Doing the Happy Dance

Around here, the Happy Dance happens only when yours truly snags work. I have had more than my share of loooooong periods without the dance, so I tend to revel when I'm dancing lots. This year has found me dancing like there's no tomorrow.

It all began last October, when I was asked, at the very last minute, to fill in for an actor who had suddenly withdrawn from "Black Coffee" at Wayside Theatre, only a week before rehearsals began. It was my first time out at Wayside, and I had a lovely time.

Overlapping with Black Coffee was a silly little Christmas show based on the British Panto tradition. In other words, the male roles were played by women, and the female roles by men. The conceit concerned a group of amateur actors putting on A Christmas Carol, with little success. The production had little success, too, but was fun when we had a nice receptive audience (about twice during the four week run).

I had a month or so before beginning the current stint in the Shear Madness second company.

Overlapping with Shear, I've been privileged to be a part of "Opus" at the Washington Stage Guild, one of the prestige productions of the moment in DC.

Yep, I've been Happy Dancing for quite a while now, even as I complain about lack of personal time, lack of sleep, and various other lacks.

I am pleased that more Happy Dancing is, pardon the pun, afoot.

I have been compared to the late great Paul Lynde throughout my career, and I am now honored to attempt the role that put him on the map. I've just been cast as Harry Macafee in the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre production of "Bye Bye Birdie."