Daniel Does DFW Theater
Take a listen as Daniel interviews local DFW Theater artists on... Daniel Does DFW Theater! Watch this Vodcast at: www.youtube.com/@danieldoesdfw
Daniel Does DFW Theater
That's Ridiculous! Keep It. (with Lon Barrera)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What happens when you mix the talents of a director, actor, singer, and dancer? Find out as we sit down with Lon Barrera for an episode brimming with theatrical magic! Lon recounts unforgettable performances and shares heartwarming stories about his long-time collaborator, Kristen Spires, whom he affectionately calls his "theater wife."
From the nostalgic hits of the '80s and '90s to the emotional highs of watching "Rent" with a friend affected by HIV, our conversation explores the transformative power of theater. We reminisce about iconic productions and the influence of legends like Andrew Lloyd Webber, all while celebrating our tradition of catching every Tony Award-winning best musical since 1989—minus the elusive "Passion." Lon’s journey from a small barn theater to landing leading roles showcases the impact of perseverance and passion in the arts.
Laugh along with us in our theater-themed game show segment, where Lon tries to recall lines from his past roles. We dive into the joy of memorable performances and dream projects, like Lon’s desire to direct "The Drowsy Chaperone." The episode also touches on the importance of creating a safe and diverse theater environment, and the significant role that inclusivity and respect play in the creative process. Tune in for a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply insightful exploration of life in the theater.
If you want to catch all the action, you can watch the full episode video at YouTube.com/@DanielDoesDFW. Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok: @DanielDoesDFW
Hi guys and welcome back to Dana West KFW Theater where we talk about everything theater. Today we have a very special guest on. I say that every single time because I love every single person, so please make sure you are tuning in on YouTube, on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, wherever you're listening or watching, so you can watch this whole thing or listen to this whole thing, because it's going to be amazing. We may cry a little bit, we may be a little happy, a little sad We'll see what happens as everything goes on but we have the amazingly talented director, actor, singer, dancer. She's beautiful, charming Lady Gaga. No, it's not Lady Gaga today. I promise, it is the beautiful Lon Barrera. Who do you doot? Thank you so much for being on today. Of course, if you don't know Lon, it's okay, because now you know Lon. I didn't know Lon for the longest time. I mean, I had seen you trying to think it was in Mamma Mia. Oh, okay, when Kristen Spires did it. Yeah, was that a g-pack?
Speaker 2yes, it was, yes because one of the first, mama Mia's thank God before the Mamma Mia, that the summer of Mamma Mia yes, which you were phenomenal in.
Speaker 1You sang that little duet with Kristen. I can't remember what it is, but I can't remember either that with Kristen. I can't remember what it is. I can't remember either. That's a song. I can't remember either. Yeah, but our last summer, yes, so beautiful. I think I teared up at that point.
Speaker 2Well, Kristen and I have a long relationship, so to play opposite her was just a gift. She's my theater wife. She has been for 15 years, something like that.
Speaker 1Do you know what I can't wait to be gay and aged and have a theater wife. Did you just call me old? No, I would never. I said aged like fine wine. Oh, Amanda, that's good today. Yeah, it's lovely. Valero had a good choice. I love it. No, because I feel like. So, like Michael Cerechia has, maybe Kelly Bates? Yeah, right, you have Kristen Speyer. Who else is old?
Speaker 2No, darling Me, I'm older than I ever intended to be, but I'm still here.
Speaker 1No, thank goodness. No, because you've done some amazing stuff, because I've also seen you. Well, not seen you, but I've seen shows that you've directed as well. I saw Disaster, one of my favorites Phenomenal. I mean you had amazing. Is that the first time you directed Disaster, which was phenomenal? I mean you had amazing? Is that the first time you directed Disaster? I've done it twice. Which one did you see? I saw it the time with Jaden. Okay.
Speaker 2So the most recent one, yes At.
Speaker 1Runway.
Speaker 2Yes, I actually directed the regional premiere oddly enough On Stage in Bedford got the rights to it. Wow, like the day the rights were released and Michael Winters, who is artistic director there, called me and said I know you were supposed to do this other show, but you want to do it. Yes, I would like to do that. So we were the first people to do it. And it's just, it is just a plate full of ridiculousness. Yeah, and my favorite note to give the cast during that was that's ridiculous, keep it, that's stupid, keep it. Yeah, it was just, it's just fun. Well, because it's all the camp Times 10 and then, you know, some glitter on top of it.
Speaker 1Because it's set through Devsky, right? Yes, yeah, so, yeah, so he and jack platnick, right, yeah, all the camp. I mean, I don't think you can go too far, no, with that show. No, you cannot, uh, but yeah, that had. It was jayden. Uh, I know donovan who was in it. Donovan was in it. Who else? Oh, uh, patrick bilbo, yes, played your twins.
Speaker 2Look when I tell you bad kid, perfect bad kid, and of that cast of I think it was 18 or 19, he was the most professional, came in, knew his stuff. Like he, he is legit. That kid is the real deal.
Speaker 1He's great good kid, good kid, he's great. So I heard a little thing that Jaden told me the other day, because I was just hanging out with them, that Patrick would follow them around and like wanted to hang out with Jaden and somebody would have. It was Hannah, the stage manager. Yeah, I love Hannah too yeah yeah, love me some, hannah.
Speaker 1Hannah went up and said oh, patrick thinks you're 14. Jake was like at first, was taken aback, like, and then was like oh, thank you, she got good genes. That one, she really does. It just made me laugh. I was like you could pull 14. Yeah, you could, you know.
Speaker 2Well, I will tell you, in the casting of that, the way that we put that show together is we had one night of auditions and then we were planning the next night to do auditions and then callbacks. Well, the next night it snowed, so, oops, I guess we're not going to do that. And then that thursday or friday of that week I was going ironically, on a cruise. So I was like we have to cast this somehow. So we just went through the list of people who had signed up, people that we knew, people that we loved and we considered before we found patrick, we considered jayden for the twins. It's like she could do it because they they look like they're 12, but yeah, so it worked out. Lovely that she could play Levorah and that Patrick that I got a chance to meet, and that whole family yes, yeah, shout out to the Bildos.
Speaker 1We love you. Yeah, no, I mean, t, I was originally cast as a child and I had to decline because I also look 12. No, no, we're not cutting to that. No, I do look 12. I don't know why everybody's shaking their head in this room right now. But thank you so much, t. So thank you. Yeah, kristen actually called me for that and said I'd love for you to play the child. Here we go, and I thought we were doing a Christmas show and I was playing the Jesus. I like it In a swaddling club Okay yes, no.
