7-14-15 Audio Interview

As a boy Matt McGee would on a show for his mother, a nightclub performer. He’d copy sketches he saw on TV – with performers like Carol Burnett and became an accomplished mimic, he could “do anyone.” Although he performed in plays in school and “picked up some money singing” he didn’t take it seriously. His life-long interest in art caused him to major in Art History in College. For fun he auditioned for and got the role of Dr. Jekyll in the first college show. The Drama professors saw his talent and recruited him to give up become a Theater Major. Suddenly there was a lot to learn about performing and Matt dived in. Listen to the ironic way he got to play Carmen Miranda and how that influenced his life. And don’t miss his extraordinary performance as Mame in the freeFall Theatre production with opened 7/11 and runs till August 9th.

07-07-2015 Audio Interview

Will Luera, is the Artistic Director of the Florida Studio Theater Improv troupe. Will had no intention of having a career in theater or improvisation. He majored in physics and computer science in college and spent most of his working life in the computer field. But an announcement for an audition which required no script caught his attention and getting cast changed his life. While working at his “day gig” Will continued to pursue improvisation in every way he could. And now he gets to spend all of his time developing the Florida Studio Theater troupes’ expertise at improvisation and play on stage himself. Listen to this thoughtful man talk about the impact that experiencing improvisation has had on his life and he believes on the lives of all who practice it.

Hunter Brown is the accompanist for the Florida Studio Theater Improv troupe. In contrast to Will’s journey, Hunter seems always to have known that his life would be about music. Although he was home schooled he was able through “dual enrollment” to enroll in the music classes at the local middle school and when he was in high school to enroll in the music classes at a local college. Only just having graduated from high school Hunter is already making money as a musician. Listen to the ironic way he became the accompanist to the improve troupe – when the only improve he’d been exposed to was “Whose Line it is Anyway.” And hear him talk about the complex role he plays in the improve process.

6-30-15 Audio Interview

In this show I am airing my interview with singer, actor Tarra Conner jones who was last seen in Sarasota in the West Coast Black Theater Troupes production of The Black Nativity. When she was 11 or 12 years old Tarra’s pastor encouraged her to sing a solo in church. Until that moment she hadn’t thought much about her voice but when she saw the impact her singing had on the congregation, she knew that she was meant to sing. Listen to the roller coaster ride Tarra has taken to finally find herself doing what she was “always meant to do.” And come watch her do it in the West Coast Black Theater Troupes production of The Cotton Club Cabaret opening July 10th.

In this show I am also airing excerpts from Ira Lee Collins’ cabaret performance of The Gay Geezer. Unfortunately I lost the interview I did with this talented, funny, wise man. But I was able to get these pieces of his delightful performance and in honor of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to make same–sex marriage legal in all states, I am playing the courageous – almost octogenarian – Ira Lee Collins, in which he talks charmingly, poignantly and comically about a life in which he struggled to accept and embrace his sexual identity. If you want more information about Ira Lee you can contact SUSAN L. SCHULMAN (212) 921-4344 www.schulmanpublicity.com.

6-23-2015 Audio Interview

At the Banyan Theater this summer Don Walker stars in Art from 6/25-7/12 and directs My Old Lady with Donna Gerdes from 8/6-23 and Katherine Tanner reprises her extraordinary performance in The Amish Project from 7/16-8/2.

Don Walker knew he wanted to act from the moment he stepped on stage in the third grade. And although he studied theater in college and graduate school, life made it necessary for him to use his other skills to make a living. Serendipitously, Don’s straight job relocated to Sarasota and after a hiatus of 26 years he risked the audition process (with knees a-knocking). Of course talented as he is he was immediately scooped up by local theaters and is once again able to “feed his heart and soul.” Listen to this gentle, self-deprecating man talk about the art (no pun intended) of acting and the plays he is performing in and directing this summer.

Donna Gerdes was writing performing plays for family and friends by the time she was 5 or 6. Thinking she was going to be a doctor, Donna majored in Biology and Chemistry and minored in Drama in College. She won a singing competition whose prize was a month long Opera Workshop where she met a friend who said “move to NY with me, my voice teacher can get us jobs with a Gilbert and Sullivan company.” Terrified, but determined, Donna took a train to Penn Station. She and her friend did become Gilbert and Sullivan apprentices and “it just took off from there.” Donna got role after role in musicals in regional theaters around the country, until she met and married her husband and his 4 children. Believing that the children come first, Donna gave up the theater and had many prestigious jobs. But now free of those responsibilities she is back on the boards. Listen to this talented, resourceful, gentle woman talk about her passion for the theater, her deep sense of responsibility and her joy at once again being able to get on stage where she always knew she belonged.

