Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Education: University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM), BFA Acting
Favorite Credits: As an actor: Rabbit Hole (Pittsburgh Public Theater, Hartford TheaterWorks), A Skull in Connemara (Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater). As a playwright: A Friend (Rising Phoenix Rep's Cino Nights)
Why theater?: It's fun. It makes me happy. And the people. I got into theater when I was young cause I thought the people were really kind and cool and they were like me. They thought about things I thought about. I looked up to theater people, and I still do. It's magic what we do. It's all there is really for me. It's all I can do.
Tell us about Room for One: It's a play about lonely people. About what you give up to be with someone, romantically or otherwise. And it's about panic. And it's funny. I don't want to give anything away cause there are surprises. It's also about how massive the world is and how scary it is when things change. Here's the blurb: Kieran has learned that living in New York can be stressful… especially when you don't handle stress well. Meeting girls is even more stressful, particularly after your mom decides to move in with you. With heart, humor, and no small amount of panic, Kieran must decide how much his life (and apartment) can really hold.
What inspired you to write Room for One?: I had just arrived in New York and it was summer and I worked at a new French night club on weekends at night as a busser and I'd never done anything like that before and it was way hot all the time everywhere. And I was scared all the time and alone all the time. And I called home a lot. And at one point I was taking care of nine cats in Queens. And all that came together into this play. There are no cats in the play though.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I like simple, unsentimental plays. Stories that are funny and sad. Contemporary theater speaks to me. My grandfather inspires me a lot, the life he's led and the things he says; he's just really fascinating. The people I'm working with right now inspire me a lot. The Middle Voice has some extraordinary writers who inspire me. Lucy Thurber. My room mate Laurel, who's a pretty dope writer and interesting person. My friend Kristopher who's really funny.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Daniel Auken. I've read about how he directs, and I've seen some of the plays he's directed, and I think working with him on a new play (as an actor or playwright) would be challenging and a blast.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: The Gin Baby by Sarah Shaefer. A story worth telling and beautiful performances.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Roberto Benigni. It would be called: "Growing Up with a Mullet."
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Bathroom breaks at work.
What’s the most played song on your iTunes?: "Sky Blue Sky" by Wilco.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: A brewer maybe. That would be cool. But truly, I'd be lost.
What’s up next?: I'm gonna be working on a production of Twelfth Night with Middle Voice and Rising Phoenix Rep.
For more on Room for One, visit http://www.rattlestick.org/room-one/
