VILLAGE

"You crawl that way," Bob said pointing to a hole in the wall
"Oh God something chewed up my costume," someone exclaims
"Damn rats!"
I climb through the hole with saxophone in hand to accompany Cornet Man from Funny Girl
Once I get through the hole to the band in the pit I'm greeted with smiles
They're good
Really good
They also look like Muppets
Living underground in this dank dark space
And I love it

VILLAGE THEATRE

My first audition
I was scared
Intimidated
Everyone else knew each other and hugs were a plenty
I sat in the corner
I'd spent months listening to the sound track
Making part after part
at Component Products Corporation
My Dad's aerospace machine shop
Part after part
But I had a discman
and the CD to the Australian recording of Jesus Christ Superstar
So I listened
and listened
and made part after part
and listened
and then I saw an audition advertisement in the paper
Village Theatre
Seeking: Jesus
Well,
I spent hours and hours pulling that lathe in the shop
and singing the music in my head
When it was my time I let it out
After the audition
Steve pulls me aside

Steve: So Steitzer wants you to play Mr. Snow. Do you want to play Mr. Snow or Jesus?
Me: Jesus
Steve: Well Jesus didn't look like a farm boy, you're going to be in a loincloth on a cross for Christ's sake
I lost 30 pounds to play that role

Then there was Hearbeats and Funny Girl
and then
Like a dandelion blown into the wind
I was off
and floating around the country

A funny Hearbeats story
We were in previews
at the original space on Front Street
You probably don't know that show
Probably
It was written by Amanda Mcbroom
She wrote the song
The Rose
It's in the show
You do know that song
Probably
The opening number has us hitting our marks
and
standing in our spots singing
Thing is
This day
is molting/mating season for termites
Most people don't know that termites can fly
They can
For like a day
Then they lose their wings and start chomping on wood
Well this was termite day!
And we were on stage
Termites like the warm light
Like it a lot
So as we stood there on and in our spots
The termites were drawn to us
Singing
They flitted around our heads
Landed on us
Crawled across our bodies
Till Judy cried out,
"I can't take it!"
And ran off the stage
Crew came on the stage with spray cans
Steve took the stage
"We're still working out the bugs"

After 15 years I came back
My first show was
   
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
This time as Pontius Pilate
It's a pretty cool thing to play a role
and then years later see it from a different angle
and though the theater was now bigger and newer with less bugs and rats
It was the same family
It was home
Issaquah, Wa
I don't know how you got so lucky to be home to one of
the best theaters in the country
Well
Actually I do
Rob and Steve
and the whole cast of characters that make Village a family
The crew
and
a band of  Muppets

BILLY ELLIOT

Every show I started
Stage Left!
With Kate Takata!
and Brian and Quinn
Brian and Quinn shared the role of Michael
a tap dancing
cross dressing
fabulous character
They were so good
and such nice engaging young men
I loved doing this show
Belting
WE WALK PROUDLY AND WE WALK STRONG
ALL TOGETHER WE WILL GO AS ONE
The moment that sticks with me the most though
was the final show for each of these young men
"See ya  Billy'" says Michael
I watched from the wings
The emotion was visceral
They both knew it was goodbye and they said it on stage
It ended the show
It was powerful
Here they are saying goodbye to their friend
At the same time saying goodbye to their youth
Both of them brought me to tears


NEWSIES

Those boys
check that
Those men
They were so dedicated
and delivered every day
There is something magic
about seeing a group of people give their all
Their All
Every Damn Day


LES MISERABLES
I really don't know what to say
I just feel blessed to have played
Jean Valjean
at my favorite theater in the world
thanks
VILLAGE

