to be part of this season, as they prepare for their move to Evanston. You can subscribe to CityLit's 2012-2013 season here (Call or print and mail the form).

I'll also be appearing in a Stage Left mainstage production for the first time as an actual member of the Ensemble, my first time since The Day of Knowledge way back in 2009. You can subscribe to Stage Left's 2012-2013 season here.