Speaker 2And I will be the virgin.
Speaker 1Mary. Well, that's a first. Yeah, I am a virgin Mary Again.
Speaker 2Isn't that how it works after a day?
Speaker 1born again. I'm dead, okay, um, but let's backtrack a little bit, now that we know about you and who you are and how, and honestly so I want to say we met, maybe at I think you came to a cabaret here at Theater Arlington.
Speaker 1Maybe, I think I don't recall, to be honest, or maybe it was a show, it was something where I got to meet you in person and I was like, oh, super sweet, cause you may have come with Joe Brown, or nope, nope, sorry, no, not you, joe Brown, no, no, you were here with someone and I was like, oh, I got to meet you and Steve was like, yes, you need to know Lon, you know wonderful person, but we had never really chatted in person before today and now we're besties. What can I say? Move out of the way, kara. Um, yeah, bitch, we just yeah, yeah. I mean, you saw the episode I did where she said outright yeah, she's going on the amazing race with someone else.
Speaker 2Yes, that bitch yeah yeah, james, whatever, cuz he can get her on Broadway, whatever yeah, I know right.
Speaker 1Whatever. Have you talked to her since? Or you've caught off all communication. She's dead to me. You heard it here at first. She's dead to me.
Speaker 2She's dead to me too, but I have talked to her because it's our problem.
Theatrical Experiences
Speaker 1Oh, that's right. Oh, yes, that's right. Okay, so let's backtrack. You got your start. Start with the little the funk theater in cedar hill.
Speaker 2How long ago um more years than I'd like to count. I wasn't even born it. You probably weren't. It was 1991. Nope, not even born, and I had been um, that's just rude by the way I was born, I was.
Speaker 1I was a year. I'm'm kidding, I'm kidding.
Speaker 2That's even ruder. So I had been in college, I'd been a theater major and I realized that I'm not really good at auditioning and that it scared the hell out of me. Oh, can I cuss? Oh, yeah, you can say whatever the fuck you want. Okay, great, because I tend to have a mouth that'll say that. So I kind of turned away from theater in 84 or 85 and just thought, okay, that was done.
Speaker 2And then I was working at a travel agency in 91 and a friend of mine ran a theater and another friend of mine that worked there was doing a show. So I went to go see it to support him. Whatever it was in a barn. So I went to go see it to support them. Whatever it's little it was in a barn, in theater on the hill it was called theater on the hill in cedar hill. It was in this like acres of land and it was a barn and it was three-quarter in the round. And so I went to see the show and it was a melodrama. It was fun, you know was whatever.
Speaker 2And then, um, after the show, my friend, terry kioff, who was in the show, said they're having auditions for their next show on monday. I dare you to come audition. Well, you dare me, I'm okay, that'll do it right. So I showed up and, daniel, I swear to god, swear to God, I was petrified, petrified, but somehow I got one of the leads. I don't know if they didn't have enough people, I don't know if they felt sorry for me, and it was Carol Rice, who now runs Rover Drama Works. She cast me in Charlie's Aunt, which was my first show, and I haven't stopped since then. Thanks a lot, carol.
Speaker 1It's Carol's fault. She knows it's Carol's fault. I can blame Carol for this. No, so what was it like back in the day no musical theater. To know Andrew Blake Lepper in the 80s. What was it like To be around when Cats came out the theater? To know Andrew Lloyd Webber in the 80s, to be around when Cats came out.
Speaker 2Oh, you know, oh, don't get me starting on Cats.
Speaker 1But I want to see the Jellicle Ball. Okay, have fun.
Speaker 2You don't think that it's going to be. I'm not a fan, but they've said I'm not a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Oh period Overall. Okay, overall. Sunset Boulevard is really the only show that he's done that. I thought, oh that that the rest of them, I don't have a.
Speaker 1I don't have a use for.
Speaker 2Would you want to see the new version of it? That's like broken down. I probably will, just because it's so drastically different than the original, but I did see it because I am that old. I did see Glenn Close in the original production. Stop.
Speaker 1Yeah, with that set and everything.
Speaker 2Yeah, was it just phenomenal? It was remarkable, and Glenn Close was perfection.
Speaker 1OK, do you know what? Here's a question I do. What is the best show you've ever seen? Because you've probably seen a good amount of shows.
Speaker 2I think the two that stick out are, and for completely different reasons.
Speaker 2Ragtime, the original company of Ragtime Stop, was breathtaking Like Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mary Lacey and Audra McDonald and yes, it was breathtaking because the scope and size of it and the sheer number of people that were on that stage it was, it was remarkable. But I think the thing that sticks out the most for me and I may cry when I tell you this story is I also saw the original company of rent. But I saw it, I went when it was, it was the big thing and and we went up there and I went with some dear friends of mine and I sat next to my friend Brad, who's no longer with us, and we knew he had HIV at the time. And that moment in the second act where they line up and Angel's not there, it's the first time I physically lost control of myself in the theater. I was sobbing so much, holding his hand because I knew that would be him, that space would be him at some time, and so those two theatrical experiences stayed emblazoned in my mind.
Speaker 1I mean, just to hear the power that that show really has behind it right, and especially during that time.
Speaker 2Right, because it was 95, 96, something like that. So the AIDS crisis was still, I mean, it was still ravaging people. Yeah, it was pretty remarkable.
Speaker 1I can't imagine. Yeah, both of those shows, though, are just because even Ragtime. Every time I see it, i't care how many times. It's just stunning, it's just stunning theater. Yeah, I, I remember walking out the first time seeing it, still sobbing, saying he had his father's hands, like just oh every, and I can't imagine the original production. So I'm jealous of that yeah, do you take uh mini trips to new york.
Speaker 2I try to get up there at least once a year. I have a ridiculous tradition now. Since 1989, I have seen every single Tony Award winning best musical in New York, not necessarily their original company, but eventually I've seen them all, with the exception of Stephen Sondheim's Passion, because it only ran for six months so I missed it. But I will go see things now. Just because they won the tournament I'll end up seeing the Outsiders. It wasn't necessarily high on my list, but now I've got to keep the trend going.
Speaker 1No.
Speaker 2So yeah, I don't know if I have interest in the outsiders either, but I hear that it's, it looks that that rumble scene on the tour was remarkable, and apparently it's all done in silence, like there's no music, there's no underscoring or anything. I'm like, oh, that would be a powerful moment, so I'll see it eventually.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, and I mean just the the rain on the stage, everything, everything that they're technically, that they have to do with it. Yeah, have you ever made it rain on a stage before on purpose.
Speaker 2No, you made it rain on accident.
