Not Quite Venting... but Close.

As 110 in the Shade approaches I start to get mixed emotions. I'm excited because finally our hard work, and the hard work of others, will pay off. And this is a great show, with real rain, and an incredibly hard working cast. But I'm also worried, and frustrated because even though, the students, the staff, and myself have really upped our advertising efforts, I know that our opening night crowd will be scarce. And I don't know why.

For some reason the same community that fills the house every night for Saint George Community Theatre productions doesn't show the same type of support for Dixie State College Theatre productions, or for that matter any other community theatre venue. (See: The Space Between, Dixie Dramatic Arts) As I've considered reasons why, I ruled out quality of the show. I think that I can honestly, and unbiasedly say, that Dixie State College Theatre productions are at least as good as SGMT productions. In every aspect: talent, set design, lighting design, etc... The shows that we put on the stage are always top notch.

I know that part of it has to do with our lack of marketing. We don't have the big banners, or the radio spots, or the bill boards, or the sponsors, that SGMT has... but we do advertise.

I'm embarrassed for the community to say that I'm sure part of it has to do with show selection. The college sometimes does 'less-known' plays, but I would hope that the community would be excited at the opportunity to see something new. Instead, if they've never heard of it, they don't bother coming to see it. That's really a shame, because we have put on some really great shows.

I really don't know why things are this way, but since the Dolores Eccles building was constructed a Dixie State College Theatre main stage production has never sold out. I remember last year when I was in 'I Hate Hamlet' we sold less than 30 tickets on opening night. There is nothing more disheartening as an actor to walk out on stage after 3 months of rigorous rehearsal and seeing empty seats.

My goal is not to guilt people into coming to see our shows. I just hope that as time goes on our reputation will grow, and I hope that people can start to trust that they will see high quality entertainment on our stages. In the mean time I'll keep blowing our horn as loud as I can so that at least people know what they're missing. Because our students deserve a crowd. And the community deserves to see these shows.

I'm through complaining... I just have to end with a shameless plug here... sorry.

Dixie State College Theatre opens 110 in Shade on Thursday March 5th at 7:30 pm, and will run through March 14th on the Dolores Eccles main stage. It's going to be a fantastic (family friendly) show complete with song, dance, and rain! Yes, REAL rain! Based on the play 'The Rainmaker' set in 1930's Texas. Joel Thomas called 110 in the Shade the play that Oklahoma wishes it was.

For tickets call: 435-652-7800

or visit: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase

Join our event on Facebook!

Tell your friends! And your family! And your neighbors! And your co-workers! And your cousins! And your cousins neighbors! Tell everyone!


**Let me just add, just in case, that I love SGMT productions and I think it's great that they get the support they deserve. I hope that I haven't suggested anything otherwise in this post.

The Actors List

These things are kind of a guilty pleasure for me. You don't have to read it if you don't want to... but I love filling them out. Especially because this one is all about acting. 

That Actors List.

LAST SHOW ADDED TO YOUR RESUME:
'Things that Fall from the Sky' - It was a new play that we work-shopped at KCACTF It was very cool. 

LAST SHOW YOU AUDITIONED FOR?
The Utah Shakespearian Festival 

DID YOU GET IT?
I don't know yet... I sure hope so. 

LAST SONG/MONOLOGUE YOU USED AT AN AUDITION:
Monologues: "If you have tears..." from 'Julius Caesar' and one from 'Death of a Salesman'

Songs: I sang and played on my guitar "Don Quixote" by Gordon Lightfoot

FAVORITE MUSICAL(s):
Hard one... lets see, 

Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Lend Me a Tenor: The Musical, One Life: The Story of Nathan Hale.

FAVORITE PLAY(s):
A Thing of Beauty, I Hate Hamlet, Foxfire, The Game of Chess.

FAVORITE ROLE YOU'VE PLAYED, AND FROM WHAT SHOW?
Action - West Side Story 

FAVORITE ROLE OVERALL THAT I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY:
John Proctor - The Crucible... 

