I have not been diligent about keeping the blog up with work updates and scheduling, but I'm striving to be more diligent about that. I'm currently taking some time off at The DonCave, and it happens that my time off fits in with the schedule of a new theatre here. So, I'm going to be Bob Cratchit in The Forum Theatre's A Christmas Carol: A Spirited New Musical.
This is also a great chance for me to do a show in Kansas again. LEADING MEN DON'T DANCE was my first show in the US since 2006, which is when I came back to Kansas for LARAMIE PROJECT at Great Plains Theatre Festival. Two years before that I'd come back to Wichita to play Harold Hill at the Crown Uptown for Ted Morris, before which I'd not returned for a show in my home state since 1995. Also, this is my first Christmas Carol in a decade (discounting the readings of the book I've done at bookstores a few times.) I've done at least seven different productions of at least five different adaptations over time, starting in 1996 as Young Scrooge at The Great American Melodrama in Oceana, California and on to the most recent as The Ghost of Christmas Present on the national tour with Big League Theatricals and the Nebraska Theatre Caravan in 2002. I've played every male character in the story at some point, except for Fred, so I should say I've played all of the interesting male characters.
Every time I do a version of this show, I'm reminded of the great people I've worked with in the past and the laughs we've had. I remember the sincerity and tearful moments as John Clemo watched his younger self lose his best chance at happiness and the manic insanity of Matty Kamprath's transformation and frantic attacking of that rocking horse. I remember the creepy dancing dolls on NTC's tour and the mentally ill manchild Dick Wilkins as presented by Travis Ploeger. It should also be said that only Travis Ploeger could make Fred really interesting, mainly because you were somewhat afraid of him. I remember many things that the audience should never, must never know from the street scenes; I remember the times when my son Tiny Tim was played by a girl who would sneak away between scenes and put on a ton of makeup because she didn't like being dressed as a boy and wanted to be sure people could tell she was a girl. I remember being Scrooge myself to thousands of Floridians and stealing shamelessly from other Scrooges I've known.
The Scrooge this time around will be Paul Jackson - a really talented guy I've been acquainted with years. Paul also wrote the music, and has written some gorgeous stuff here. It will be performed by a great cast including Tony nominee Karla Burns, the fantastic Ray Wills, Dan Campbell, and some jerk named me.
The Theatre Company at The Forum is a new company with a great space and a great season ahead. If you're in the area, get your Christmas on by seeing our show. There's a ticket drive going on right now, so if you ARE planning to come, buy your tickets before November 16 and you'll really help them out. When you reserve, mention my name. It's a bit of a competition.
Check out their site at http://www.forumwichita.com/
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