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Gaslight (Angel Street)
As so often happens, I find myself inhabiting a role of someone so far from myself that I have to take two busses, a train and a horse-drawn carriage to arrive at their point of view. And thus it is with Jack Manningham, the original prototype of the sociopathic bastard. Much to my chagrin, I find I really relish playing Jack. He's so smooth and so polite and so devious.
If you've never heard of the term, "gaslighting," I suggest you turn on the news. The play Gaslight, or Angel Street as it is known here in the states, is the origin of the term. Gaslighting is the act of manipulating someone via psychological means into questioning their own sanity. I leave your imagination to work out what that has to do with this play.
The play takes place at the Angel Street home of Jack and Bella Manningham which, on the surface, gives the impression of the ideal Victorian household. But there is a dark and sinister undercurrent just out of sight of the public eye. It is this darkness that the audience becomes privy to as the play unfolds.
I shall say no more except that this is quickly becoming one of my favorite roles and it would be a shame if you did not come see me.
The play runs for two weekends starting October 27, 2017 at the Avenue Theatre in Rochester, PA. You can find more information at R-ACT Theatre Productions Website.
Fractured Fairy Tales, Volume 2
The Many Wives of Bluebeard, my follow up to The Princess and the Great Gold Dragon, was selected to appears as part of RACT Theatre Productions' first show of the 2018 season. Like Dragon, Bluebeard was written specifically with this show in mind.
The story picks up where we last left our bumbling actors, on the stage and ready to do another fairy tale. This time, they are going to tackle the French tale of Bluebeard in their own, unique way. Alas, Hero is no longer content just heckling from the sidelines; the Stagehand has gotten in touch with his inner fashionista; the sound booth can't seem to get things in order; and the Storyteller may have more on her hands than she can handle.
As one of the actors said during the initial read-through, it's a very silly story. It may be a train wreck, but it's one you won't want to look away from.
February 16, 17, 23 and 24, 2018 at the Avenue Theatre in Rochester, PA. Curtain is at 7:00 PM. Visit https://www.ractproductions.com/ for more information.
Fractured Fairy Tales
Well, I'm only a month late in posting this.
My short play, The Princess and the Great Gold Dragon, was selected to appear in RACT Theatre Productions' first show of the 2017 season. Written specifically with this show in mind, the story is that of a Japanese Princess on a quest to prove to her father, the Shogun, that she is strong and brave.
The story is conveyed to the audience via a storyteller who has to dodge the running commentary of the hero while the cast acts out the events as best they can with the limited resources at their disposal.
RACT did four performances and it was very well received by the audiences.
Imaginary Exits
written and directed by Eric J. McAnallen
produced by Driftwood Dramatics
This is the complete show from the performance on May 14, 2016 at the Avenue Theatre in Rochester PA. It's in two parts.
Pittsburgh New Works Festival
I will be appearing in the comedy, Deck Chairs by Bill Arnold at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. We're part of Program A and one of 18 world premiers.
The shows are on the Carnegie Stage in Carnegie, PA. It's a really nice venue. You should come out and support the theatrical arts in Pittsburgh.
You can find more information on their website http://www.pittsburghnewworks.org/
Starting New Theatre Company
As some of you know, I have been batting around the idea for some time now of starting my own theatre company. To be honest, it’s mostly because I’m selfish and want to do theatre my way. A lot of the theatre companies I’ve dealt with lately are unwilling or unable to do new things, try new works, support new playwrights or take risks. Yes, I’m selfish. I’m a writer who would like to see my works on the stage, but I’m also a director who would like to stage things no one else is doing and I’m an actor who would like to be cast in roles I find interesting. See, I told you I was selfish.
Misa and I had initially thought about buying or renting a place where we could have our own little theatre but we were unable to come up with a location that fit within our budget or was in a place that would attract an audience. So we got the idea to be a homeless theatre company based centrally around the Cranberry area. As such, we have named our new endeavor, Driftwood Dramatics.
We have been working for about a month now to identify possible venues for our first production and have narrowed it down to a couple.
The new Company has a website - http://www.driftwooddramatics.com. There's not a lot there yet; it's still a work in progress.
And what will our first production be, you ask? Imaginary Exits, of course. We're looking to have it up sometime in April if things go as planned. We know you're all dying to come out and see it.
More Shakespeare
I will be appearing in Hobnob Theatre's production of A Midsummer's Night Dream as Nick Bottom. We will be doing it at Preston Park in Butler in various locations, or so I'm told. The idea is to have different sets at different locations and the audience follows along as the play progresses. Sounds interesting. I have no idea how this is going to work but I am always game for an adventure.
Monty Python's Spamalot
Well, I'm way remiss in posting this, but I am appearing in Comtra Theatre's current production of Spamalot as Sir Robin, and others.
The show is running for two more weekends until November 9th. If you're interested in seeing it, you can get more information and make reservations at Comtraplayers.com.