How not to make friends

So I am walking into Corbitt (the main Media-Comm building for you non-asburians) and was signing up for my advising appointment before heading to class. This guy is standing there - I have no idea who he is or was, since I've never seen him before - and he looks at my shirt (emblazoned with a Patriots logo for tonight's game) and says, "Are you really a Patriots fan?" I answer, "Heck, yeah!" "Really?" He asks. "Even with their coach being a cheater?" Now the thing is that there wasn't a hint of playfulness or jest in his voice at all. He was dead serious and his tone indicated that I probably shouldn't call myself a Christian and a Patriots fan - like it was some kind of paradox. Needless to say, it pissed me off. In my most seriously irritated tone I said, "Don't even start with me, buddy." I walked away.
The moral of this story is: if you want to make friends, insulting people is probably not the best way to do it.

Friends and the Spitfire Grill

As most of you know I've had the privilege of being involved with Asbury's fall theatre production entitled, "The Spitfire Grill." It was a good laugh all summer for me that I auditioned for a musical and got cast as the one character with no lines or songs. It's okay to laugh...the irony is very amusing. It's still funny to me. It sounded rather easy since I had no lines to memorize or songs to learn, but I took the role seriously. I read the script, pestered the director to make sure I was giving him what he wanted, and even created an inner monologue for my character. Because my character only made one short appearance in the first act and only a couple in the second act, I tried something different...different for me at least...I tucked myself in a corner and shut myself off from the rest of the cast during each act. It was kind of a method approach. My thinking was that I didn't have much stage time to convey what my character need to convey, so I had to be in character even when I wasn't on stage. It seemed to work out pretty well, although it was emotionally draining. For two shows I tried doing the role without the whole "method" approach. I don't know if the audience could tell a difference, but I certainly did. For the last show I reverted back to the "method" concept. Last night, after our final show, one of the cast member's mother and I were talking. She had seen the show more than once and told me that she felt like there was more intensity to my role when I did the method thing. That's cool, since you hope that what's going on in your head as an actor is being conveyed in your body language and facial expressions. While it was a small role, it was very challenging and fulfilling for me as an actor.
Here's the coolest thing...the cast. What a group of super talented people. Not only are they talented, but they're great people and I have had such a great time getting to know each of them better and am glad to be able to call each of them a friend. In spite of the age difference that exists, they embraced me and accepted me as one of their own. This is cool for me because I don't usually feel as old as I am anyway, and most of my friends are a bit younger than myself. It was my honor to get to be a part of such a great cast of people and I'm a bit sad that it's over-the show's over anyway.
While I love making new friends and getting to know people, I highly value those friends of mine that have been known me for a while and are super supportive, caring, and loving. They took time out of their busy schedules to come see the show and support what I was doing. That means the world to me! First of all, my wife, Lori, is amazing to allow me to pursue this crazy acting thing and she came to three of the six shows. Krysta and Sean, Zack, Katie, Kevin,Tim, and Ryan all made it out to see the show. I felt like that kindergarten student who is so exited that his parents are in the audience that he waves at them during the performance. I didn't wave of course, but I had to fight the urge:-)
So, to all my friends, new and seasoned alike...thanks for who you are and all that you do. I love each one of you!