'The Big Knife' at Eastbound Theatre Tonight

How did you first get involved in the arts?   

My brother Jack was a theatre major in college.  I got kind of a vicarious education through him, snd he would vounteer me for various smaller roles.  He got cast in an Eastbound show in 1998 and they needed help backstage.  I guess I did OK, sinc they haven't let me leave since.

What is your latest project?  

The Big Knife is a tense drama set in post-war Hollywood.  Charlie Castle is a huge star on the verge of a record-breaking contract.  Charlie feels compromised, but thestudio has buried some nasty scandals on his behalf, so making the cut becomes more difficult.  I stepped into the role of studio head Marcus Hoff when an actor fell ill. 

What advice do you wish you'd received when you first got started?  

Listen more, talk less (still working on that).  And learn chess.

Who are some local artists people should check out?

Theatrically, we are in a place that has so much talent, even at the volunteer level.  We've got great respect for Bridgeport Theatre Company, Westport Communityt Theatre, Town Players of New Canaan, Wilton Playshop...I'll probably forget someone, so I'll apologize in advance... 

And on other levels, the Milford Fine Arts Council also hosts some wonderful acoustic performers at our Performance Coffeehouse series (Lara Herskovich the last Friday in October), some great jazz and the classical fare of the New England Guitar Society. 

I'll also throw out a plug for a local band called Solistic.