Hometown: Sandusky, OH
Education: University of Miami
Favorite Credits: Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt, Penn Shakes), Merry Wives of Windsor (Peter Simple, Texas Shakes), Forum (Marcus Lycus, Connecticut Rep Theatre), Dog Sees God (CB, The University of Miami)
Why theater?: Cuz there's not future in drag racing anymore. I've always loved theatre and I tried to shy away from it when I went to College. I originally applied to schools for journalism and then after my first year of undergrad I decided I wanted to get a degree in performance. You only live once and this is what I want to do with that life!
Tell us about The Connector: The Connector is a play about a young gay guy with an impeccable ability to charm his way through relationships, but can't seem to stay attached to anyone. He searches for a deep, meaningful connection so intensely and incorrectly that he can't even see the friendship he should be embracing. He misses the connection he could have because he thinks sex is the link to the relationship he craves.
What inspired you to create The Connector?: It stemmed from this idea of an extremely likable person who is completely miserable. Social interaction has changed so much in the last few years and I remember thinking it was fascinating that a person could get a Facebook status to reach 150 likes but of those 150 people how many of them really cared about that person? Who are they close to? The idea of loneliness amidst popularity really kept screaming at me.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Great storytelling. I love groundbreaking theatre and obviously it is exciting when someone comes up with something new, but there's nothing I love more than when a show simply nails a story arc and you've been on the ride the entire time. The Heiress was my favorite show of this Broadway season. It's not a new or particularly exciting story but that production took you from A to Z so perfectly and focused so much on the beauty of a story and getting to watch a person change.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Susan Blackwell. She's my comedic hero. I want to keep her used band aids and packs of her hair in a jar in my room. Is that weird?
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Sonia and Vanya and Masha and Marcee Mae Marlene and Marsha Marsha Marsha and Creole Lady Marmalade and Spike. Incredible comedy.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Sophia Grace. It would hopefully be called something like "Out of the Woods" and be all about my gender transformation.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I never feel guilty about any of my pleasure, but I do enjoy... Baywatch, Dawson's Creek and The Facts of Life... proudly.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: A movie star.
What’s up next?: I've been writing a web series with my brother that I'm super excited about!! As soon as The Connector is over I hope to focus on getting that filmed! I'm also playing Henry in N2N and Tommy in Pterodactyles in January in upstate New York.
For more on The Connector, check out http://youtu.be/4Jc2C9MawxY