SUPERSTITION:
I don't know if you can really call this a superstition, but I like to drink half of an energy drink before I go on, and the other half at intermission. I know they're awful... but it makes me feel better. 

YOUR GOAL IN SHOW BUSINESS:
I'd really love to find my place in the 'theatre/film' world where I can support my family doing what I love without sacrificing my integrity, or redefining my morals. Whether that's acting, designing, directing, teaching, or all of the above only time will tell. 

FAVORITE DIRECTOR YOU HAVE EVER WORKED WITH:
Varlo Davenport and Michael Harding both for different reasons. Though I would've love to have more time working with Jim Holmes... a week just isn't enough. Brent Hanson is right up there as well. 

WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST SHOW?
West Side Story... and it changed my life. 

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DANCE SOLO?
I've never had a "solo" per se... but I've been in a cluster of "featured dancers" several times. 

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SINGING SOLO?
Yes

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THE LAST PERSON TO TAKE A BOW?
Just once. 

HAVE YOU BEEN TO NEW YORK?
I've been to the state while I was the Production Assistant for The Hill Cumorah Pageant, but never in the city. 

HAVE YOU BEEN TO LA?
Yeah... I love the ocean, but I'm not crazy about the city. 

WHAT'S THE SCARIEST PART OF AN AUDITION?
When the person who is right before you is in there. 

WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF AN AUDITION?
Being right in the moment. I actually really enjoy auditioning, I view it as another opportunity to perform. And I love performing. 

NAME A SHOW YOU WOULD NEVER DO AGAIN:
The Game of Chess... I would do the show again, but not in those circumstances. 

NAME A SHOW YOU COULD DO FOR YEARS:
West Side Story, or I Hate Hamlet, and if it wasn't for the make-up I could've done Sweeney Forever.

WHAT ARE YOU AUDITIONING FOR NEXT?
I have a call back for The Neil Simon Festival on the 28th. 

DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH PAST CAST MEMBERS?
Yeah, most of them I see at school. But the others I'm still great friends with. Gotta love facebook. 

ON A SCALE OF 1-10, HOW IMPORTANT IS GETTING PAID?
Hmm... well, right now it's not super important because I'm still in school. But as time goes on it's going to be very important. This is how I want to support my family. It's hard to do that without getting paid. So, to balance the two out I'll say a 7.5 ish...

SOMETHING EMBARRASSING OR UNEXPECTED THAT HAPPENED TO YOU WHILE ON STAGE?
Oh geez... the worst moment ever happened during a 1950's musical review show called 'Twist the Night Away.' We had a eight month run so I hate to admit that some nights we were on autopilot. Anyway, I was singing 'That'll be the Day' by Buddy Holly and I was all decked out with the glasses and everything. But as I I came to the verse "You give me all you money and your, your turtle dovin'" I just kept singing 'That'll be the day..." Over and over again. I sang about a minute straight of 'That'll be the day" and I didn't even realize it until I was off stage. 

WHO IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PERSON (ON STAGE OR OFF) THAT YOU HAVE EVER WORKED WITH?
In show business you never name names... but I worked with a student director a while ago that had no idea what he/she was doing. The rehearsal process was awful, no advertising was done, so by the time we opened the only people in the audience were our family members. The whole process was extremely painful and I was thrilled when it was over. 

WHAT IS YOUR ONSTAGE PET PEEVE?
Greedy actors who try to still focus at the expense of the show. Playing for laughs etc...

WHAT IS YOUR BACKSTAGE PET PEEVE?
Disrespect. Talking back stage, being late for call, back biting, note giving, etc...

EVER BEEN NAKED ONSTAGE? WOULD YOU???
No, and No.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KILLED?
Yes, in Sweeney I had my throat slit, and my head bashed in... good times. 

BEEN DRUNK?
I've played a drunk character...

PLAYED SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE?
No. 

PLAYED SOMEONE TWICE YOUR AGE?
Twice, three times, and four times my age. 

CRIED?
... this is a sensitive subject. I played a character that 'bawled'... but I can't cry. The audience thought I did... but I didn't. 

