neothespian

For the three of you who read this or so (dunno if it's even that many, but I'll write it anyways) I apologize for my long absence. It's been a CRAZY few weeks and it all centers around a little theater in Phoenix called Soul Invictus and a bunch of crazy frogs...

A little over 9 weeks ago, I was cast in a very strange little show called "FrogWoman". It was a "hoppy" tale about a movie starlet who had surgically altered herself to look like a frog and how her manipulative producer/daddy figure kept her under his thumb with drug treatments and electro-shock therapy a-la 50's horror flick style. Through a series of events, she escapes her clutches only to find the real world as a frog much harder, but at the same time being chased down by the now-psychopathic producer and a horde of obsessive FrogWomanHead fans. Eventually, she finds her true frog love with an amphibian who has been tortured by an Amphibianologist and managed to emerge as the true prince, but....

They get killed and eaten. By the fans.

Yeah, told you it was some strange shit.

I was cast as an actor (which is unusual) and got to play the mad-scientist character, the Amphibianologist. My sole purpose was to lead the princely fan to a realization of his true frog nature, and to show how fucked up humans were in this show by torturing, sodomizing and electrocuting every character in this show (save for FrogWoman) who was not a mammal. At first, I wasn't quite sure what I got myself into, but director Franc Gaxiola is known for his one-off and unique indie works that garner plenty of buzz and for taking risks. I mean, his theater did "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical"! That takes balls... and merkins!

Over the past few weeks, I settled into the actor mode instead of Stage Manager mode, and found a very different theater than what I have worked with over the past few years. Here, I actually ENJOYED the work! So many shows are fraught with stress, errors by others and problems that end up being loaded on to the Stage Manager's plate, and by the time tech week comes you really just don't want to do it anymore. Combine this with the fact that so many theater companies have politics that will choke out even the strongest talent and cliques that make High School drama seem tame, and it's a wonder why I've been trying to stick with this biz for over 12 years.

But, this was truly FUN!! And, I have met some VERY amazing people: An actor who went to school with me but we always seemed to be "just missing each other" in every show we did The only pair of tolerable potheads I've ever met (and truly the nicest people in general!). IT manager by day/amazing actor and borderline psychopath (on stage) at night. A working actor who embraces her dork side as a theater geek through and through and still considers her "day job" just a temporary gig (as you should). An on-the-surface flighty actress with some real brains and talent underneath who's not some stuck up supermodel type but sure looks it. A VERY pushy "Bulldyke" in the exact defintion and her *hot* pixi girlfriend (both of whom work their asses off in logistic and publicity support for us...thanks guys!!). A fresh resume actor looking to break out of his cubicle hell. And, a 15 year old kid who somehow got tied up in all of this because he wanted to stick his neck out and try "real" theater... and boy did he get a good dose of experimental theater because of it.

But, these people were also some of the most accepting of my way of thinking I have seen! I've usually worked in corporate theaters and university venues to keep a roof over our heads, and there any thinking outside of the norm is a liability that will cost them money and risk lawsuit. So, no go for creative solutions there. The non-profit theaters I've worked with were either "Waiting for Guffman" style black holes of self-promoting narcissism or thinly veiled conduits for Christian or Mormon productions backed with their own flavour of morals. Now, I'm hardly some sort of degenerate or anarchist, but I'm no white-bread corporate drone either. But here, the quirky, strange and often-times perverted without pushing it *too* far fit just right. No worries about being politically incorrect for humor sake as long as you weren't being a dick. Those looking to be the "funny guy" by shock value are sniffed out for their bullshit right away. No pretenses about sexuality or nudity... so much so the director, in order to combat the problem of no central a/c, would routinely work in nothing but his underwear! Strange at first, but then you realize this is a real place of art and nobody gives a shit what you look like, as long as you bring it to the table!

And I like that.

And, all the while I was still doing what I do best: Helping solve problems. I offered to help build one prop, and soon I became the prop designer of the show. The A/C went out, and after fixing that it snowballed into fixing just about every little bit that came up broken in the dilapidated theater. Soon, I found out that the shoddy electrical work and 2x4-and-plastic-tarp construct out back that acted as our "green room" was built by Franc, who is not a Tech Director or designer. He runs the theater, directs the shows, runs publicity and works a full time banal job, and after that... how can you be expected to do anything else!? So, after long discussions and realizing that I actually have skills they haven't had in there before, I asked Franc if there was some way I could help Soul Invictus keep above the water line financially, and that I think I have what he needs. He said "We do need a Tech Director. You have the resume, but you've also proven it. The trick is there is no pay". I told him that I'm more interested in making my resume finally stand on art, and that if I'm going to have my own venue or a shot at a REAL TD or stage manager position at a major theater, this is where I need to be.

And he (thankfully) accepted my offer to help where I can.

And, at the cast party last night (where my roommate got all bitchy about having *people* around and upset that I dare bring *people* into her sacred place of brooding on how horrible her life is...I'm REALLY getting sick of that shit and besides: We moved in this place to help HER and I'm on the lease as the primary, and my fiance as footed most of the bills since moving in! This apartment is perfect for entertaining and now I gots people to do so I'm gonna do it once in a while!) I realized that I think I have found my space. Many of the actors in this show are also members of the theater's in house comedy troupe "The Sic Sense", and insisted I should try out for it with a surprising amount of enthusiasm. I told them that my health may keep me from doing that, but I'd be around... as their TD. They all seemed GENUINELY thrilled!! It's been a VERY VERY long time since I've been received like that. And it felt so good.

I'm wanted.

That's all I've ever wanted