It’s been a while but a lot has happened

I do humbly apologize for my in frequent posts. Sometimes it’s hard to be an artist when you also have to be a functional human adult. I believe the last time I posted was September of 2024.

Here’s what’s happened since then.

In October, something happened that wasn’t even on my bingo card for the year 2024. I received a nomination for the Alamo Theatre Arts Council (ATAC) award for Best Adapted/Original Script for #Cinderella. Not only that, but The Possession (a show I performed in) was also nominated for drama acting awards for most of my cast mates, best director drama, best production drama, fight choreography, and best adapted/original script. For the uninitiated, the ATAC awards are much like the Tony awards for the city of San Antonio. So throughout that month was stressful not only thinking of what dress to wear, but also whether I should write down something to say if I were to win in my category. Which is one of my nightmares come to life. It's ironic that an actor is frightened of public speaking and that's a whole other blog entry altogether.

In November I had a first. For the first time I was an understudy for a show, a Christmas show called The Perfect Gift. The character is one I never thought I'd get to play. A small but really important to the story-kind of like Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, he was on screen for less than twenty minutes who steals the show, and wins the Oscar. Spoiler alert, I never got to go on as the character. There was never even an understudy night performance. But that's one to add to the bucket list.

That very same month was the ATAC awards. In hindsight, I wish I had gone with a group. I say that for two reasons. One, to have people by my side cheering me on if I won or cheer me up if I lost. Two, I don't have to be the designated driver… just kidding. Sadly, I did not win the award. Which in itself is also a huge relief because as previously mentioned, due to my anxiety I forgot to write an acceptance speech. Again, I know, I see the irony. The upside, The Possession won for Best Adapted/ Original script (which I’m not mad for losing to this show for as an actor it was a well written script) as well as Best Fight Choreography.

Moving on, throughout the first half of 2025, I was in director mode. I returned to the director's chair with a comedy called Thirteen Roses. The synopsis: A couple, who can’t afford a wedding decide to hold multiple weddings (thirteen to be specific) in the hopes of making a profit from the admission to their weddings. Throughout the show it’s more or less a love story. Whether it’s young love, in the case of the protagonists, love lost and found again through the supporting characters, and love lasting even after death with the parents of the bride. At the end of the show love more or less perseveres.

This entire process of directing a show can take a lot out of you, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Through it all, the playwright (who submitted a funny script that also made you believe in love), the cast (who always made me laugh at each rehearsal and performances), the crew (who help keep the show running from behind the curtains), and the Overtime Theater all came together in a wonderful show that may not win awards, but will have you leave the theatre smiling. Also, shout out to my friend Shawn Kjos for helping me put together the sparkly Evel Knievel suit I had in my head after reading the script. Another shout out should be given to my sister-in-law who helped me out in getting all the floral decorations and putting together a beautiful bouquet for the thirteenth weddings.

Once the show opened, I immediately was back on the stage, as an ensemble member in a historical drama which I’ve been told should be made into a movie. The Battle of Bamber Bridge. I’m a history buff, but I never knew about this battle, and yes, it’s based on a real story. Bamber Bridge is a real town in England; specifically in Lancashire. The show is about a racial incident concerning African American soldiers stationed overseas in World War II and the white Military Police. All of it took place at a pub called the Ye Olde Hobb Inn, which is still in operation at the time of writing. I was fortunate to portray a pub regular, who sings Danny Boy at a pivotal moment in the show. Each night, there is never a dry eye in the audience, and I’m lucky to be apart of this surprisingly relevant show.

The company of The Battle of Bamber Bridge performing “Kiss Me Goodnight, Sgt. Major.” I’m in the far right with a pint.

The last show that I was apart of through the summer of 2025, immediately after Bamber Bridge, is an original piece written by my good friend Georgie Lee, Calling. This play is about a spoken word poet who has to take a job at a call center in order to earn enough money to go to a poetry slam. My role in this? The Human Resources Robot, or HR Robot. I was able to record my lines and have them play out through a Bluetooth speaker through my iPad. I was there to assist in moving the set pieces (including the speaker set up), and help some of my cast mates with quick changes. This show does hit a little close to home, for I’m also a working artist with a full-time job outside of the arts. I swear, there were times where I had asked Georgie if they were a mind reader, because the job I work in is in a similar field and some of the lines were something I would hear almost on a daily basis.

They swear that it’s just a coinsidence.

Yes, I record my lines in a closet.

So where does that leave me? Right now I'm still auditioning, writing, and doing what I can to keep myself busy until I get that call... Or email in this case. Again, I’m sorry for the long wait. I’ll try to keep posting. Until next time.