Speaker 2I don't think so I just see you, oops, no, I. We did do Poseidon, the Upside Down musical, several years ago, where we sweat so much that it felt like it was raining, because it was in the Dallas Hub Theater, which doesn't exist anymore because it was a health hazard, and we did it at about this time of year, in July I think, and there was no air conditioning in it and I played the Shelley Winters role, so I was in a fat suit and pantyhose, a wig and a polyester dress. That was really pretty.
Speaker 1That's me on a Saturday night. That's me currently Look at this. No, so, speaking of many roles, I mean that sounds almost like what's that? That show that mark watt did um is his story, or did you see any of that? Did you see that show? And like frisco or plano, it was called his story and like it was hot, they didn't have bathrooms that were working yeah, it's just like.
Speaker 2that's just not fair. You know, it's hard enough to be on stage and to do a show. You should at least be comfortable, and I don't know. Safe, safe, that's the word, right there.
Speaker 1So, speaking of mini roles, we're going to go into a small little game segment, next where we call it.
Speaker 2Who Said that?
Speaker 1Okay, play the music it. Who said that? Okay, play the music. Who said that? Um, so we're gonna play a game. We'll catch you back on the couch. I mean, we're not moving. Honestly, we're playing the game right here. We're just gonna cut the tape and amanda's gonna be really good at editing it and bringing us back in, so we'll see you in a bit uh, hi guys and welcome to. That's what she, she Said. I need everybody to do that. We've got gay energy. Honestly, it just works so well.
Speaker 2How dare you assume that I'm a homosexual Homosexual Because I said it that way Homosexual.
Speaker 1Lon is now my co-star for this podcast, cheers. He'll be on every episode.
Speaker 2We'll always be boys and ladies. Yes, sisters and pals. Mane said that, right Mane. Yeah, that's what she said.
Speaker 1That's what she said yeah. So on this episode of that's what she Said, we are going to give you some lines from roles you've played before. Can I just say line Allie, offstage. So hopefully you remember some of these. Good, if you do not, I'm going to try my best to help you out. But God if I remember any of these myself.
Speaker 2So here we go.
Speaker 1Are you?
Speaker 2ready. That's what it is I'm going to get the $100 question is the password is when I talk to the police. I get nervous. Oh, Emery in Boys in the Band.
Speaker 1Close, but no cigar. I wonder if that's what it's supposed to be. No, no, it's not. Wait, say it again when I talk to the police. I get nervous when I talk to the police.
Speaker 2I get nervous.
Speaker 1I don't know Um, so it's a show.
Speaker 2Well, that's good, because isn't that what this game is?
Speaker 1about that, you talked about that. You really couldn't um ad-lib.
Speaker 2Oh, um, I don't know. In Glen Gary Glen Ross. Yes, oh, oh, yeah, okay, in Glen Gary Glen Ross. Oh, yeah, okay, now I remember that. I think Emery said that too. Let's go with that.
Speaker 1I've said that twice, so the score that we're showing right here is now 0. Thanks, okay. The $200 question Okay, it might be nice, but frankly it would give me gas.
Speaker 2Oh, oh Cabaret. Yeah, yeah, that's in the song. Yes, yes, it was a pineapple for you. Would you like a slice? It might be nice, but it would give me gas.
Speaker 1Yes, okay, wonderful. Oh, he got one right, because that's what she said I've had too much wine. I've had a little too much. Now Hope I don't spill it on Allie's new laptop.
Speaker 2She just wiped the fingerprint off. You spill that wine. You're done, Daniel. No longer does DFW.
Speaker 1Almost made a comment we're going to keep going the $300 question Wisdom. Sorry, I had to restate this line in my head because I stopped where I shouldn't have stopped. Wisdom doesn't always come with age. Occasionally, the young can be as rational as you or I.
Speaker 2Wisdom doesn't always come with age Did. I ever say that in a show.
Speaker 1Wisdom doesn't always come with age. Occasionally the young can be as rational as you or I. This is kind of from left field. Allie did her research on this one.
Speaker 2Allie, I hate you.
Speaker 1Brian In the shadow box In this theater, at Theater Arlington. Yeah, oh yeah. This may be one of my favorite ones right here, so again, score is one.
Speaker 2Okay, we're aware of the score, daniel, thank you. It gets bigger and bigger, that's what she said.
Speaker 1Because that's what she said. I want you to pick up that toast as if you were John Wayne.
Speaker 2Oh, albin in La Cage Aux Fonds, yes, la.
Speaker 1Cage Aux Fonds. Exactly Wonderful, see, you got two points Except.
Speaker 2I didn't say that.
Speaker 1Oh, actually.
Speaker 2Georges says that, yes, I was like, I've played both of them. So sorry, I've played both those. I've played both sides of that relationship. You've played two men In La Cage. I've played them both. And in life, yes, yes, yes, once or twice. Yeah, I was gonna pick up that tells like you're a john wood.
Speaker 1yes, good, there you go see, because that's what she said. I don't know how many times I need to stop. Honestly, it's I'm getting sick of it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry people, I'm now sick of me saying it, so am.
Speaker 2I Sorry, darren, go right ahead. Let's just remember you only have two points, but I have two. Okay, have you Listen?
Speaker 1No, I'm going to keep going. Me, neither, me, neither. Okay, what's he have A lobotomy? What's he had A lobotomy?
Speaker 2What's? He had A lobotomy.
Speaker 1What's? He had A lobotomy.
Speaker 2I don't know.
Speaker 1So you thought Boys in the Band yes.
Speaker 2Okay, that was 20 years ago. Stop 25 years ago that I did Boys in the Band.
Speaker 1Yeah, and you're reprising the role again.
Speaker 2Oh, old Ben in the Band no no longer Boys in the Band.
Speaker 1We're no longer Boys in the Band. Seniors in the Band. Write that show. Seniors in the band. We're no longer boys in the band. Seniors in the band Write that show Seniors in the home. Seniors in the home, I love it. Plenty out of the apartment. Alright, here's your next one. I hope I get the chance to get my tongue around a little Greek.
Speaker 2That's Harry the Headbanger and Mama Mary. Yes, exactly, that's harry the headbanger and mama mia. Yes, exactly, I love my tongue around a little. Do we have any creek man at dfw? I'm available, call in now lines are open.
Speaker 1Flash alongs number um. All right, here's the big one. Okay, this is the last one. This is where double the points and the points don't matter. Okay, right, well, what kind of society do we live in if we can't discuss the similarities between pornography and musical theater that is man in Chair and the Drowsy Chaperone. Yes, Also known as Lawn Parera.
