"Oh Look Another Glorious Morning. It Makes Me sick."- Winifred Sanderson Hocus Pocus
Have we met?
I have moved scenery and swept up broken glass between sets all while learning the very flow of the show from the back side where I may not have to learn lines but my dance and marks are as complicated as those on stage. I have been forced to be out front for shows when the speakers fail to work because of rainy weather and the actors had to shout their lines. I have frantically ran to cover set and scenery when sudden downpours came up and canceled outdoor shows. Knowing even as we got the call the show was done for the audience, it was far from over for me and the cast as we then had to break down and load up in the muddy quagmire afterwards. Oh yes I have been there more than anyone will ever know.
I have done my bit as an actor and cast manager as well when being part of the long closed Ocean City Screams ,Ocean City Maryland live scare haunt. I went in to do makeup and then became a minor actor. I got promoted to a key spot in the attraction and every haunt actor will tell you - that is improv acting at it's finest. You have a spot that is your personal stage and you are given freedom to spin your own story. You can creating a role and stick to it or change everything from group to group as the whim strikes you. Many was the time I had to judge my audience and quickly decide how to best play my role. It was great fun and hard work. When I was not acting I might be found managing the actors that night and keeping things going and spirits up when the nights were slow. Other nights I was the Barker and shouted the rules to the new groups before they went in. Tricky business assessing the group of folks before you, keeping their attention and setting the mood all while you listen for the sounds to say that the stage behind you was set and ready for the next victims. Again long hours and hard work but a valuable set of skills.
Point being in all this? I have done far more than most people will ever know and now I am ready to start into my 2022 Convention season. Bouncing from Comic to Science Fiction/Fantasy to Horror means I see some of the same crowd but each one has it's own vibes. Keep watching or your might miss me. I blend in with the crowd and stand out in them too.
**Next up is Mini Photo Sessions for Culling innovations at Pemberton Park MD as their special guest with my own spin on Alice in Wonderland 's iconic Mad Hatter. March 26 2022.**