I am so bummed that we weren’t able to get together next Wednesday. To use a phrase that’s been used on your show many times, “it’s not you, it’s me.” It would have been so awesome to say, “yes I’ll take the job” when you called me today and offered me a role. As you know, I’ll be in Hudson, NY for the next six weeks working on “Tennis in Nablus” and the 17th wound up being a very bad day for me to be away from rehearsals as the playwright will be joining us. I really hope that we can connect when I get back at the end of September. I still think you’re really cool no matter what the other actor that you wind up booking tells you.

;) Matt

P.S. Yes if you’re reading this, and aren’t from “One Life To Live,” I had to turn down a role on the show because of my pre-existing commitment. Now stop reading messages that aren’t addressed to you. :P

I’ve just had the privilege of accepted a fantastic role in the east coast premiere of Ismail Khalidi’s “Tennis in Nablus” under the direction of Laura Margolis at Stageworks in Hudson, NY. The show takes place in 1939, British-run Palestine. Jews from Europe are seeking refuge in response to the Nazi’s assent to power. The native Palestinians have already tried to overthrow the government. Meanwhile, the British are more concerned with living in a civilized fashion among these humans that they consider to be less than proper. Tennis and costume balls fill the agenda of General Falbour and my character, Lieutenant Douglas Duff, a career soldier who is planning to prove his worth to the General and to the crown and be accepted into upper-class British society. In many ways, one could perceive me as a villain. But any actor worth his salt will tell you that they never look at their characters motives as wrong. The character gives me the opportunity to examine what it’s like to seek approval and wield power.

I’ll be taking the stage with an outstanding group of performer including Nassar Faris, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Chet Carlin, Maria Silverman, Shivantha Wijesinha, Chris Smith and Jack Kesey. Tickets and additional information are available at http://www.stageworkshudson.org/nablus.html. The show runs September 7th through the 25th at Stageworks in Hudson, NY.