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 1Yes, yes, yes, yes, because that's what she said that's fun, that's hard right, that's hard, it unlocks a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2Because I'm like I haven't said that with those words. Like cara said, I've never said those words. I'm like I don't think I've said those words, but it's been a couple of years and we've had a little bit of wine, yeah. Well, here's the funny thing. If we were to do this with roles that I've played, it would.
Speaker 1I don't think I've said those words, but it's been a couple of years and we've had a little bit of wine, yeah. Well, here's the funny thing. If we were to do this with roles that I've played, it would just be stage direction. Yeah, it's like stumbles, right, because I never had lines in shows, or like sweetie, sweetie, just ensembles. So I'm glad that we can play this with you, because I could never play this game. There you go. Oh, buddy, no, you did great. You got what? Three, three, yeah, three out of 27. Okay, great, great, that's a good average. I would think I'll take it. Yeah, do I beat?
Speaker 2Kara, that's all it is. No, I don't think you're gonna, but we can beat her, I will. I will Fix a messier Fat bitch Like a cross-up face. I would not do that. No, no, we're gonna do it. I would never do that. I would never strike a woman.
Speaker 1I would not, I'd go on strike four.
Speaker 2Yes, I would too.
Speaker 1I would never strike. Okay, we're gonna head back to the chair. We're sitting in the chairs aren't we?
Speaker 2Well, let's head back to them in the. Yeah, I don't know.
Memorable Theater Roles and Directing
Speaker 1I was trying to think of something funny and that didn't happen. Somebody close the curtain on us. Bring out the rod like the Apollo. No, all done, we'll see you back. Well, that just goes to prove that you never remember your lines no, I don't remember them when I'm doing them, much less years and years later.
Speaker 1No, that was embarrassing for both of us. Cheers much less years and years later. Yeah, no, that was embarrassing for both of us. Well, you know, cheers. Fortunately, we're going to have to cut that game from future segments. Yeah, thanks, talon, you're welcome. Thanks Carol, that's my new saying. Thanks Carol For everything She'll love that? Yeah, she'll love that. So we have a picture of carol right here. Right, we'll just put a pop-up. Yeah, um. So, speaking of your many new roles that you have done, uh, let's talk about some of your favorites, um there.
Speaker 2I've been very, very, very, very, very blessed and lucky to get to play some roles that turned out to be dream roles that I didn't know were dream roles until I did that. Um, the first that comes to mind is Herr Schultz in Cabaret. I am not a feeble little old Jewish man, but Derek Weitner God bless him saw me as that and so I went to do it and it was. It was just remarkable, because that show is just remarkable. I love that.
Speaker 2I loved Glengarry Glen Ross, where I played George Aronow. But it was Mamet and you talk about not knowing your lines, holy crap. And Ashley White is the one who directed that and she insisted that we get every single word in the text correctly. And I don't do that really well. It's why I don't do Shakespeare, because the only thing you can ad lib on Shakespeare is I take my leave and walk off, because I know and so Glengarry was was difficult but so much fun. But but the role that is me like I think Bob Martin wrote it for me, he just played it first was man in Chair in the Drowsy Shepherd.
Speaker 2I've been blessed enough to do Drowsy four times, once at Theater 3 as Underling and then three times again. Thank you, derek Widener. At Firehouse twice, and once in Rockwall, and it I can just sit in a chair and and if anyone's casting it now, a manager could use a cane, he could use a cane. I see it Right. So, yeah, that, that is just for me. It's the perfect Valentine of a show for anybody who loves the theater. And he, just he just sits on me very, very well.
Speaker 1So yeah, I've never seen that show before, never Really, I know.
Speaker 2It is just perfection. You know the conceit of the show, right? No, tell me a little bit about it. So he starts off, he has a huge monologue in the dark and it starts with I hate theater. Well, it's so disappointing, isn't it? And it goes from there and then he decides he's feeling a little blue today. You know, a little self, self-indulgent sadness, a state that I call blue.
Speaker 1So you remember those lines now, but when we played in the game you couldn't remember that.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah you're welcome, um. But then he decided he's and he has had, he has a relationship with the audience and he speaks directly to them and he says that he he feels like, in order to to curb his state of being blue, he's going to play his favorite record. So he chooses gabel and stein's, the drossyaperone, which is a fake 1929 musical, and he plays the cast album and as he plays it, he stops the album and he talks about the actors, he talks about the scene, he talks about how ridiculous it is, and then he continues and plays the whole album for the audience. So, as he's playing the album, the show comes to life behind it. Album for the audience. So, as he's playing the album, the show comes to life behind him, and it is two separate shows. It is his show, which is basically a monologue, and it is the show that drives you chaperone and it you know we did. It was the last matter of fact. It's it is the last thing I've done on stage as an actor.
Speaker 2Um Firehouse Theater brought back the original cast from 2000, most of the original cast from 2015 in 2020 to do it. We closed it the end of February 2020. I got on a plane right after that, I went to New York to see some shows. When I came back, the world had shut down. So it literally is this little nugget of time where we got a chance to do this show and it was a huge hit and everybody in the cast was lovely, both the folks that returned and the new folks, and so, yeah, I'd do it again in a minute. My big goal, I think, of what's left of my theater career is I'd love to direct it and sit in the chair. It would be a huge challenge to do that, but I'm like, yeah, let's do that, let's do that. So anybody who wants to do that, I'm available.
Speaker 1Throw it out there. I love when people find that show, you know, like my show. Kara has said that she could always play the mom in next to normal. Right, she could do that like she wants to go on the road with that. God she's good. God she was good.
Speaker 2Yeah, and I think she's good yeah amen right here, but but she's good at that um you know, uh, you would play that, you would take that, and just anywhere, anytime, wherever, yeah, well that's amazing and I mean, I think it's just when you find that and you know what your niche is.
Speaker 1Yeah, I think that that's just so special because I think I haven't done a lot of shows myself. I'm still fairly new to being on stage. I like working behind the scenes, vocal coaching, teaching etc. And I've had people ask you know what is that dream role? It's not until I see a production or I happen to be.
Speaker 2And sometimes you won't even realize it. You'll see it and go oh, I love that show, but I could never do that. And sometimes you do and you go oh that I want to do that like cabaret for me. Like I love that show, but I'm like I can't do that show. I'm not German Jew, like what. And people who are willing to take a risk on you can make that happen, can bring you a gift that you didn't even know you wanted. So thank you, derek Weiner.
Speaker 1I mean right. So, and I know you've directed a lot as well. Yes, Do you have any directorial favorites?
Speaker 2um disaster was a favorite. Um xanadu is a favorite. It's gonna do so much fun.
