BigdaddyUtah

  My first show of the week was a 2 PM matinee of Much Ado About Nothing on Monday.  So, I aimed to get there at 12:30 because I am a psycho.  So, I rolled into my dressing room around then and my dresser, Madison, asked if I needed help with my costume track.  I thought maybe she was joking, because we've done the play 53 times.  But then she saw my confusion and told me that Henry was sick, and I had to go on for Leonato.  Then I checked my phone and had several missed calls and texts which happened in the seven minutes it takes me to drive from my amazing housing to the theatre. (I'm not joking, my housing this year is incredible.  Plus, I have the best roommate in the world.  I really feel as if I won the lottery).   A second later, my Angel, Tanya poked her head into the dressing room and confirmed that I would indeed be going on for Leonato in 90 minutes.   Here's a little backstory for this weekly adventure.  When I...

 My friend Bryson (who drove 10 hours to see me in both shows this year) came up with the saying: "Great goddamn seats!" many years ago.  It applies not only to being onstage with very talented people but also to taking the time to look at the world around you.  All that you have gone through has led you to where you are...look around.  You have great goddamn seats! This summer, I certainly have both of these seats.  I am surrounded by the natural beauty of Zion and Bryce Canyon, and I am also surrounded by some of the most incredible artists I have ever shared a stage with.  Plus, the humans here are some of the kindest and most caring individuals I've ever known.  I feel so lucky to be here.  And I have great goddamn seats! When I'm acting with Henry as Leonato, and watching him spit fire, I not only get to experience that as an audience member, but I get to interact with him too!  When Melinda and Walt meet as Beatrice and Benedick, I get ...

 Spaulding Gray, the late, great monologuist talked of Perfect Moments in "Swimming to Cambodia," and I became somewhat obsessed with finding perfect moments of my own. And I have had my fair share.  Looking back at my life, there was a time when my best friend, the late, great Keith St. Aubyn and I sat in my Datsun B210 watching a lightning storm for what seemed like hours, and although we were teenagers at the time, we both seemed to understand that the conversation we had with the sky gods warring with one another was somehow transformative.  Of course, my wedding to Annie was perfect--ask anybody who was there--it was the greatest!  Finally having a pregnancy that advanced into the second trimester was a perfect relief.  Corey was the child that was meant to be after losing five before him. The actual birth of our children, especially Ellie who was almost born in my car on La Cienega as I raced to the hospital with Annie deep into labor.  Our birth plan...

 This summer is flying by, and I realize I've not really updated my blog in ages.  So, to my four loyal readers, my sincere apologies.  I haven't played supporting roles since grad school, so it was an adjustment at first. In many ways, they are much more difficult to play than leads. For instance, when you play most leading roles, there is plenty of dialogue to let you know who this person is you are playing. There's also a lot more action to give you things to do. But there is a certain amount of freedom that comes with that as well.  As the summer wears on, I am finding some new things about both of my characters.  In Henry VIII, I am playing Sir Thomas Lovell.  I believe I have about seven lines, but I am onstage for the entire show. Also, my character is incredibly high status in the kingdom and his name may be mentioned more than anybody else in the play. He was clearly an important man in the kingdom, and Shakespeare and Fletcher show that with his c...

Who am I? This seems to be the single question at the heart of why I blog.  Sure, I use the shows that I am in to investigate the human condition.  And there is no greater guide to that journey than Shakespeare.  But I don't seem to be getting closer to any answers.  I've now been on this globe circling the sun for 57 years and I find myself simultaneously feeling the same as I did when I was a dumb kid, and also terribly old and severely broken.  But I celebrated my birthday this year like I usually do, in rehearsal with wonderful people. It's been a long time since I played supporting roles in Shakespeare's canon.  When I first started to act professionally, that's all I did.  I went from role to role as guards, servants, and soldiers.  I once promised that I would write a book called Shakespeare's Army on how best to serve the play with few lines of dialogue.  Although I never wrote that book, I find myself once again playing supporting ro...

 I've been at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for two weeks, and it's been a whirlwind.  I was talking to my angel, Tanya Searle, during a break today and we were both amazed that it's been two weeks.  Of course, for me, I've felt like it's the first few days at a new school where everybody knows each other, and nobody knows who I am.  However, those first day jitters have been taken away by the lovely people here.  I've been welcomed with open arms.  Given a seat at the table and been encouraged to be a partner in this process.  By everybody, directors, actors, administrators, designers, choreographers.  It's sort of like dying and going to the heaven I hope exists.  A beautiful Shakespeare festival that is loving, welcoming, and filled with ridiculous talent!! I love the characters I am playing in Much Ado and Henry VIII, and I especially love that I am doing Henry VIII.  My new friend, Topher, who is playing Henry commented on how lucky...