1. How did you get started in your art?
My kindergarten Graduation play. My school had these performances for kindergarten Graduation. The play was some what felt like hours scene of a farmer getting a scarecrow to protect his garden. The lead was the scarecrow and he had a lot of lines. It was nerve racking for a 5 year old. It was also my first audition. The teacher took 4 of us and took us class to class and asked all the teachers who would make a great scarescrow. Some teachers would make us say scarecrow type line, stand like a scarecrow, and things like that. Well I booked it and was the lead in my Kindergarten Graduation play. That’s when I got the acting bug.
2. How long have you been doing it?
On and off since I was 5, so since I was 30. There have been some years where life took over, bills, marriage, trying to eat, house, cars, just life where I had to stop acting and be a responsible adult and take care of things. I did not like those times.
3. What is your favorite part of it?
Performing! I’m a very instant gratification actor. I love getting on stage and hearing the crowd laugh, cry, boo, or cheer me on the spot. The audience’s reaction is what I love to hear. So the only way I can get that is if I’m on that stage performing. To me there are very few feelings in the world like that.
4. What shows have you done and what had been your favorite?
Oh that’s a lot! Let’s see I’ve been in 12 Angry Men, both versions of Odd Couple, Lone Star, Godspell, The Boys Next Door, Rocky Horror Show, Cheaper By the Dozen, Squabbles, Murder at the Howard Johnson, I can keep going if you want but I don’t want to bored your readers. I really don’t have a favorite they are different, but if you are making me choose I have to say John from Who’s Life is it Anyways? It’s for a completely selfish reason too. John is an orderly maybe 25 lines in total in this 2 act 5 scene play. Artist becomes paralyzed from the neck down can’t continue to do his art so he wants the hospital to assist in killing him. Very dark except for me. My little role is the comic relief. But I had one moving line, just one and I nailed it. I remember the cast reading the reviews and hating me because everyone was blasted as being to boring and not convening the gravity of seriousness for this piece, but I was praised as the only part to say awake for. It gave my ego a real boost.
5. What are you future plans for your art?
Auditions, Auditions, Auditions, Auditions. I moved to Atlanta to try my hand at transitioning to film and television, but while that’s going on still audition for all the great theaters we have here. The 2 years I’ve been here I’ve done 3 plays, 2 movies, 4 tv shows and countless auditions. I hope my future looks bright.
6. If you could give any advice to someone wanting to pursue your art, what would it be?
Don’t give up! My biggest mistake was taking those 4-5 years off to take care of life. It was a huge step back for me. Take the risk and do it while you still can you dont want to look back and wonder what was.
The Theatre Ovation 