Speaker 1It's jet that that you talk about as well I I, I have a.
Speaker 2I have a tell you know, I love a good camping show, but how many times have you directed xanadu twice because I saw the original production with sarah dickerson yes, yeah, right, and dustin simmons, yes, loved it.
Speaker 1And amanda was in that one right. Yes, she was.
Speaker 2Yes, she loved amanda and you know we were talking about about dream roles and and people taking a chance. I'll never forget casting that Kristen and I were casting, that We'd seen lots of people and we literally had headshots on the stage trying to figure out this puzzle. Because that's what casting is. It's always a puzzle. And I tell actors all the time, just because you don't get a role, doesn't mean it was you, it was the director sees the role in a certain way or or envision something that just isn't you and that doesn't mean you're good or bad or whatever.
Speaker 2And we were placing headshots on on the stage and diane powell and shannon walsh ended up next to each other and I'm like, oh well, that's interesting. Diane powell is a soprano, right, she is not. She doesn't do a whole lot of pop shows and stuff. I don't think they just had um lunch with her a couple days ago and she talks about that show because we gave her something that nobody would typically cast her in and I'm like, I think this is gonna work and it was perfection. They were perfection together.
Speaker 1I love that show. I mean, I went so far I saw it twice, did you? And the second time I did the the stage cd that you had that came with the little disco ball. Yeah, yeah, that was goodness, a long time that was at on stage earth. Yeah, I, and I wasn't even in the theater realm at that point, I didn't even know, so why do? I was friends with Sarah Dickerson, okay, and so I was like, was it?
Speaker 1now so, yeah, sarah Garcia, I was friends with her at the time and which now she's a kid, I never get to see her anymore, and so I was like, of course I want to see this show it sounds funny.
Speaker 2You know why not? I've never heard of it before.
Speaker 1It's really really smart and just the skating alone did.
Speaker 2Oh, I can tell you a Sarah story about that. A story about that that I told her that, over and over, put pads on as she was skating. Put pads on because if something happens, I want you to be okay. And we had we had kevin brown, kevin, oh built that incredible step. We like literally tore down walls so that whole theater was open for us to play in, and we built that ramp and the first time she would get it she busted her ass and hurt her elbow and I just looked at her and went it's your own damn fault.
Speaker 1I told you to wear pads and to this day, she, yeah, yeah, kevin did a great job, because I mean, yeah, that ramp that came down and then it just remarkable. So good it remarkable yeah, it was a really good. Yeah, I would agree with that. That's probably one of my favorite shows that I've ever seen. Yeah, so fun that you did so fun. Now you talked a little bit about you auditioning and being afraid of audition, so I want to talk about a funny audition story okay, okay, hold on.
Speaker 2What was my funny story? No, sorry, it was a funny mishap.
Speaker 1What was it? Audition what?
Speaker 2was it.
Speaker 1Both you can talk about, like the callbacks being the best of it all. Yes, yes, wonderful, both all of the above, okay, yeah, so you talked about you being nervous just a little bit for auditions, but I want to talk about a story that you told me about you at a callback one day.
Speaker 2I went to audition for a show that was speaking of dream roles, that I thought was a dream role of mine, that I thought I was perfect for it was one man in the entire cast. I was called back. I was there for three hours, sang, read with everybody in the callbacks to the point where people were like, well, this is yours, right, I'm like well, I think so. I assume so. And a week later or whenever the cast announced without me on the cast list, I was so pissed Not because I didn't get the role, but because I I didn't sign up to be a reader I was so mad and at the time in my theatrical career I was like I only thought I could audition at, you know, lower-level community theaters, like I would never go to a professional house, never In my head. I wasn't good enough for that. I needed to get that audition out of my head and out of my that bad taste out of my mouth. So I looked up and I was like what's auditioning? So I went to go audition for the late great Jack Alder at Theater 3 for a show called Royal Family. Didn't get a callback, but it didn't matter, it wasn't about getting the show, it was about getting making sure that that wasn't the last audition right there. And then I saw that, um, uh, lyric stage was doing funny girl and so I went and auditioned and sang I am what I am from la cage because I just played that. I'm like I know that song, I don't have to prepare. I went and God bless Cheryl Denson, she cast me and I played a small feature role in the ensemble and lots of different characters and stuff. But at the cast party for Funny Girl which was a remarkable experience to do that show, because nobody ever does it I looked at Cheryl and I said because I love the way Cheryl Benson directs, she's very much. She was an actor, so she directs with an eye towards actors and I just loved how she cared for us and helped us through all of that. I said, cheryl, I only want to work with you. Like what are you doing next? And she went hmm, that's good to know. And I said, okay, back to my wine and whatever.
Speaker 2Fast forward a year and Uptown Players is doing Dirty, rotten Scandals. I make an audition appointment and I'm so scared. I'm like I don't have any reason to be an uptown player so I'm never gonna use me. So I canceled my appointment and I was like, no, it's just not for me, because in my head, if I don't show up for the audition that's why I didn't get it right I don't have to be disappointed.
Speaker 2And so then the day after their auditions, craig, who is one of the producers at Uptown Players, calls me and says Cheryl would like you to come to the callback for Dilly Rotten Scoundrels. I'm like, but it didn't audition, like how does that happen? And he said I said what do I need to do? He said be prepared to read in a French accent, which I don't do very well, and sing something from the show. Okay, so I went and got I dressed appropriately because I was taught you dressed for an audition. So I was wearing black slacks and a white shirt and tie and a vest and I walked in saying something from the show. I read I, I had gone to um, I. I watched the pink panther on a loop to try to get a french accent in my head and um went, read, sang. The table was like thank you very much. And cheryl said to me what are you doing later today that you're so dressed up? And I said oh, nothing special. And Jeff Rain, the other producer, said he knows how to dress for an audition. And I just looked at him and smiled and I said thank you, and he got cast.
Speaker 2And that show changed my career Because now I became known as somebody that could do it. It led to me getting drowsy the first time. It led to me getting the Golden Girls, where I played Bea Arthur, which also scared the hell out of me. That was scary. That was scary because it was with Uptown and we did it at the Rose Room. So there were going to be a bunch of queens in the audience that were drunk, that knew Bea Arthur and everything she did, and it was me.
Speaker 2Michael Moore, chris Robinson and John De La Centis played the four girls and it was a remarkable experience. And it was a remarkable experience. We were all so scared Because these women are iconic. That show is iconic and the way the show was constructed was we each got you know sitcom entrance applause. When an actor comes in, you just applaud because you're seeing Bea Arthur or Lou McClanahan or whatever. It was constructed that way. So we each had an entrance. And I'll never forget opening night. I walked in and I don't remember who was first to come in. But I walked in and got entrance applause. I'm like, okay, we can do this, we can do this, yeah. So it was that, yeah, pretty brilliant. So that audition led and changed my career because I didn't get cast in what I thought was the perfect role for me Turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me, because had I got that role, I wouldn't have gone to the Fener Girl audition, I wouldn't have, yeah, all that stuff.
