Hometown: Golden, Colorado
Education: Life. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Favorite Credits: The past couple months I have been really fortunate: I composed the music and played it live in True Believer at TheaterLab; it is a one woman show, and the actress that played the woman is my sister Kersti Bryan, so that was a very special run for me. Less than a week later I was in Scotland, and I had the opportunity to play my music at Dundee Rep Theater, opening for singer-songwriter Horse McDonald. Then immediately after that I flew out to LA to visit a friend and by chance I got to see a screening of an animation I composed the music for: The Walker by Heather Collins, Produced by Matt Groening.
Why theater?: Well... I love stories. On top of that though, there is just something so powerful about them unfolding in front of us live... There we sit grouped together as individuals and as a collective to witness it. It's kinda weird right...? I LOVE IT!
Tell us about Growing into My Beard: Let's see... it is a quirky coming-of-age story of sorts that follows my personal journey of coming out, flying far from home, and inevitably ending up where I am now. Ultimately it's about self-acceptance and love, and is told through my songs, farcical dance, musical improvisations, anecdotes, with dash of drag queen thrown somewhere in!
What inspired you to create Growing into My Beard?: Since arriving in NYC I've been feeling my way through the singer-songwriter world and the theater world; even though they are both performance, they are very different market-places and I suppose I've been trying to find where they can intersect... So I guess this show is sort of the product of that effort- a piece where I get to tell a story that both involves my music and whatever the hell else I want to do.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Stories with heart. done.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: There are so many I can't even think... I'll shoot for the stars: Ian McKellen, because he's Ian McKellen.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Matilda, because I love that story, and because Tim Minchen is such a talented and quirky songwriter, and then to have him write the music and lyrics for the show was an interesting choice which I thought it worked beautifully!
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Kersti Bryan in drag because we kind of look identical, although she's far prettier than I... I think it would be called "Growing into My Beard" :P
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I would have to say the original production of Hedwig.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Plants vs Zombies.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: a Killer Whale. definitely.
What’s up next?: A kombucha. Yes I think that will do the trick