In 2022, I was invited back to Villanova University to audition for Curtains, a murder mystery musical. I had previous experience doing murder mystery dinner theatre and I love musicals, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity after not being able to perform for so long due to the pandemic. I ended being cast as the eccentric British director, Christopher Belling. It was a fabulous role for me that I would love to play over and over again. I once again got to use a British accent in this fabulous Kander and Ebb comedy. The last pics are a view from the orchestra pit where my character made an appearance and surprised the audience.
My view from the pit More from the pitOrchestra PitBelling with his kitty!A view from the balconyIn the dressing roomChristopher Belling!
From 2019 until 2021, I was a student at Villanova University getting my Master’s in Theatre and a Master’s of Public Administration certificate. Unfortunately, this was right as the pandemic began in 2020 and all my classes were made remote for months. Theatre classes, remote? Seems like a tough thing to do, but our class managed. I was able to put all my audio visual skills to the test and suddenly, I was performing in my office in front of a green screen with lighting and microphones instead of on a stage at the university. As the pandemic restrictions eased, we were able to meet in person eventually, socially distanced and masked of course! The inability to gather really put a damper on live theatre. Without the prospect of a paying audience, theatres typically cannot afford the rights to a work, and filming that piece for broadcast is usually forbidden or cost prohibitive. This meant only newly written or devised work could be performed effectively cancelling 2 seasons of programming, including 2 musicals. The first is now back on Broadway, Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along” the second was Gershwin’s “Crazy for You” which has been rescheduled and is happening now in 2024. Despite the issues during the pandemic, I highly recommend this program, especially now with the new The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts featuring 2 brand new, state of the art theaters! I have been lucky enough to have been asked back for 2 musicals as an alumni, easily making up for the missed opportunities due to the pandemic. For more information about this program, go here. To see what’s currently showing at Villanova Theatre, click here!
To close out 2023 I was hired as an understudy for 2 roles in Peter and the Starcatcher at Delaware Theatre Company. It was such a joy to be involved with this amazing production and dynamic cast! As agreed, I was prepared to go on stage playing the role of either Lord Astor or Captain Scott if needed. Luckily, I was not asked to fill in, however much I would have liked to. For more information about Delaware Theatre Company and Peter and the Starcatcher, go here!
Below are just a few of the many pictures I took in order to remember blocking and spacing, just in case I was called to perform.
After a successful run as C. S. Lewis in Beacon Theatre Productions’ Freud’s Last session, I returned to Beacon in their next production of “Red Letter Locker” as author Arthur Conan Doyle. The story follows a high school student attempting to solve a mystery when Arthur Conan Doyle arrives after using H. G. Wells’ time machine. Using the powers of logic and deduction he helps our young protagonist attempt to prove her innocence. For more about The Red Letter Locker, click here!
In 2018, I was cast as C. S. Lewis in Beacon Theatre Productions‘ “Freud’s Last Session.” During this production, I worked with a vocal coach to perform my role with a British accent. At the time, this 2 person, 70+ minute show was the most challenging role I had ever attempted. I was thrilled to work with such a wonderful cast and crew under the direction of Georgina Bard.
This fantastic 2 person play seems very poignant in today’s political atmosphere. Lewis and Freud take on some of history’s toughest questions as they debate the role of religion in government and the morality surrounding war. This play is being made into a movie this year, though I believe they are not sticking to the 2 person format. To grab a copy of Freud’s Last Session, go here.
For more information about Freud’s Last Session, go here.