Speaker 1I think that's a true testament to continuing to audition right, continuing to put ourselves out there, which is something that, as actors, we take a rejection and then we just take it and it'll sit with it right, right.
Speaker 2And so when you don't get something, go try someplace else, because you don't know what may change the trajectory of your career.
Speaker 1No, and I believe that fully. I mean, I auditioned for a show goodness, it was supposed to be this summer, didn't get it. Happened to audition for something else that I didn't even expect, and got it, and so now I'm having the time of my life working with that show. But I want to backtrack a bit. First off, when you said you were watching the Pink Panther, for the French accent all I could imagine was Steve Martin, she's bugger. She's bugger, but not that, I'm sure.
Speaker 2I was scared to death because I had done a French accent. An actor dropped out of Valley of the Dolls that Bob Hess and Doug Miller had adapted and were directed, and my roommate at the time, rick Starkweather, was in the show. And they dropped out and Rick said Juan's available, you need somebody. So I went and parted with Kara Serber. That's how I met Kara Serber, that bitch, that bitch and we. I had to play a French, basically porn director, and Tara was my star, and so I had to do that. And Bob Hess, who is a dialect coach and knows how to do dialects, was directing it and I could tell he was like you suck, because I just couldn't do the accent. I couldn't do the accent, I couldn't do it and, ironically, in dirty, rotten scoundrels I was cast opposite bob hess stop, and most of my stuff was with him and I thought, oh, I can't screw this up. So I literally got a, a, an online tutorial on how to act in an accent and learn how to do it, because I'm like, okay, nope, but nope, again accents are so scary
Speaker 1and I think because we don't concentrate them, you can really screw them up. Yes, you can really. No having to do a cockney accent, as mr wormwood right now is just blowing up uh, kids who care, oh yeah, that's their sw show.
Speaker 1Oh, that's so sweet and we have one of the students' parents is Australian. Okay, and so the first time I said daughter and she came over after and she's like glottal stops right and no R's, and I was like okay, okay, da-a, da-a, da-a. She was like there, there. It was like oh, oh, I cannot do this. I was like I just need you to record all my life.
Speaker 2It's hard, it's hard.
Speaker 1I was like we don't do it enough. I think we just we're just kind of thrown up there and go with it, right, right, we need more of that. Um, one other thing that I want to back up to as well. You mentioned, uh, how cheryl is an actor who started directing you as well. Right, actor, director, are there moments and I mean you especially being put in that callback position where you were reading with everyone? Do you now, being a director, do you keep those moments where you know you're like, oh, I don't want this to be the same situation, absolutely? Are you aware of that?
Speaker 2How do you use that? Absolutely when, in right before the pandemic, the last thing I directed was Legally Blocked at GBAC and it's a huge show I think we cast 28, 29 people. I mean it was massive. And just before that there was other auditions a friend of mine was going to and he was at the callback and he was there three hours before they had him do any of that and that's just rude. That's just rude.
Speaker 2So I literally planned out, like Tetris, how to singing in one room, dancing in another and and reading in another, and me and the team moved around to see stuff so that everybody was busy for the whole callback. I was determined not to excuse me, not to allow anybody to sit there and do nothing. So, yes, running callbacks and and rooms in a professional way is incredibly important and I think if you talk to actors that work for me, they would say that that I I make it fun, but it's also very professional and you know your shit. You come in and you know your shit. We'll have a good time, but you're gonna work and you're gonna work, um, at the top of your game.
Embracing Fear in Art
Speaker 1Yeah, I would say, uh, one of my favorite callbacks, jubilee they did the same thing where it was like in this room, something's going on this room, you know guys are singing over here. Okay, now switch dancing singing. Yeah, because I have sat in callbacks before where you're just sitting there waiting. It's ridiculous. Yeah, no, and I actually had this conversation with rebecca lowry where rebecca's like why even call people back that you know are casting the role? Do your callbacks for what you need callbacks for? Right, and that's it, and so I'm glad that you are mindful of our time, right?
Speaker 2absolutely cuz you don't want your time wasted either, right sure?
Speaker 1right, and so love that. No, I love that you're mindful of our time. Um, speaking of mindful of our time together, yes, I want to be mindful that we have a song for you to sing. Okay, we'll see. Lon just learned it today. I did so, please be prepared. Also. I just learned it today. So I did so, please be prepared. Also, I just learned it today. So don't, vonda, don't come after me again, go ahead.
Speaker 2Vonda, you can.
Speaker 1Okay, I'm going to start saying Lon that bitch instead of Kara that bitch.
Speaker 2You know what Good I've taken her crown.
Speaker 1So we'll be right back. Lon's going to do some singing for us. Who knows, I might sing too, okay let's do it. Yeah, let's go. I'm so excited to hear you sing.
Speaker 2Oh, we'll see. It's been a minute or two.
Speaker 1It literally has been a minute because we just ran into something. It has been a minute, um, okay, so, uh, I think this song is perfect for you. I love this song you give fatherly.
Speaker 2Oh, are you calling me old?
Speaker 1No, I said daddy.
Speaker 2Oh, oh, okay, I'll go with that. I'll go with that.
Speaker 1We're cutting. Okay, I'll go with that. I'll go with that. We're cutting, but I promise we're not. Don't cut it. No, I would say that, yeah, no, you give that fatherly, you know. That's why I think that Feed Me from Little Shop is a perfect song for you. Is that not what we're doing? Let's do it. Does it have to be human? Actually? Oh my gosh, we're going to talk about this in a minute, about the role that he would do really well from this. Yeah, hold on, but for real, tell the people what you're singing today. I'm singing Happy, sad from the Addams Family.
Speaker 2Let's do it Right and wrong? Who's to say which we should refuse? All we know, love survives either way we choose. Here you are at the edge, Go ahead and fall, Don't resist. I insist, Love still conquers all. I'm feeling happy, I'm feeling sad, a little childish, a little dad. I think of all the days you've known, all the ways you've shown. See you on your own.
Speaker 1You've shown see you on your own.
