The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me)
The Underground Lounge, 955 West End Avenue @ 107th St · Tickets on sale through Sep 23
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Anthony Wills Jr.
May 19, 2013
What is your job on this show?
Artistic Director/Performer.
What is your show about?
The Piano Has Been Drinking is a review (of sorts) that explores the connection between artists and their vices to celebrate the triumph of artists who have overcome them, pay tribute to those who were consumed by them and give encouragement to those who may be struggling with them.
Are there boundaries as to what kind of theatre you will take part in?
I refuse to do theatre that has no purpose or meaning. I think the purpose of art is do something. Whether it be as simple as a feel good show that makes you a happier person or art that inspires, engages, educates, challenges, or even enrages. Art should be active. But don't get me wrong, I will do a meaningless broadway show in a heartbeat but then the purpose becomes a selfish one of wanting to experience the illustrious Great White Way and attain the ever sought after Broadway credit.
What are some of your previous theater credits? (Be specific! Name shows, etc.)
I've worked at many large and small regional theaters, done some Off-Broadway and countless tiny productions in the Chicago storefront theater and New York's Off-Off Broadway. But my proudest is my one man show, the Happiness of Schizophrenia. It's a performance piece that explores the fear that I've always had of losing my sanity and perhaps finding happiness in insanity. I've performed it all over the country but in 2006 I was given the chance to perform it in the New York International Fringe Festival. The show didn't sell many tickets and lost lots of money but newyorktheatre.com reviewer, Jack Hanley, wrote the most eloquent review that I have ever read of any play- "By his utterly vulnerable presence, our human identity is revealed as precious and delicate, and easily lost if not for the sake of love and compassion." This is why I do art. That review changed my life. I never left New York. I decided to stay and have been here ever since. Thanks Jack!
Do you think the audience will talk about your show for 5 minutes, an hour, or way into the wee hours of the night?
I think the audience will talk about this show years from now into the wee hours of the night. I think this is a truly original cabaret. There will be no chatter from MC's or filler between songs. Every word spoken is a quote or writing by notable people from Barak O'bama to Neitzsche. The songs and literary works pay homage to artists from Billie Holiday to William S. Burroughs to Kurt Cobain, Tennessee Williams and Amy Winehouse. The cast ranges from an actor who has/is redefining himself after being the spokesperson for a major product for several years to an actor who after losing the stability of a 9 to 5 has decided to pursue her previously bridled talents. The cast is rounded out by a number of performers who may not have household names but have done brilliant work in National Tours and Regional Theaters across the country. As artists we try to achieve commercial success but we also have the need to express those passions we have that make us artists. Our collective is an outlet for that expression. Our main goal is to create great work and give opportunities to amazing artists. Basically this show is a one of a kind piece performed by a one of a kind cast that you won't be able to stop talking about.
Groucho, Chico, Harpo, or Zeppo?
Harpo- Artistic Pride Productions was founded for the voiceless who have something important to say to help them share their work with a larger audience.
If you had ten million dollars that you had to spend on theatrical endeavors, how would you use the money?
I would first put aside money to produce two of my shows that I've been wanting to do Eddie Falls (about an artist who falls into a play) and 11 1/2 Pieces on Death, Dying, Life and Living (a comedy) and then I'd start giving it away. APP will be producing it's first full length play, Pride From the Door by Tanesha M. Ford, this winter and although we've won a $4,000 scholarship from Great Performances, raised thousands of dollars we are about halfway towards being able to fund a very small production to run for three weekends. We are not alone. I know so many brilliant artist who are making amazing work that are in constant need of funding: Mike Murray, Jeremy Menekseoglu, Ann Boyd, Frank Pullen, August Schulenberg, Kate Marks, Matthew Silver, Jonathan VanDyke, Ariel Speedwagon, Johnna Adams, John Musial, Megan Strel, Richard Cotovsky, Jonathan Menchin, Ray Leslee, Grace Millo, Janice Lowe, Sean Graeny, John Sowle the list goes on and on so much so that I have to stop answering this question because I could go on for days listing the brilliant people who create and produce work that I think makes the world a better place.
