October Was A Busy Month For Board Trodding

I was involved in a few productions in October - 2 one-shots and a nice 4 week run. Let's get started!

For Halloween, I participated in Readings from DRACULA at The Campbell House - a turn of the century (19th Century) mansion that is the perfect setting for spooky readings. 

I read VanHelsing, and these Talented Actors read others

We did this on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, tour groups were led through the house and we were stationed in 4 locations. The tourists got to experience the story in the first person.

The next was another one shot, this one with Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre. As a fund raiser we presented 2 radio plays by Lucille Fletcher: SORRY, WRONG NUMBER and THE HITCH-HIKER. A wonderful evening, a successful fundraiser for the theater, and a chance for me to do another performance where I didn't have to memorize anything!

(unfortunately no photos exist from this event, but here's the poster)

At the same time as these one-shots, I was in a play that challenged me on a few levels.

We just closed a production of THE MINUTES by Tracy Letts - and it was one of those that I was sorry to see disappear. It was a great cast, a wonderful director, fantastic crew -- everything that makes a stage experince a joy to live through. 

Mr Carp addresses The Council

The play is worth seeking out - it's very funny, poking fun at small town politics and the relationships that can and do exist, and has quite a twist at the end. (I will not post any spoilers here - find them out for yourself)(*lol*)

A great set, too

One of my traditions for closing night, if I can do so, is to draw caricatures of the cast. I was able to do so on this show, and the cast showed their appreciation by posing for a photo.

It was a hard group to say good-bye to, but it helps that I'm jumping right into another project. I'm directing one of my favorite pieces - IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. For a guy who insists on NO Christmas music before Thanksgiving, it takes effort to immerse myself in a Christmas Show in late October. But this one is worth the effort.

From a 2012 production that I was in - Live Radio, On Stage!

And remember - "no man is a failure who has friends."

Better Late Than . . . . well, maybe not

 

As promised in my last post (6 months ago!!) more details about the National Tour Jamie and I worked - MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET.

We visited a few states, did a lot of performances, and had a good time.

*******

Oh, you want details?

My Favorite Venue - New Haven CT

We travelled through NY, CT, VA, one stop in MI, and even popped up to ME for a matinee!

The Fox in Detroit was a beautiful theater, too

It was a good company, an incredible ensemble, and an experience I'd love to repeat . . . 

. . . . even the Balloons!

Here Come Da Judge

Mail Call!

I even got to use my favorite dance step!

My Dance even got a mention in Broadway World

Our Wall Tag in the Shubert - Jamie and I signed together

As I write this, I'm in Florida on my next show, THE WIZARD OF OZ - you'll probably read about it in December.

While I'm Working On The Next Entry . . .

 

2025 was quiet as far as number of shows I did, but it DID include the National Tour of Meredith Willson's MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET.  The next post will go into more detail about the tour - theaters we played, cities we visited, experiences we . . . . . . experienced.

Looking back on Rochester

 

Our Fearless leader, Antoinette

We spent 3 weeks in NYC rehearsing, then hit the road to Rochester for our Preview shows. 5 performances over a weekend, and we had good response. 

Jamie creating the impossible from nothing

The bugs were worked out, the gaps were identified and fixed, and I got to play with some props - like 3 giant mailbags full of letters!

Yup, that's me under the mail

And balloons -- LOTS of balloons!

At our "Fauxpening Night" Party, Santa gave everyone a wonderful Christmas gift, as well as roasted the cast and crew!

And a good time was had by all!

One night, Jamie and I got to enjoy the company of some folks we hadn't seen in over 25 years - and it was like we never left.

Some of you might recognize a few of these faces.

We're now in New Haven CT, getting ready to perform at the Shubert Theater. More on that next time.

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!

On The Road Again

 

I know I know I know - "last time we heard from you was MONTHS ago. Why should we listen now?"

Well, because there's a new adventure underway. My first ever National Tour.

I know I know I know - "you spent 21 years on the road with the Covenant Players; how can you say this is your FIRST National Tour?"

Well . . . . because it IS, that's why.

I'll be spending 6 weeks with this crew

We just finished 3 weeks of rehearsal in NYC, then it's on to Rochester for tech and opening. And the best part, Jamie joins us in Rochester as our Props Person.

So if you're looking some Christmas entertainment, check out our schedule.

Tour Dates - Miracle on 34th Street

Let's pray this old guy can keep up with these 20 somethings!

I Hate Shakespeare

 

Me As The Bard

It's not a secret -- I hate Shakespeare.  Not personally, of course - I mean, I hardly know the guy.  But I think his plays have been given FAR too much attention. However, that hasn't stopped me from doing 2 of his plays (COMEDY OF ERRORS and the very appropriately titled MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING) as well as 3 "Shakespeare Adjacent" pieces. 

MASTER OF THE REVELS - a One Act where I play Will (photo above) as he's staging his new work, Romeo and Juliet.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Abridged - a fantastically funny send up of all things Bard.

And the most recent adventure - SOMETHING ROTTEN. Perhaps the most fun I've had on stage since Complete Works.

Thomas Nostradamus looks to the future

The mid-way point of a 7-minute extravaganza - A MUSICAL

This song incorporates references to close to a dozen OTHER musicals - from Guys And Dolls to JC Superstar to Annie to . . . 

The Big Finish!

. . . . yup. That one.

This was a production of the theater department at Eastern WA University. I had 40+ years on everyone else in the cast, and they kept me on my toes. Literally! This show gave me the first tap solo of my career.

Great experience, GREAT cast, great show. One that I'd do again in a heartbeat.

Oh Yeah - There's This, Too

 

2024 Wrap Up!

A Reader's Theater production is probably the only way I'd get cast as Eddie in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Not the least reason being that I got to perform with Paul.

And even though I Hate Shakespeare, I enjoyed PLAYING him in a new one-act.

And getting to perform a British farce with Jamie was fun, too!

My third visit to that "little town, a quiet village" - also a treat.