Speaker 2And then I'm feeling happy and sad again. I think I'm rested, but then I'm tired. Today requested, tomorrow fired, and now a boy says he adores she who once was yours. How can I ignore such news? I'm sad and happy. Why should I choose? Life is full of contradictions every inch a mile. At the moment we start weeping. That's when we should smile. In every heaven you'll find some hell, and there's strict who would dare predict? And the boy you've picked not bad. So let's be happy, forever happy, completely happy, and a tiny bit sad.
Speaker 1Oh, that makes me happy and a little bit sad. Do you know who else? Because I mean, it just came to mind when we were talking about father figure Mushnik.
Speaker 2Oh, I've directed a production of Little Shop but I've never done it. But that would be fun. I think you'd be hilarious.
Speaker 1That would be really fun, because I think with that show it's also camp, right, right. If you're not on the other side of camp, then you're playing it too serious and it doesn't make sense. That show doesn't make sense. Well, I might argue with that.
Speaker 2Really In that camp, when you play it for the reality in the script. That's when the camp works better. If you play the camp, then it can become silly and stupid. Disaster is a perfect example. One of the big things that I've told both casts that I've directed is you have to believe that you're going to die. That's what amps the stakes up, which makes the camp so funny. Don't play the. Don't play the comedy, because the comedy's there, yeah so, yeah, no, I understood, no, I get that.
Speaker 1I just my favorite because I've seen it, goodness, four times now in New York. And Jinx Monsoon, she's amazing, she's amazing, it was so great.
Speaker 2And I think, just because she is camp, lives in camp, right, right, and so everything about her, audrey was just I bet, I bet I haven't seen that production, but I would love to and I love that it's been running for three or four years. Yeah, I mean it's been running for a while.
Speaker 1Yeah, which is great. Yeah, shout out to Major, who's back in it now? Yep, yep, I know, but yeah, I mean, I saw it. Goodness, I've seen it with too many.
Speaker 2Audreys already go okay, so let's talk about goodness, what am I supposed to talk about, ellie?
Speaker 1I just said what was the first thing? Oh, you're wondering. So you had said, uh, that the story that you wanted to tell today is um, doing things that really scare you, right, and putting that out there.
Speaker 2I think art is better. This is gonna sound weird. Art is better when you're afraid of it, when something scares you, I think you tend to work harder at it because you want to make it work. Disaster the first time scared the hell out of me the first time I directed.
Creating a Safe and Diverse Theater
Speaker 2I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I had no idea, but I'm like okay, I'll try. My motto is if it scares you, you kind of have to do it. If you think it's going to be easy and a breeze, then why do it. If you're not going to learn something from it or grow, then why do it? Golden Girls, when I did, scared the hell out of me, um, but I'm like that means I should do it. Glengarry glenn ross scared the hell hell out of me. But if it doesn't scare you, why do why? Why do it? There's no reason to do it. There's no reason to do it, in my opinion, if you're not just a little afraid of it don't do it no.
Speaker 1I think you're right. I think you'll completely learn from the experience, no matter what. Right right.
Speaker 2Even if you have that fear, even if you fail at it, even if you go nope, you're right, I should have been afraid of that because I wasn't good at it. Oh, no, you're right, I should have been afraid of that because I wasn't good at it.
Speaker 1Then do it, you know why not do it. Was it through Golden Girls that you learned that you were gay? Oh honey please.
Speaker 2I came out of my mother, the J, going hello my honey, hello my baby, come on, just immediately. Come on. You're there, come on. I felt, yeah, the you know pumps fell out of my mouth the first thing I opened my mouth.
Speaker 1No, no, I agree, it's all about a learning experience and I think that's where, like when I did uh, sweeney todd with michael serechia, I had I learned so much he's.
Speaker 2He's one of the people that I learned that. Cheryl Benson, who I mentioned. Michael Cerechia, bj Cleveland, in this building is where I learned how to that the three of them stick out. Andy Allen sticks out as directors that I learned from, learned how to do things and how to conduct a room and how to balance things and make sure that it's fun and safe. And a quick Andy Allen story we were doing, you know, pegasus does those black and whites For two years Irving. It was then Irving Community Thinners yes, it's now Mainstage.
Speaker 2They did a couple and I did the second one and the set that was built were stairs that were higher than like each set was huge and we had chase scenes and I can remember hindi allen running up and down those, telling the set designer I can't do this, how do you expect my actors to do that? And I took note of that. I went oh, it's got to be safe. Like, yes, it may be the right vision, it may be what you know the designer wants, but if it's not safe for actors who are already putting their heart and soul out, then then you can't do it, you need to change it. And so she ended up getting that set changed after it was already built and put in the theater.
Speaker 2Yeah, and so what I appreciate about all those people that I mentioned is they all taught me something about being vulnerable, being safe, caring for actors, because a lot of people because I've worked for directors who don't give a shit about you they're there to put on a show and, oh, you've got a problem. Sorry, and that's. None of us, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, are to make a living or be rich from doing theater. There are some people who make a living doing theater here, but not many, and most of us don't. So it's got to be fun.
Speaker 2It's got to be fun and it's got to be safe, and it's the experience you take with you that is your payment, because most of the time, if you get get paid, it's $100. Yeah, okay, great Thanks. That doesn't pay for the gas that I spent in the last month, literally, but if you have a good experience doing it the production disaster that you saw a lot of those people were my regulars that I said please come do this, and a lot of them had never worked at runway. Excuse me, but they were like yes, because we know you and Kristen are gonna create an environment where we can be silly, we can be fun, we can try things and we're not gonna be judged or told oh that's stupid. Well, except when it is stupid and it's in the right way of stupid.
Speaker 1So that's important, yeah I think that that's the most important part, right, because I cannot tell you how many times I've been up and down stairs that are uneven on set. Here's looking at you. You know who it is that have built those steps before.
Speaker 2It's not fair. Actors are already carrying. I mean, once a show opens, it's not the directors anymore, it's not the designers anymore, it's the actors and the stage manager. And if someone's not safe, then how does that work, you know? So, yeah, it's important.
Speaker 1Speaking of safe space, I want you to talk about the process of creating a safe space. Not only you know physically safe spaces, but for gender diversity, you know every type of diverse LGBTQ. How do you put that into your casting and your For?
Speaker 2me. I'm open to whomever walks in the room that strikes me as right for the role, regardless of what's written. And I say that with a caveat if I'm gonna do dream girls, I'm not gonna to cast a bunch of white bitches, right? You know? I mean right, but I mean there was a story a couple years ago where a pay-for-play children's theater somewhere in the area did hairspray with all white people. I'm like really, so Seaweed sang the black of the berry, the sweet of the juice, and he was white. Like there are some things that you must play it cast it appropriately because it's written that way.