6/16/15 Interview

David Lutken is anything but the charming hayseed he may appear. With a BA in the classics – mostly Greek – from Duke University (his father told him not to study something that would get him a job but to get an education, and by the way to study the “hardest thing they’d got” – would that we’d all had David’s Dad) and a graduate degree in acting at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. David is a skilled actor, musician, musical director and playwright, but primarily David is an entertainer. Like the epic poets he studied -Ovid, Vigril, Homer – and Woody Guthrie put David in front of an audience and put a guitar in his hand and sit back and enjoy yourself. Currently you can enjoy David in Woody Sez, a musical biography of Woody Guthrie which David wrote based on Woody’s writings as well as his music, at the request of Harold Leventhal – Woody’s manager. It is playing at the Asolo Repertory Theatre until June 21st. Listen to this unusual man talk about how he “evolved” into the multi-tasking artist he is and hear him sing his favorite Woody Guthrie song – Pretty Boy Floyd.

6-9-2015 Audio Interview

Actor, theater maker Brendan Ragan loves being on stage. He always knew he was a natural; but he “never wanted to settle for pretty good,” and the need to hone his “artistry,” to be pushed, to be torn down and rebuilt if that was what it took for him to reach his personal best, drives him. It drove him to risk to joining 11 other graduates to create Single Carrot, a theater company in Baltimore on what was – although they didn’t know it – the most dangerous street in town; it drove him to leave there, although people thought he was crazy to leave that wonderful set up, and apply to graduate school; and its driven him to join Summer Wallace and Harry Lipstein in creating the Urbanite theater in Sarasota. Listen to this passionate, articulate man talk about his obsession to create the very best theater experience he can for himself and his audience come see him demonstrate his “artistry” in Reborning the second show of Urbanites very first season.

Audio Interview 5-26-2015

5/26/15 Frank Colson is as an internationally recognized Sculptor and Potter, but it is just the tip of the iceberg of his interests and talents. In high school he studied and performed Shakespeare. He entertained whenever and wherever possible using his ability to mimic whatever he heard; finally winning an army wide competition by mimicking Victor Borge’s difficult and hilarious Phonetic Punctuation. He has a Masters degree in Communication, he produced television shows; been a DJ, fought fires in the wilds of Alaska, and wrote a book which took him all over the world as a teacher and lecturer. And the stroke which is making it difficult for him to do all he still wants to do – has not stopped him. Listen to this delightfully open and self-disclosing man (he admits to, no revels in, what he calls his “giant ego”), talk about a one of a kind life.

5-12-15 Audio Interview

Katherine Michele Tanner is an artist in the truest sense of the word. Raised by a family that encouraged all of the arts she was able to pursue every one of her passions. As a result she is an exceptional actress, dancer, musician (violin and piano), playwright/composer, singer and painter. Submerged in and bouncing back and forth between her passions Katherine radiates a breathless exuberance and joy. In addition to performing in every possible venue, Katherine is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and expertise and so she teaches. Currently, one of her classes will perform a musical version of the classic Pippi Longstocking, adapted and composed by Katherine. Performances will be 5/29 at 7:00PM and 5/30 at 3:00 and 7:00 at Mars Vision Productions 4366 Independence Court in Sarasota. Tickets are $12.00 and can be purchased at treefortproductions2@gmail.com. Listen to this delightful woman talk about her life and her work.

5-5-15 Audio Interview

Colin Lane says that acting is “the only thing he is good at.” He loves telling stories and having people watch him. And Colin is a masterful storyteller who is very worth watching, as you can see in his performance in Florida Studio Theater’s regional premier of Christian O’Reilly’s play Chapatti – where he shares the stage with the equally compelling Susan Greenhill. Given his skill and success as an actor (he’s appeared above the title on Broadway, off Broadway, off-off Broadway in regional theaters and movies) it is ironic that Colin didn’t even consider being an actor until a friend heard him read “A Child Christmas in Wales” and told him that he was an actor; luckily for us Colin believed her. Listen to this charming, funny man talk candidly about the deceptively difficult dialogue he had to learn in his role as Dan; and the encouragement and support he received from his director Kate Alexander and FST’s Artistic Director Richard Hopkins. And smile at the unusual journey he took to what is clearly his path and come see him in Chapatti demonstrating what he is definitely “very good at” indeed.

