THEATRE & MUSIC

THEATRE

I have always loved (wanted) Theatre since I can remember. (Young actor: age 12) I think it was at that same age when I got my most treasured present... my own 8mm camera! It wasn't until I was about 16 that I made my epic film: "THE LAST RESORT". We had a world premiere for it with my two actress' dressing up to the 9s and we played the score from "A Streetcar Named Desire" for background music.

After HighSchool, I went on to the Pasadena Playhouse. It was odd to be in a school that only taught things I was interested in! I was there for three years. Two of my classmates were Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman... we don't stay in touch!

After my first year there, I went to Maine to do Summer Stock with THE AMERICAN SAVOYARDS, a professional Gilbert & Sullivan company. During that Summer, we did ALL of the G&S shows! ... an incredible education. I don't think I've worked so hard since!

After my second year at the Playhouse, I auditioned for and got hired by THE BISHOP'S COMPANY, a group that toured the country performing drama in the church. It was fantastic: In the two years I toured with them, I played in 33 states and Canada in 81 different roles!

After my last year at the Playhouse, I settled down in L.A. trying to develop a career in "The Biz". I must say, this was not a real thrill! Once you start getting parts, you realize that Creativity is the last thing they want from you. "Hit your marks, match your closeup to the master, do it in one take and... wait, wait, wait!" Oh, I did a few things, probably nothing you have seen: Movies: "The Man With Xray Eyes" - "Count Yorga, Vampire" (and the sequal) and small parts in a couple others. An Italian Swiss Colony Wine, an American Arlines and a Mac Donalds commercial. TV: A number of Police Stories and Police Woman, The soap: Young and the Restless and a movie of the week, "Let's Switch" where I had one of my bigger parts. When I saw it, it really depressed me. My work was fine but it was just one of those shows people watch to kill time. Fortunately, at that time....

... I got an announcement for SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) that there was going to be a Federally funded Theatre Arts program administered through the City of L.A. I WANTED THAT! They received over 2,000 applications, auditioned over 400 people for 60 positions. I made it! I had my choice to either go with one of three acting companies or with a puppet company. I chose the puppet company because I felt puppetry included everything I was interested in: acting, writing, painting, sculpting, music. I loved it! After a year I became the director of the company and changed the name of the group to "THE L.A. MOVING VAN & PUPPET Co." We worked on a salary with medical and paid vacations (Just like REAL people!) for four and a half years. Then the program suddenly was cut off. I had such a tight group of performers that we decided to stay together and become a non-profit company. We remained together for another ten years!

I also must mention Theatre East here. I have belonged to this group for 29 years. It is L.A's oldest Equity Workshop. It was created by some professional actors/writers/directors who wanted to have a private place to stretch and exercise their craft and... when they came up with something special... put on a public performance. It is a place to work with really talented people. I have done a lot of acting, writing and directing there. I did my original one act "FoxLake" there. I have also been working on a full, two act musical called "The MoorPark Mixed Quartet". This is a dramatic farce with lots of four-part singing dealing with the meaning of Life! (Oh, that old thing again!) If you want to know more about it.... EMAIL ME! Right now, I am co-writing and directing with an actor friend, a one-man show called, "How Ring Lardner Saved My Life". It is going on (or has gone on, depending when you read this page.) starting Sept. 25th. Lots more about Theatre East....

The last writing/acting project I want to mention here is "Grandpa's Magic Shoebox". This is a series of 6 videos for children. I wrote them, made all the props for them and starred in them! How about that??? It was wonderful to have a producer (Barry) who believed that much in my talent... he also directed the series. We shot them all in 1996. A Wonderful creative experience!

Also, I have my own particular expectations of what I would like to do in Theatre these days...CURIOUS?<------ click here!

MUSIC

I have always loved music! When I was 15, I took singing lessons. I thought if you took ten lessons or so, the teacher would make you a singer. Naive? Well, after a year or so, I was more or less told to forget about singing! I couldn't! I found an old guitar and taught myself to play and sang for myself. When folk music came along, it seemed to me you didn't NEED a good voice to sing. Strange, but I have made a good part of my living as a singer, both as a soloist and singing in groups. My voice blends well.

I first sang in a little folk club in Hawaii. I had learned a lot of songs just for my own enjoyment. It was the first time I got paid! Then, back in Hollywood, I sang in a little club there. The owner became my agent and started sending me out to folk clubs around the country. At the time, there were three major folk clubs in the U.S.: The Hungry i, in San Francisco - The Gate of Horn, in Chicago and The Blue Angel in New York. I, at least, performed at the first two on the list.

Then I went with a group called, "Les Baxter's Balladeers". We sang in very up-scale clubs and Las Vegas. (I never want to see Las Vegas again!)

After that, I went on a tour all by myself for an organization called "National School Assemblies" 18 weeks in the mid-west and 8 weeks in the Pacific North West. That organization really knew how to book! Most of the time, I would do 3 shows a day in different towns and the weekend could include a drive of over 1,000 miles to get to the first booking on Monday! I certainly learned how to survive on my own!

Later I toured with The Serendipity Singers and I have to say, that wasn't a very pleasant experience. The bookings were solid, nearly every night and lots of flying all around the country... very seldom a day off. Since I am the responsible one, I was made leader of the group. That isn't fun either because you have to tell everyone what they have to do and what they can't do! Doesn't make you very popular!

I continue to love music and play the guitar. I wrote a lot of songs for the puppet company and a title song and at least one or two songs for each of the videos in the "Grandpa's Magic Shoebox" series. Now, I am having a ball putting together LOTS of four part harmony songs for my play "The MoorPark Mixed Quartet."

What kind of music do YOU like?

Do you play an instrument?

Where is a good source for midi files of 4 part harmony vocal songs?

EMAIL ME!
BACK