Hometown: Boston
Education: Brandeis
Favorite Credits: Seen/By Everyone (of course), The US Premiere of The Golden Dragon, Spin City & my one-man show Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God
Why theater?: There is nothing like the rush of performing live and connecting with your audience in real time.
Tell us about Seen / By Everyone: After much research, we were very drawn to the way we were mourning (ones self) and dying online. Something so private has become so public. This was common practice back in the days of ancient Greece. In modern culture, this is new and really hits home. We wanted to explore this phenomenon to shed some light on it.
What inspired you to create Seen / By Everyone?: I was frustrated by constantly being cast in roles that were defined because of my background or the color of my skin. It is no secret that there is a lack of diversity in the industry today. People who look like me are often cast as terrorists, cab drivers or someone who has to or must speak with an accent. Instead of just complaining, I decided to do something about it. I knew I could create something amazing and think outside the box with the outstanding talents talents of Meg MacCary, Matthew Cohn, Jen Taher and Norm Munoz. Seen / By Everyone definitely has a group of diverse creators as will as a beautiful cast of multi-ethnic actors.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I am really drawn to new work & plays, especially ones in which you see actors of all diverse backgrounds cast, and their ethnicity does not define the roles they play. It’s 2000 f--ing 16 and sometimes our industry is so stuck in the dark ages. I must say I do admire James Franco. He does whatever he wants. Takes on so many different kinds of roles and just doesn’t care what people think. I admire that. He is a risk taker and a cutting edge actor. That inspires me.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Put me in any scene with the actors on "The Walking Dead" or smack in the middle of Vera Farmiga & Freddie Highmore in "Bates Motel". And Jessica Lange is a given.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: If they do the revival of Sunset Boulevard, that just recently closed on the West End with Glenn Close, on Broadway…I would say run!
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Umm, can we bring back Clark Gable or Cary Grant? Omar Sharif (jr) would do a bang up job and it would be called “The Little Prince That Could.”
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Who wouldn’t want to go back in time and see Brando & Tandy in A Streetcar Named Desire & Streisand in Funny Girl?
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Batman. I love the duality.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Dead … I am dramatic after all ☺
What’s up next?: The 2nd staging of Seen/By Everyone…this is only the first step, along with some TV and VO work peppered in for good measure.
For more on Amir, visit www.AmirDarvish.com. For more on Seen/By Everyone visit SeenByEveryone.com and Facebook.com/seenbyeveryone