Clear Lake Ballet and Repertory Company

2003
New York
I'm the Stand-by for Bud and Wes in Urban Cowboy
Stand-by means I'm not in the ensemble but I'm there if either two leads go down
It's kind of a stressful job
Sitting on the bench
Always ready to go in
But not quite fully prepared
Oh, you are prepared
But doing it is different than watching it
practicing it in the bathroom mirror
But this isn't a story about Urban Cowboy
Those will come
This is a story about the time it was closing
and I got a job offer
To play Curly in Oklahoma
in Houston
at
Clear Lake Ballet and Repertory Company
I told my agent, "no"
"They are willing to pay what you are making now"
"On Broadway"
"Three weeks rehearsal and ummm two shows"
That changed my mind
2003
Houston
I've played Curly before
Twice
I had no clue who Clear Lake Ballet was but I'm in
Oh, I am in
When I get there I find they are a great group
It's a pretty large space where youth learn ballet
It's well run
It's clear the producer and director wants to put on a spectacle
This is going to be a big production
The dancers are amazing
Young
But clearly well taught
Rehearsals go well
We had three weeks to get things right
Opening night the director comes up to Ali Hakeem
"I got your monkey!!!"
"What?"
"I got your monkey!"
She wanted lots of animals incorporated into the show
Dogs walking by
A chicken here or there
There was a horse
But
There had never been mention of a monkey
To my surprise Jaime took it in stride
"let me meet him....well hello little fellow"
"AAAAaaaa" screamed the monkey and hit him in the face

It was scary
He went on with that monkey that night
With no rehearsal
You sir
are
a
Pro

HAVE YOU EVER?

Bloomfield, NJ
It's a beautiful summer day
I fire up the grill
I'd purchased seasoned wood from Home Depot
It takes a while
It starts to rain so I pull the grill to the edge of the open garage
We stand there talking
Randy and I
My attention is on the grill
"Have you ever?" says Randy
Pointing to my feet
There is a Morning Dove nearly on my foot
Look, I know Rock Doves (Pigeons) aren't afraid of people
But Morning Doves are skittish
I play it off
"Yeah birds dig me
and
I love birds
Except for Crows
Damn crows!"

NOTE TO SELF

We were in rehearsal at 42nd street studios
It was arduous and joyous
We were trying to block an intricate scene
An idea was proposed
I thought, well that won't work
The AD Tara looked at me
"I can see by the look on Mr. Stone's face he doesn't think this will work."
I was stunned
I had no idea I had a look on my face
"We will try it nevertheless."
We tried it
It didn't work
"Well, apparently Mr. Stone was correct."
Note to self
Keep your face in check

POP THE TRUNK

We were leaving Golden Gardens again
It was a quiet gray night
On a slim path back to the parking lot
We encountered a pack of teens carrying a keg
They were wearing green Letterman's jackets
Football players
We're minding our own business but
They put down the keg
Give a shove and a poke
Deride us
Challenge us to a fight
I figure I can take 2 maybe 3
Same for Erock
But there are 7 of them
2 of us
That doesn't add up right
So we take the bullying
Manage to make it past them and go on our way
When we get to the parking lot there are only 2 cars
Mine an 85 Red and Black Mustang with T-tops
and
A muscle car with green bumper stickers
The hood was warm
"You still got that bat in the trunk?" Erock asked
"Always," I said
"Pop the trunk."
"Start the car."

PRIZE

I'm lying in (not on) my water bed trying to sleep when the phone rings
I struggle to get to the phone
"Is this Mr. Stone?"
"Ummm yes."
Congratulations Mr. Stone you have won a free portrait sitting."
I sit up
I won a prize
Then I fall over
It's a water bed remember
Here is the thing
I was 17
I literally thought I won a free portrait sitting
I call my best friend
"We are getting our picture taken.
Dress up.
We're going to the Alderwood Mall."
There is this whole photo shoot
It takes time
It costs money
A week later they call and say,
"Come in for your free picture."
Then they spend an hour trying to sell me all these photos at prices I couldn't pay
I was making $3.25 an hour at Mc'donalds
I really thought I had won a prize
Sometimes I feel bad about it
But I did get my prize

REVIEW

Ft. Worth
I'm sitting at the bar The Flying Saucer
It's right across from the theater
Having a beer
by myself
A man saddles up a couple chairs away
We sit there and sip
He looks over at me and says, "You were in that show."
Nodding toward Bass Performance Hall
"Yeah."
There is a pause
"It's the first thing I've ever watched about Vietnam since I was there."
Silence
I don't know what to say
Thanks for your service feels...out of place
The moment lingers
"I was there that day," he says
"Helicopter pilot."
I can see in his eyes he's telling the truth
There is hurt there
"Oh," I say
Another pause
"You got it right."
He takes a sip
"You got it right."
Best
Review
Ever