Speaker 2But if it's not written specifically for that, then why not? Why not take the most talented people? I get really angry at people. Being a gay man who has done lots of gay theater, people are like oh, you know what Straight people shouldn't play gay roles. Why not? If they're the best actor for it, then why not? And conversely, gay men can play straight roles. Most of the characters I've played have been straight, so it's about being open enough to see everybody and to take chances with somebody. That isn't necessarily the way it's written or the way it's always been played. That doesn't necessarily mean that's how it has to be.
Speaker 1I'm going to challenge that just a little bit and say that sometimes I feel as though if it is a specific gay role. Let's say that there's not as much as many roles for gay people, and so the opportunity for a gay person to play that role.
Speaker 2Right, and I agree with you if they're the best suited for it. Because I go back and think, okay, if only gay people can play gay roles and I understand what you're saying, yes, yes, yes. But if that's the case, then we wouldn't have Robin Williams in the Birdcage, right? We wouldn't have William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman, right, we wouldn't have Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. Should those films be made now, today, with straight actors? Maybe, maybe not if they're the best person for the role, because the flip side of that is and and I know this is not necessarily a popular opinion but if, if only gay people can play gay roles, then only straight people can play straight roles no, no, and I hear because I love to Wong Fu and the remarkable, late great Patrick Swayze.
Speaker 2Yes, is perfect. All three of them are perfection. Yeah, and so if there is somebody, all things being equal from a performance perspective, yes, it has to be a person, but I don't think we should pigeonhole people. I think directors should be open enough to see oh you know what, maybe she could play this guy, maybe this gay man could play the straight man and this straight man could play the gay man. Whatever the case, it's important for me to give people the opportunity if they're the best suited for the role.
Speaker 1No, I agree, and I think it's a conversation that we are continually going to have. It's something that we're going to continually learn about and learn to grow from, in whatever direction we need to right, and so I think that recent revival of Boys in the Band, everybody was played by an out gay man, which was very, very powerful.
Speaker 2Even the one ambiguous character that is possibly straight was played by a gay man. That was powerful as a gay man to see that right, you know. So there I I think it's a great conversation to continue to have no completely agree with that.
Speaker 2Um, let's speak of conversation I want to talk about your upcoming project. Well, it's not officially upcoming, but a work. It's a work in progress. I'm about to, like I said, I'm older than I ever intended to be. In a couple of weeks, I will turn 60 years old.
Speaker 2Yes, so I've been writing this series of posts on both Facebook and Instagram about just random memories and since even since the pandemic, I think I have a story to tell and I couldn't figure out what that was out, what that was. And as I started to write this series, I write one every day and I've done one for the 60 days leading up to my 60th birthday. I think that's a show. I think there are stories that I tell that are some are funny, some are sad. There's a lot of theater stuff, because that's been a lot of my life. So I think that's a show that I'm going to try to put together and figure out what it might be. So stay tuned because we'll see, and if any theater wants to give me space to do it, I'd love it. Yeah, I think that'd be so much fun, I think. I think it could be really interesting. Who would play you? I think I would officially become man in Another Chick. Maybe that's the title of the show.
Speaker 1I don't know, I could see you know someone Carouserber complaining. Carouserber.
Speaker 2Aslan Barrera, you bitch Bitch.
Speaker 1Speaking of people that we hate. In our pre-discussion, you also talked about a couple of guests that we hate. Um, in our pre-discussion, you also talked about a couple of guests that you also hated, no I.
Speaker 2The only one I said I hated was kara serper, and she knows I love her, that's because it's across the board.
Speaker 1I think all all my followers on instagram also hate kara. Um, we're starting that hate kara campaign and I think she's across the street, but she is sorry care. But you also mentioned which I mean we've talked about Jaden multiple times. Obviously we adore Jaden, we love Jaden. Jaden is a piece de résistance in our DFW area. But somebody else that you mentioned, shannon mcgrann, speaking of people making a living off of acting.
Speaker 2You know um I. The first time I really met shannon was when she did cake at uptown players and I went out of.
Speaker 2I felt like obligation, I think, and I thought, okay, I'll go see this show, but I'm not gonna like it because it's about a woman who doesn't want to bake a cake, like ugh, I want to watch this. She is just a remarkable actor who is able to I mean, that's a brilliant script anyway but she's able to take somebody who you're not supposed to like and I fell in love with her, like so much so that actually Kara and I came together to see her do it here at Theater Arndt. And she's just remarkable in everything she does Everything.
Speaker 1Everything, unfortunately. That's why we hate her so much. I love her, I love her. I can't stand her Crazy, crazy bitch. I love her.
Speaker 2I can't stand her.
Speaker 1She's a crazy, crazy bitch that she is, Because I and honestly I mean, and I love her story, that she has tried acting out her whole life, and then she's like I finally found it later in life where I can do this, and she goes. You know, it took me this long to get here and I was like that's the testament as well, to just keep trying, just keep going. Yeah, I think, and I mean you too, just keep trying, you're gonna find it one day.
Speaker 1I'll be 90 you're almost there, I feel it. You're right, right on the precipice. Yeah, right on it. Right, you know, right on the bubble. Yeah, you're just close yeah, someday yeah. I'm gonna keep trying, trying. One day everyone's going to know who Lon is. Yeah, maybe because or not, I mean or not I feel like everybody already knows who Lon is. Maybe everybody knows who Lon is, unfortunately, carol. Thanks Carol.
Speaker 1So no, I've enjoyed our time today thank you, I um yeah I'm glad that you and seeley came on yeah, today, I'm sorry we never introduced miss um, but, uh, I appreciate your time and you sharing all your stories with us and, um, every, I mean I. This is probably one of my favorite episodes. Better than Kara's, of course. What isn't better than Kara's? So, yes, anything else that you want to put out there, anything else?
Speaker 1no I think I'm good. Oh, he's good because he is good. He's that good I try. Don't forget to catch us on social media. Follow us at Daniel Does DFW on Instagram, facebook. You can watch this on YouTube. If you're doing it right now, make sure you're watching it, or listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever you pick up your podcasts to watch not only Lon's episode, but if you missed it, apparently you have to watch Kara's. Apparently you have to watch Karas because you know that bitch. But thank you again, lon, thank you.
Speaker 2I had a great time I did too.
Speaker 1And do you have any socials Lon that you want to plug?
Speaker 2Facebook and Instagram you can find me. There's not a whole lot of Lon Barreras in the world.
Speaker 1But you can follow along to 60 Days to 60.
Speaker 2It's hashtag Lons60on60. 69.
Speaker 1No, no, 60s on 60s, don't age me, I would never. I'm only 12. So thanks again, we'll catch you later, bye, bye.