FIRED A GUN?
Actually no... use switch blades and swords. But I've never fired a gun. Sad. 

BEEN DRENCHED?
Not yet, but on Monday were rehearsing with rain for '110 in the Shade!'

BEEN IN A DREAM SEQUENCE?
Not that I can recall... The Spoon River Anthology is kind of one big Dream Sequence. 

BEEN KISSED?
Yes.

An Interview

A friend of mine recently posted this thing called 'an interview moment' and the deal is that she has to interview the first five people who want to be interviewed... I thought it sounded like fun, so here is Tamari's interview of myself. 

1. You are married to a very talented women, way to go on that! I am aware that among her many talents she is a choreographer. Do you dance? Even if you don't, if you could choreograph any musical or ballet what would it be and why?

First of all thanks! My wife is amazing, and for those of you who don't know she is choreographing (and starring in) Dixie State College's 110 in the Shade right now! (It opens on March 5th... go see it.) As for my self... I'm more of a mover rather than a dancer, although I usually pick up on things relatively quickly. If I could choreograph any musical or ballet I would like to turn a regular musical into a ballet... Like Sweeney Todd -  The Ballet or something like that. Now that I think about it, 110 would make a great Ballet.  

2. You seem to me to be a deep thinker AND a very spiritual person. Who are your heroes in Academics? In Religion? (They can be dead or living.)

Wow, again thanks. This is a tough question for sure. I think in academics I'm going to have to say Ayn Rand... her book "Atlas Shrugged" has made a big impact on my life. I love her view on the greatness of man, and his or her potential. I love the idea of working hard to earn, and deserve what you get. And I love that her characters never back down from a problem... they never give up. I must mention however that she fails to make room for a key ingredient that I believe a successful human being needs; and that's charity. She won't allow it. And that's were my religious views come in to balance things out. If I have to pick just one religious hero I think it has to be Christ. There are several other incredible men and women that I look up to, but they would all be upset if I named them instead of my Savior. I apologize for the 'obvious' answer... 

3. From what I've observed your family is close and all of you get along well. Are their any traditions that you do with your immediate family that you want to carry on with your wife and children? 

Yeah, my family is great. Some traditions that I really love happen on Christmas. Every Christmas morning we're led into the kitchen with our eyes closed to eat blueberry muffins and drink eggnog before we've even seen the presents. The anticipation is so much fun, and we get some family time before the excitement of opening the presents takes over. Then the day after Christmas we usually go shopping with our Christmas money and then go see a movie or a play that night.

4. You are such a nice, easy going guy. Do you ever get confrontational? How do you deal with the 'jerks' of the world? Have you gotten into an all out shouting match or fist fight with someone?

Tamari, you're making me sound like I'm much cooler than I actually am. Haha. "Keeping my cool" is something that is very important to me. I think it comes from the realization that in most situations losing you temper, getting stressed out, or worrying does absolutely nothing towards solving the problem. So keeping calm, is usually a lot easier than getting all heated. Although I'm definitely not perfect and sometimes I do get upset. My triggers are broken promises, and obligations. (When people say they're going to do something, and then don't I tend to get frustrated.) And then of course anytime anyone offends, threatens, or upsets my wife or family I get very defensive. Other than that I TRY to stay pretty chill, and I can usually get along with anyone. 

5. You love the theater and have so much talent in that area. What is your dream role and why?

This is another question that is near impossible to answer. I think I'm just going to have to make a list of characters I would love to play. 

*Sweeney Todd - Sweeney Todd *Either lead man in Singing in the Rain *John Proctor - The Crucible 

* Macbeth - Macbeth *Hamlet - Hamlet *Nathan Hale - One Life *The Pirate King - The Pirates of Penznace

I don't know... every character always has some new and exciting element about them. I just like acting, regardless of the character, but those are a few that I hope I can get my hands on some day. 

Thanks for all the questions Tamari! 

I guess the deal now is that any of you who want to be interviewed just let me know, and I'll e-mail you five questions. Thanks for reading!

-Travis_