Hometown:
JB: Huntington, West Virginia
PT: Jacksonville, Florida
Education:
JB: B.A. Public Relations, Marshall University, 2013
PT: B.F.A. Theatre Performance, Marshall University, 2013
Select Credits:
JB: Van’s Sister in Dog Sees God, Sunny in The Last Night of Ballyhoo
PT: Mr. Renfield in The Passion of Dracula, Hal in Proof, O’Shaunessy in Is He Dead?
Why theater?:
JB: It’s honest, and there is something really special about the amount of time, money and energy that so many people are constantly willing to sacrifice in order to make it happen.
PT: Theatre is such an intriguing device for story telling. It brings people of all backgrounds into the same space to experience something cathartic enough to make them think.
Who do you play in Pretty Theft?:
JB: No one! I’m the Assistant Director and Producer.
PT: I play Joe, an autistic savant who lives in a group home.
Tell us about Pretty Theft:
JB: Pretty Theft is the first show by Dark Matter Productions! It’s a dark but very sweet show, we really liked it because it focused on a character with a neurological disorder and features lots of ladies.
PT: Pretty Theft is my favorite type of show. It touches on important themes that are close to me, moves along quickly with numerous short scenes, and has quite a twist at the end.
What is it like being a part of Pretty Theft?:
JB: I’m enjoying it. We have a great group of people, all of whom are really enthusiastic and committed to the show. I’m amazed and grateful that they all decided to trust us as a new company and jump right in.
PT: It has been such an exciting and learning experience. As the Co-Producing Artistic Director along with acting in it I have my hands full but I am enjoying every minute of it!
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?:
JB: Authentic stories about human interaction. Anything that forces you to look at the world as it actually is.
PT: Same. I love watching raw emotion right in front of me. I love straight plays that are dark and smart. Theatre that really makes me think is what inspires me to do more of it.
Any roles you’re dying to play?:
JB: Harper in Angels In America, Van’s Sister on the DSG National Tour
PT: I would really love to play Tom in The Glass Menagerie.
What’s your favorite show tune?:
JB: At this moment, all of Aaron Burr’s songs in Hamilton. Also “Breathe” and “When You’re Home” from In The Heights. Definitely on a Lin-Manuel Miranda kick.
PT: I have literally not stopped listening to the Hamilton soundtrack since it was released a month ago.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?:
JB: There are so many people I’ve yet to work with, I don’t know if I have a good answer for that yet.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?:
JB: Ideally Beyoncé but realistically Ellen Page in "I’d Rather Not".
PT: Michael C. Hall in "I Can’t Sit Still…"
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?:
JB: I missed The Cripple of Inishmaan last season and will never forgive myself for it.
PT: I would have loved to have seen Little Shop of Horrors with Ellen Greene.
What show have you recommended to your friends?:
JB: Hamilton, Sleep No More.
PT: Hamilton, duh. But also Buzzer at the Public Theater. Actually, everything at The Public. It’s my favorite theatre, can you tell?
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?:
JB: Carly Rae Jepson.
PT: An entire case of Oreos and a gallon of milk.
What’s up next?:
JB & PT: A reading series inspired by Queen Bey!
For more on Dark Matter Productions and Pretty Theft, visit darkmatternyc.org