HOT PLUGS IN THE SUMMER TIME

First things first: FINE, I’m on Instagram: Stop asking . According to my friend and Social Media guru Monet, This will be the next big step towards the recognition I deserve. It didn’t sound that sinister at the time.

JUST FINISHED (woops):

I went back to the park and lost about 10 lbs. of water weight to play the Duke of Venice (as opposed to the now more politically awkward title “Doge”) in OTHELLO for Shakespeare Dallas. That reminds me- I need to stop by an ATM on the way to the cast party so I can take home my sweet costume from the show.

See? Why would they whip up a fancy IG graphic if it weren’t true?!

ONGOING:

Once again, I’m riding the #Inmanime crazy train (RIP Mr. Osbourne, you lasted longer than any of us expected) as “Gaku” in NYAIGHT OF THE LIVING CAT for Crunchyroll. Tune in (Stream in?) for deadpan delivery and once-an-episode cat care tips.

Gaku in Nyaight of the Living Cat

Gee, I suppose I ought to get new a new headshot sometime soon. I shaved my beard off, like, five days ago. (Image courtesy of Crunchyroll, Inc.)

COMING SOON, AND BOY HOWDY:

A little background: Pegasus Theatre, my “Home” theatre company for about fifteen years, split ways with the Charles W. Eisemann Center in Richardson two years ago as the home for producing the “Living Black and White(tm)” series of plays. Que Lastima, sic transit gloria, Long live the Grouse.

However, this fall, The Hunsacker Gang is playing a limited engagement as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center Elevator Project. MACMURDER! has apparently been gestating in Kurt Kleinmann’s head for a year or so now, and rehearsals start next month under director Becki McDonald, long time friend of just about everybody in the company. It’s a little exciting because the script is still being written. It’s a little terrifying for the exact same reason.

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So yeah, not much of a lazy summer. Which is fine. Papa needs to pay off this electric bill. For now, I’ll leave you with this image from this time a year ago of my friends with some props I made for a show.

ABOVE: Cody Tabor (L) and Hollis Beck with a Meat Tenderizer and a giant cheese grater shield in “Herbbits, Wizards, and Borks, Oh My” at Pocket Sandwich Theatre, 2024. Directed by my former roommate Speck and Assistant Directed by me. The Grater Shield is still hanging in my office. Photo Courtesy of Pocket Sandwich Theatre/Joel Hashop.

Dropping in for Summer

Hello! Didn’t see you hiding there under the porch. You’ll probably get eaten by mosquitoes before you catch a glimpse of me… been on about two or three projects at a time between work and, well, more work.

• SHAKESPEARE EVERYWHERE 5th ANNIVERSARY: I’ll be appearing as “Cleante” in a 45-minute cutting of Moliere’s Tartuffe as part of a Western Canon menage a trois. Tartuffe will be joined by Romeo & Juliet and Medea for the best three hours you’ll spend this summer waiting for someone to go up on lines. Visit their FB page for even more info.

• “HERBBITS, WIZARDS, AND BORKS, OH MY!” AT POCKET SANDWICH THEATRE: Holy crap, that’s a mouthful. I’m assistant directing the summer melodrama at Pocket- a Lord of the Rings spoof that’s as goofy as it is moving. Or at least it will be, if we can get out from under all the popcorn. What? You haven’t seen a Pocket melodrama? I’m not sure we can be friends. Go. Not now, but soon.

• [TBA]: I’m exercising a “Gentleman’s embargo” here, because while there’s definitely a show happening, I don’t know enough about it to blab. But July will be a good season to check in on one of my favorite old haunts.

  Okay, that was a lot of text. Before I check out, here’s a great shot by a coworker of my set design for “Squirrel Girl Goes to College” at Dallas College Eastfield. Hope to see you this Summer!
  

Catching Up

I looked at a couple of potential first blog entries from 2018 when I started this website, and golly bob howdy, did I not see the next four years coming. Those have been euthanized before doing any retrospective embarassment.

Anyway, here I am in 2023- not dead, not broke, and still pretty lousy at predicting the future. Unless it involves these projects you may also enjoy:

ONGOING: I’m the english dub voice of Roberto in Trigun Stampede, an anime series streaming now on Crunchyroll (subscription required).

Roberto is a reporter who loves the truth almost as much as he loves crinkled cigarettes.

ALSO ONGOING: I’m also the English Dub voice(s) of Kanjuro and Shachi in the long-running series One Piece.

Those following the “Wano arc” episodes should file this away for later. Those of you who’ve read the manga or are watching the subtitled episodes, don’t be a dink and spoil anything.

COMING SOON: I return to the basement as “First Monk” in Undermain Theatre’s workshop production of David Rabe’s play He’s Born, He’s Borne. How many monks are there? What do this unspecified number of monks do? Why would I tell you without your buying a ticket?

On a personal note, I’m winding down a three-week vacation. 10/10, would recommend, Everyone deserves a free almost-month once in a while, etc. I may not be that clairvoyant, but I can tell without a scrying bucket I’ll miss these days in about a month.