4-18-15 Audio Interview

When 7th grader Michael Milton saw a Jr. High School production on HMS Pinafore he thought “if they can do that – so can I.” And when he saw Richard Kiley in Man of La Mancha, he thought “those actors probably did HMS Pinafore in Jr. High school and now they are doing this amazing thing.” He was hooked, and began a lifetime love affair with the theater. Following were years of singing, dancing and acting until he finally made his way to New York City. Listen to this candid, engaging, articulate man talk about his various careers and his willingness to be all that he is. Also listen to him read a charming original piece of writing.

April 14, 2015 Audio Interview

Melanie Souza is a lucky woman. She has always received encouragement and support for who she is and what she wants to do, as a result she has been able to pursue her two passions wholeheartedly. The passion to which she is currently giving her determination, energy and skill is at the acting, singing and dancing. And you can see her display these talents as she plays Abuela Claudia – the quintessential Grandmother in the production of In the Heights at American Stage in the Park.

4-7-15 Audio Interview

Jason Bradley has returned to Sarasota, after spending 5 years in the Chicago Company of the smash Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, to appear in Chicken Soup – the Grand Opening production of Urbanite Theater. The Urbanite is Sarasota’s newest and most unique theater. Believing that Sarasota needed “a small box theater that’s staged edgy, contemporary work,” co-Founders and Artistic Directors Brendan Ragan and Summer Wallace, graduates of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory program, created the Urbanite. In this show I am replaying part my first interview with Jason in which we talk about his early life, his standout performance in the Asolo production of Boeing Boeing, and his commitment to the profession of acting as well as the Urbanite and Chicken Soup.

3-24-15 Interview

Dewayne Barrett knew he was a performer by the time he was four. He was encouraged by a family that recognized and enjoyed his talent – putting him on the kitchen table to do the popular dances and getting him on the Romper Room. Always able to mimic whatever movement he saw Dewayne was offered scholarships wherever he applied; first at the Georgia Ballet Company and the Atlanta Jazz Theater and later with Steps on Broadway. All through high school Dewayne studied dance, voice and acting and remarkably a choreographer saw him dance and offered him a job and a place to live in New York City and Dewayne has been working dancer, actor, choreographer, director ever since. Listen to this charming Southern boy talk about his extraordinary ride. And come see his amazing work at The Players Theater where he directed and choreographed the stunning production of the Broadway musical Catch Me if You Can and to Florida Studio Theater where he choreographed the cabaret piece Never Marry a Girl with Cold Feet.

2-17-15 Audio Interview

Untrained, but with plenty of raw talent, Joey Panek spent his early career as an actor, singer and dancer. When work became scarce, realizing that he didn’t have the skills to make money in the down times, he returned to school and got a degree in video production. Today Joey is impossible to categorize; he still acts, sings and dances on stage, in his cabaret act, and as a popular MC; he is a TV personality, appearing regularly on ABC 7; he is a media personality with a significant on line presence where he has a popular video blog (check him out at howboutjoey.com); he and Christine Alexander have created various ways bring their improvisation skills to coaching, consulting and just plain bringing laugher. Listen to this joyful, exuberant man talk about what it is like to have a life which doesn’t have a simple definition and just keeps expanding. And come see him in Guttenberg the Musical at American Stage Theater in St. Petersburg Florida March 11th to April 5th.

3-10-15 Audio Interview

Bill Bowers, the amazing mime/actor/story-teller, lit up the stage at the Historic Crocker Church in his performance for Sarasolo, the first Solo Festival in Sarasota. Fortunately he will be returning to Sarasota on March 15th to perform his current work in progress at the Asolo Theater’s Unplugged series. Anyone who has seen Bill perform –- will not want to miss the opportunity to see the origins of his next work. Listen to Bill tell the story of how he went from a hyper aware 5 year old boy who could tell that there was much unsaid in his family, to a man who can say everything with silence, and who is nonetheless remarkably articulate.

