Five for Five Meme

Laura memed me a coupla days ago. I accept. Here it is:

The purpose of this meme is to get people talking about their passion in life. It’s called the 5/5 meme. Five questions, then pass it to five people. “Expertise” could be your profession, hobby, or area of intense interest.

Name your area of expertise/interest:
theater. live.

How did you become interested in it?
I was a big showoff as a little kid – used to do just about anything for a reaction (didn’t matter if it was a good one, just a reaction was required). I was the ‘new’ kid at every grade school I went to until eighth grade (we moved a lot) and I pulled bizarre stunts, that inevitably landed my ass in the principle’s office at every one of them.

In high school I got involved in both a Shakespeare Rep company and Equity musicals.

By the time I got to college, I quit theater entirely and focused on music as a career. Graduated, played my trumpet professionally for a bit, started teaching music in a middle school, and got re-bit by the Second City bug.

How did you learn to do it?
Trial and error. I’ve taken extensive improvisational theater classes but almost none in scripted theater. Most of my training is in the doing.

Who has been your biggest influence?
My wife. Jen Ellison is the smartest, most artistically complete thinker I have ever met. When I’m acting, I’m thinking about her reaction. When I direct, I’m thinking about her critique. When I write, I want her to enjoy the read.

It’s hard to avoid being influenced when you live with a brilliant mind.

What would you teach people about it?
Simple. Have something to say or shut the fuck up.

I likewise spread this five question meme to: Joe Janes, Paul Rekk, Fuzzy Gerdes, Bob Fisher, and Dennis Frymire.