What's a Vacation?

Sometime in the distant past, I think it was April, I told myself I was going to take a break for the summer. Well, that didn't end up happening. Here's a brief rundown of what I've been up to since my last big update:

In the spring I kept busy playing Sampson in Romeo and Juliet at Chase Park Theatre, and simultaneously playing Red Samurai in The Rise of Emperor Eric at Gorilla Tango. These two shows could not have possibly have been more different. One is, of course, Shakespeare, and the other was a brand spankin' new "kung fu absurdist comedy". Both shows did really well, with Romeo and Juliet packing the house for the duration of the run, and ...Eric getting reader recommended for the general hilarity and awesomeness of the show, as well as the comical fight choreography of yours truly.

All the while I started taking classes at The Green Room Studio, which has been an incredible experience. The Green Room is run and operated by current and former casting directors from the Chicago scene. The focus is on commercial technique and these guys really know their stuff. Having taken a couple levels of classes with them, I now feel equipped for any commercial audition.

After ...Eric ended I immediately started rehearsing for Extinction Fantasies with Tympanic Theatre Company. This was another big transition, as I went from an ensemble role in a comedy to a lead role in a more dramatic show. The show also had good reviews and was a great experience. I'm now rehearsing Apocalypso! with Point of Contention, which opens September 9th at the Boho theatre space in Rogers Park.

After that, I'll be performing in A Klingon Christmas Carol with Commedia Beauregard at the Greenhouse Theater Center here in Chicago. Nope, not a joke. AKCC is the only play written entirely in the Klingon language, with supertitles so the audience knows what's going on. And in the spring, I'm performing in Soul Samurai with Infusion Theatre Company at the newly renovated Theatre Wit space!

I'm getting tired just typing this - taking a break has definitely not happened, but I've been pretty productive. More updates to come as these shows get closer. Damn, wasn't I going to record an album this year? Not enough hours in the day...