March 3, 2015 Audio Interview

Amanda Friou is in Sarasota to direct the Asolo Conservatory production of the Broadway musical Title of Show. Although she’d been performing since she was little, Amanda always thought she’d be an astrophysicist. Fortunately her show choir teacher told Amanda that she was really meant to be in theater and gave Amanda opportunities to use her acting and directing talents. These experiences, which Amanda didn’t ask for and were often intimidating, set the stage (so to speak) for Amanda to realize the theater was where she belonged. Listen to this delightful woman talk about the way things just seemed to “fall into her lap,” until she decided that if she wanted to be a director (which she did) she had to take the reins of her life in her own hands. And come out to see the results of that decision in her direction of delightful musical Title of Show.

2015-02-24 Audio Interview

Peggy Roeder is an actor’s actor, Peter Amster who has cast and directed her many times in many varying roles says “she can do anything, she is my muse.’ And if you’ve been lucky enough to have seen her in as diverse roles as Ma Joad in Grapes of Wrath, and Sonya in Vanya Sonya Masha and Spike, you will want to run right out and get tickets for Matchmaker in which she stars as the delightful, mischievous Dolly Levy and Good People where she steals her scenes as the crotchety, truth-telling neighbor.  By the time she was nine years old Peggy and her sisters were putting on shows for neighborhood, shows which they wrote, created costumes and sets for and wrote the flyers to promote. But Peggy didn’t know she was going to spend her life as an actor until she wandered into the theater at her college and discovered a community with which she felt at home and a work which she thought “this I can do.” And forty years later we can say she certainly can. Listen to this serious, consummate professional tell her story and come out to see her work whenever you get the chance.

2015-02-17 Audio Interview

SaraSolo 2015 A festival of one person performances created by Annie Morrison, Blake Walton and David Coyle Feb 21st – 22 and Feb 28 – Mar 1st At
Crocker Church
(1260 12th St between 41 and Coconut)

Get show schedules and tickets at gottavan.strikingly.com 2-17-15

In this show I am airing two interviews the first with the multi-talented, whirlwind Annie Morrison who has currently poured her prodigious talent and energy into creating and performing in a Solo festival for Sarasota, In addition to a career which includes standout Broadway and Cabaret performances Annie has a long and sterling history with writing and performing solo shows. She won The 2010 John Ringling Towers Fund Award and the Best Actress Award at the 2012 United Solo Festival for LINDA LOVELY GOES TO BROADWAY. She has also won the Theatre World Award©, a Drama Desk Award© Nomination, the Drama-Logue, SAMMY, HANDY and, Sarasota Magazine Awards and a Best Plays Citation.

My second interview is with Christine Alexander whose one woman improvisational performance will be appearing in the festival on Feb 22, at 1:00 PM. A founding member of Florida Studio Theatre’s Improv Troupe, the Lazy Fairie improve Troupes, Christine has brought her infectious capacity to generate laughter to businesses, corporations, non-profits and regular people’s living rooms. Jay Handelman says of her “As always, the show includes Alexander’s visual interpretations of an interview for the hearing impaired. While I thought I might get tired of the same old shtick, she keeps finding new ways to keep everyone laughing.”

2-10-15 Audio Interview

Singer, dancer, actor, bilingual Michael Mendez didn’t intend to be a performer, he just loved to sing and wanted to get better and better at it. So he said yes to a role in Chorus Line thinking that doing it would strengthen him as a singer. He was completely unprepared for the dancing required but Michael always wants to be “going for growth” and so, helped by the early martial arts training which gave him flexibility, he just learned all the routines. And that was only the beginning, listen to Michael describe his journey from a boy who just loved to sing to a “23 year old aspiring artist who is making a living with his art.” And come see him in the musical, Violet at the Players Theater (2/11-3/1 2015), and his solo performance at the West Coat Black Theater Troupe theater (3/2/2015).

1-13-15 Audio Interview

Untrained, but with plenty of raw talent, Joey Panek spent his early career as an actor, singer and dancer. When work became scarce, realizing that he didn’t have the skills to make money in the down times, he returned to school and got a degree in video production. Today Joey is impossible to categorize; he still acts, sings and dances on stage, in his cabaret act, and as a popular MC; he is a TV personality, appearing regularly on ABC 7; he is a media personality with a significant on line presence where he has a popular video blog (check him out at howboutjoey.com); he and Christine Alexander have created various ways bring their improvisation skills to coaching, consulting and just plain bringing laughter. Listen to this joyful, exuberant man talk about what it is like to have a life which doesn’t have a simple definition and just keeps expanding. And come see him and Christine host this year’s Iconcept – the fund raiser for the Sarasota Art Center.