Acting
When it comes to acting, I liken it to another exercise I do at the gym. At the gym you don't just work out one part of your body; the whole body gets a workout. Thus, as a Creative, getting the chance to act means getting the chance to work out a different set of creative muscles besides getting creative on the computer or with a pencil. Then, on top of that, it's just fun to meet, work with and learn from all the great, talented people you meet on every new production you're involved with.
So here's what I've been involved with lately along with photos of me from some of my favorite productions.
So here's what I've been involved with lately along with photos of me from some of my favorite productions.
Friends of Torrance Theatre Company
Making my home in the South Bay, I first became involved with the Palos Verdes Players (PV Players), working both onstage, in the tech booth and maintaining their website. Since their closure in 2006, I've done shows with the other area theatres, but becoming mostly involved with the Torrance Theatre Company. I've performed in their musicals including Fiddler on the Roof, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, The Pirates of Penzance, and Damn Yankees and straight plays including 12 Angry Men. The folks in charge of their productions are really wonderful people to work with. A program of the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Torrance, I'm on the board of the Friends of Torrance Theatre Company, a non-profit group providing support to TTC with fund-raising efforts and volunteer staffing.
Run for Your Wife
Yesterday we closed our five-week run of this British farce by Ray Cooney at the Torrance Theatre Company. I played the lead character, John Smith, a taxi driver trying to get "...away with having two wives in different areas of London because of his irregular working schedule." After another five weeks rehearsing the show, it was a blast to ultimately hear all the laughter we received from our audiences as we mugged, ran, fell and leap into each other's arms and couches, and otherwise performed with wild abandon the story of this insane plot. All this despite receiving one lukewarm review with a rave one.
But probably the best thing about being a part of this production was getting to work with a cast that I was familiar with already. Some were friends I'd made doing shows with before while a few others were folks I'd known well but we'd never worked on stage together before. Over two and a half months, we wined and dined together, karaoked together, played board games, visited Disneyland, and even helped move two in to their new home.
To promote our show, I designed a logo and a few web banners and collages that I shared on Facebook and Instagram. And as a cast and crew gift, I was inspired enough to design and illustrate a theatre poster of our show that I surprised them with on our final show. The poster is shown here, and you can see the other graphics on my Portfolio page.
I've been fortunate to have been cast in scores of theatre shows for many years now and worked with so many talented and generous human beings. This experience was among the very best!
Yesterday we closed our five-week run of this British farce by Ray Cooney at the Torrance Theatre Company. I played the lead character, John Smith, a taxi driver trying to get "...away with having two wives in different areas of London because of his irregular working schedule." After another five weeks rehearsing the show, it was a blast to ultimately hear all the laughter we received from our audiences as we mugged, ran, fell and leap into each other's arms and couches, and otherwise performed with wild abandon the story of this insane plot. All this despite receiving one lukewarm review with a rave one.
But probably the best thing about being a part of this production was getting to work with a cast that I was familiar with already. Some were friends I'd made doing shows with before while a few others were folks I'd known well but we'd never worked on stage together before. Over two and a half months, we wined and dined together, karaoked together, played board games, visited Disneyland, and even helped move two in to their new home.
To promote our show, I designed a logo and a few web banners and collages that I shared on Facebook and Instagram. And as a cast and crew gift, I was inspired enough to design and illustrate a theatre poster of our show that I surprised them with on our final show. The poster is shown here, and you can see the other graphics on my Portfolio page.
I've been fortunate to have been cast in scores of theatre shows for many years now and worked with so many talented and generous human beings. This experience was among the very best!
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12 Angry MenWhat a thrill to be among the cast of Torrance Theatre Company's upcoming production of the classic drama 12 Angry Men!
