Last night, Amy Dannenmueller, Angelo Berkowitz, and myself won Best Play after a vote by the audience in JustAsk Production’s Final “One Night Stands” competition for the year. Duncan Pflaster wrote a fantastic play for us called “Not in Those Shoes” in which our bodies were invaded by aliens during a performance in a play competition. They’ve now commissioned Duncan to write a show for them. I’ve been very lucky to work with Duncan as much as I have.

Since I lived in L.A., people have been telling me I remind them of a younger, sweeter Michael Rapaport. Michael typically plays thuggy, dumb white guys, a realm I’ve not really explored, unless you count playing a high school aged version of him on TV.

Lesley Mallgrave was casting for Season 2.5 (don’t ask me why it’s not 3, I don’t know) of The Biography Channel’s “Celebrity Ghost Stories.” The show recreates encounters that celebrities have had with ghosts during their lives. I happened to show up and did some improv in a Brooklyn accent and did my best sense memory work when she asked me to look scared. About a week later she called me and told me I was going to be on TV. Awesome! I celebrated by treating myself to a burger. I’m still a poor actor, I couldn’t get too carried away.

We recently shot on location in a really creepy school in Brooklyn. The crew told me and the guy playing my best friend that the school was picked because it was supposed to actually be haunted. I don’t doubt they were right. It was a creepy place. I can’t tell you too much about the plot, because I don’t want to ruin it, but we had a blast shooting it. I think it’s going to look great on TV and can’t wait to see it!

It’s always cool to see a performer that you really look up to. It’s even cooler when you get to share a stage with them. But when you perform on the same stage they’re on twice at two different occassions, two nights in a row, it’s something those credit card commercials would call “priceless.”

Duncan Pflaster called me to be play Rick, a selfish, know it all and inferior scientist in one of his plays for Just ASK Production’s “One Night Stands” evening of short plays hosted by John Tartaglia. Apparently someone dropped out. One of these days I’ll actually be the first choice in one of his shows. In the meantime, I’m extremely grateful that he continues to call. We performed Duncan’s short comedy and watched the other plays and then at some point in the night, John came up to me and said I was great. I told him how much I enjoyed his song earlier and he said something very humble.

Then… the very next night I went to sing in my friend Colleen’s show at the TimeOut NY Lounge. It just so happened that John Tartaglia was hosting… again! He recognized me and we briefly chatted… such a nice guy.

The Happiest Medium calls our production of “The Thyme Of The Season” a great, colorful and worthy successor to the “prequel”. Today’s show was amazing. I’m so lucky to be working with such a brilliant cast of actors and as I mentioned Duncan’s a brilliant writer. We have three more performances: Friday, June 18th at 5pm, Saturday June 19th at 7pm, and Wednesday, June 23rd at 5:30pm.

Here’s the full review for those that are interested:

http://thehappiestmedium.com/2010/06/the-thyme-of-the-season-even-better-the-second-thyme-around-planet-connections-2010/

Though I was too busy learning iambic pentameter to ever sit down and announce it, I’m currently performing as Demetrius in a sequel to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s another Duncan Pflaster play — love him — called “The Thyme of the Season” or “A Midautumn Night’s Dream.”

The review says:

“it is all acted with infectious spirit. There is not a weak link in this gorgeous, enthusiastic cast.”

And mentions me specifically:

“The dialogue simulates Shakespearean verse with the occasional hilarious veer into modern language; “I want not the fount of rumor—not—well, I want people not to know about it,” says Demetrius.”

Pretty cool! Check out the entire story here: http://www.theasy.com/Reviews/thethymeoftheseason.php.

I was recently offered a lead role in “A Raisin in the Salad, Black Plays for White People” (yes it’s a reference to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raising in the Sun). While I was very excited about the role, I had to turn it down for several reasons including the uncertainty of the actual dates of the performance and rehearsal due to my current show. I’d like to thank director Christopher Burris for this amazing opportunity and wish his production team lots of luck with the project.

