I've been working on Little Shop of Horrors with Narrow Way Stage Company in Sonoma and I've been having a blast! I've been wanting to do this show since I first saw the movie when I was 10 years old. I was offered the part of the Dentist when I was 20, but turned it down for a better opportunity. In 2004 I got to see it on Broadway with Joey Fatone of NSync (or was it the Back Street Boys?) and was able to meet some of my heroes like the original Big Bird puppeteer who was working the plant. I saw my niece play Audrey twice and every time I saw it, thought about how much I would love to play Orin Scravello, DDS.
I'm at the point in my career where I am starting to outgrow some of the roles I have always wanted to play. The sadistic skid row dentist is one if those roles that I'm on the cusp of being too old for, so when I was approached about auditioning for it, I jumped at the opportunity! When I was preparing for the audition, I was excited about playing the part from my perspective. I find that I am bringing lots more depth to my characters the older I get, so my 37 year old interpretation of this character is so much better than my 20 year old's would have been.
I had an acting teacher at NYU that said the one line about acting that I have recalled more than any others. His name was Mark Hammer and he said that as an actor, "your life can't be all about acting, because your acting has to reflect your life. If your life is all about acting, then there's nothing to reflect." I believe that's when an actor appears shallow and unbelievable... when they haven't lived. In the last 17 years, my life has been quite an amazing journey which has given me plenty of material to draw from when playing the complex characters which I am cast as these days.
All of that being said, the way I get to enjoy the roles I'm playing these days is on another level than I did in my earlier career. It's been a while since I've had the chance to play a tough guy, so I have been really sinking my teeth into this one. The songs are a blast and I get to be as close to a rock star as I can in traditional musical theatre. Narrow Way does great things technically with the set and lighting, so this is going to be a real crowd pleaser. I can't wait until we get an audience this week to see the reactions to my despicable dentist.
I was having a conversation with a friend last week about why musicians are more valued than actors in musicals. We both live for the applause, but musicians have a much higher value of their time. We both spend years learning our craft and we couldn't do it without the other one, so why?! I'm having so much fun doing this role, that I think it's becoming clear why we spend weeks doing this for next to nothing. It's like Lady Gaga said... I live for the applause, applause, applause. As we approach opening, I am getting more and more excited about it. Here's to a great run!
I'm at the point in my career where I am starting to outgrow some of the roles I have always wanted to play. The sadistic skid row dentist is one if those roles that I'm on the cusp of being too old for, so when I was approached about auditioning for it, I jumped at the opportunity! When I was preparing for the audition, I was excited about playing the part from my perspective. I find that I am bringing lots more depth to my characters the older I get, so my 37 year old interpretation of this character is so much better than my 20 year old's would have been.
I had an acting teacher at NYU that said the one line about acting that I have recalled more than any others. His name was Mark Hammer and he said that as an actor, "your life can't be all about acting, because your acting has to reflect your life. If your life is all about acting, then there's nothing to reflect." I believe that's when an actor appears shallow and unbelievable... when they haven't lived. In the last 17 years, my life has been quite an amazing journey which has given me plenty of material to draw from when playing the complex characters which I am cast as these days.
All of that being said, the way I get to enjoy the roles I'm playing these days is on another level than I did in my earlier career. It's been a while since I've had the chance to play a tough guy, so I have been really sinking my teeth into this one. The songs are a blast and I get to be as close to a rock star as I can in traditional musical theatre. Narrow Way does great things technically with the set and lighting, so this is going to be a real crowd pleaser. I can't wait until we get an audience this week to see the reactions to my despicable dentist.
I was having a conversation with a friend last week about why musicians are more valued than actors in musicals. We both live for the applause, but musicians have a much higher value of their time. We both spend years learning our craft and we couldn't do it without the other one, so why?! I'm having so much fun doing this role, that I think it's becoming clear why we spend weeks doing this for next to nothing. It's like Lady Gaga said... I live for the applause, applause, applause. As we approach opening, I am getting more and more excited about it. Here's to a great run!
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