We started rehearsals January 16, 2013, just six weeks away from our March 1 opening night. The show runs for five weekends, every weekend in March, closing on Saturday March 30. Tickets are $25 and they can be reserved by calling the TTC Box Office as (424) 243-6882 or emailing friendsofttc@gmail.com. Performances will be in the theatre at 1316 Cabrillo Avenue in old Downtown Torrance. More information will be updated on the Torrance Theatre Company website closer to opening night. Hope to see you there! UPDATE: We've opened! It's been very interesting to hear and see the audiences reactions during key moments of our show. Good to know they're paying attention to all the evidence. We run for four more weekend, closing on Saturday March 30. And to help you decide to come see us here are first two reviews. Broadway World: 12 ANGRY MEN Brilliantly Staged by Torrance Theatre Company Daily Breeze: Torrance Theatre Company tackles "12 Angry Men" |
Publicity shot from "12 Angry Men". Photo by Brad LaVerne.
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Fiddler on the RoofIn August of 2012, I played the Russian "Constable" in Torrance Theatre Company's production of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. Staged at the James Armstrong Theatre, this became my fourth musical with TTC, after previously joining the casts of two productions of Pirates of Penzance and Damn Yankees.
In an ironic twist tho', my first time cast in a speaking part in a TTC musical also meant my first time not learning significant amounts of choreography in my usual role as ensemble member. And that was sort of a bummer because on this production, we got the rare opportunity to have Mark Esposito as our choreographer. Mark worked with Jerome Robbins on Broadway and so taught our ensemble the original Broadway Fiddler on the Roof dances! The show was very well received by our audiences, and honestly, months later I still get folks at the theatre say it was the best production of Fiddler they'd ever seen. |
From the opening number "Tradition"
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Me all made up as The Constable
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Selected Reviews
The Foursome
August 18 - September 2, 2010 - Little Fish Theatre
The four actors nicely recapture the enthusiasm of their youth. The only difference now is that they’re variously married, divorced, with kids, unable to have them, wealthy or not. Jonathan Farnsworth’s Ted is laid back and seemingly untroubled. But he does drink too much which suggests that he is troubled. A lousy golfer but a good man, Frank Pepito’s Donnie is stable, calm at the start, calm at the end. He’s also, literally, the butt of jokes. Mark Nelson’s Cameron is still boyish, still bubbly, but he’s hiding a shameful secret. Seemingly above picayune cons, he pulls the best one of all. Bill Wolski’s Rick is in-your-face abrupt, the most likely to remain and asshole. And yet, not only is he simpatico but – gasp! - he has a heart, as well.
- "The Foursome" by James Scarborough, What the Butler Saw
They are playing a round of golf for old time's sake, but not everyone is as good a golfer as Bill, who hits the ball down the fairway with alarming consistency.
Donnie, for instance, has never played before and drops his borrowed clubs with amusing consistency at every hole - and buys a dozen balls at the pro shop halfway through the round just so he can have enough to get to the end of the game.
- "The Foursome: A Solid Rite of Passage" by John Farrell, Long Beach Press Telegram
August 18 - September 2, 2010 - Little Fish Theatre
The four actors nicely recapture the enthusiasm of their youth. The only difference now is that they’re variously married, divorced, with kids, unable to have them, wealthy or not. Jonathan Farnsworth’s Ted is laid back and seemingly untroubled. But he does drink too much which suggests that he is troubled. A lousy golfer but a good man, Frank Pepito’s Donnie is stable, calm at the start, calm at the end. He’s also, literally, the butt of jokes. Mark Nelson’s Cameron is still boyish, still bubbly, but he’s hiding a shameful secret. Seemingly above picayune cons, he pulls the best one of all. Bill Wolski’s Rick is in-your-face abrupt, the most likely to remain and asshole. And yet, not only is he simpatico but – gasp! - he has a heart, as well.
- "The Foursome" by James Scarborough, What the Butler Saw
They are playing a round of golf for old time's sake, but not everyone is as good a golfer as Bill, who hits the ball down the fairway with alarming consistency.
Donnie, for instance, has never played before and drops his borrowed clubs with amusing consistency at every hole - and buys a dozen balls at the pro shop halfway through the round just so he can have enough to get to the end of the game.
- "The Foursome: A Solid Rite of Passage" by John Farrell, Long Beach Press Telegram
Photos
Some of the productions I've had the pleasure to work on, with the people I've enjoyed sharing the stage with.