I recently had the chance to step in for an actor that broke his leg (teach me to use that expression) in a short play by Duncan Pflaster called “Pocket Universe.” Jeff Martin was supposed to play my role of Zack, though I’ve never met him I hope he gets better. Anyway, it was a brief one act where I was someone’s boyfriend in their fantasy world but just their co-worker in the “real world.” I had a blast and got to perform in the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe is the East Village. I could swear I could feel the presence of Jack Kerouac and others like him who’d no doubt spent countless hours in that very space. I love my life.

Matt delves into the work of one of the greatest actors of our time

Every time I see Meryl Streep in something I’m beside myself. So I decided it would be beneficial for me to watch all of her work and see how she grows as an actor over the years. I expected her first film to be some bit part, but in actuality it’s a filmed version of a Broadway Production called “Secret Service”.

In the film, Streep plays Edith Varney a Southern girl madly in love with Captain Thorne (played by… wait, is it? John Thithgowe with red hair). The play is performed in four acts, three of which take place at the Varney home, one at a Confederate telegraph office. Preceeding each act the players sing a folksong in the style of the era (or from the era – not sure). Streep sings the song preceeding the act by herself. Her voice is beautiful and she is clearly well trained. This is particularly interesting to me as I’ve struggled with trying to decide if I want to pursue musical theatre or if I want to pursue film, television, and legit stage. Streep seems to have made a choice to go the legit route even though she has a beautiful voice.

Streep’s performance is very strong. After all, she is on Broadway. During the first scene she enters the Varney home having come from the President of the Confederacy with orders that will allow her love, Captain Thorne to stay with her rather than leave on the orders he has told her about. This is particularly impressive to me as she is fully engaged in the fact that something wonderful has happened. She seems headstrong and confident.

As she goes through the play and develops doubts about Thorne’s integrity, you can clearly see the struggle and her emotional life unfolding onstage. She trusted him and he has… wait, has he betrayed her? How could he? If he did? Fantastic to watch.

If you’ve never seen a show at the Gallery Players, you’re cheating yourself out of some very good theatre. Right now they’re doing “City of Angels” (which is on my must-see list) but they have a reputation of producing original shows that go on to have pretty long lives like “Yank!” and “Enter Laughing: The Musical”. It’s true that you must enter the borough of Brooklyn to get there, but I hear they actually have indoor plumbing there now. Anyway, the point is they’re doing a one-act play festival and I was called back for three separate plays. Keep your fingers crossed.

In addition, I just had photos taken for an upcoming NYC FRINGE show which I can’t say any more about at this time. Mysterious huh?

Matt tells you the secret to living in New York.

I have a t-shirt that says “Think Negative”. Every time I wear it people look at me funny and then come to the realization that it’s talking about HIV — brilliant slogan. It works because everyone knows that you’re supposed to think positive. Right?

I’m not going to pretend I make lots of money acting. Those of you who’ve read my blog entries can connect the dots. Recently I had to abandon my previous entrepreneurial exploits (web design) when my laptop died. So, I got a job in a restaurant. You know my history with those… the last one I was in was awful. Yet, I’m happy. I’m adjusting to life and my actor life hasn’t come to a stand still. People ask me if I like working at a restaurant and I tell them, for a restaurant, it’s great. I like the people I work with, the management’s great, the money seems like it will be good. I remind them I’m still pursuing acting, but yeah, it’s good. The acting things I’m doing in my life are very fulfilling and I get lots of good feedback from people which makes me happy.

Yet, I have some other friends who are doing amazing things with their careers and are complaining left and right… not enough money… too much rehearsal… not the right role. Sometimes, we find ourselves in positions that should be good but they aren’t. Yet, this isn’t the case with these friends. Yes it’s good, it’s great, but… I had the most amazing experience… but the business is hard and blah, blah, blah. I haven’t had the guts to confront these folks but if you’re reading this, please take it as constructive criticism and don’t get mad at me.

Enjoying your life as a whole is so important. I try to be content no matter what I am doing. Obviously some things get me more excited than others, but if we’re constantly looking ahead to things, we’re never really enjoying anything. Something to think about.

I’ve decided that these postings are going to be a little more personal because I feel the need to write this stuff down. Hope you enjoy.