Pirates simply wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be. I played a policeman, and our behavior was rather corny. It was downright embarassing, honestly, dressing up in that uniform and doing all of those ridiculous things. The company was interesting, but I've always preferred hanging out with techies, and I missed that in this play.

The play itself is about a young pirate named Frederic who finds out that he isn't supposed to be a pirate at all, and so becomes a pirate-fighter. However, there are complications, and he must remain a pirate. It boils down to a very silly, comical play with very...energetic music. What else could be expected from Gilbert and Sullivan?

Original Document

Here's the quick fact: I have been cast as a police officer in Hanes Theatre's production of The Pirates of Penzance. Performances will be November 14 and 15 at 7:30 PM and on November 16 at 3:00 PM. I encourage everyone to come out to see me in all of my shining glory. Further information will probably be available on the Hanes website, so check it out if you want (you guessed it) further information.

Now, if you know me, or if you are me, you're likely wondering, "I thought Stephen was a techie hardcore. What made him start playing for the other team?" or some paraphrase thereof. The answer is clean and simply peer pressure. I'll abandon pretense for a moment and inform you that peer pressure in the last sentence is just a euphemism for Suzannah Rosenberg. That being said, this is a good show for me. For other reasons. First, everyone likes shows about pirates. Second, good male voices are few and far between in the Fine Arts at Hogwarts CHHS, so I, having a few billion Y-chromosomes floating around, am a precious commodity. (The same is true for Lighting Designers, but that's a story for a different day).

Of course, there are those who will see this as merely a benchmark for an underlying change in my general personality. Instead of being content to provide unseen, unheard, and largely thankless technical support for the Actors, I am now one of them, selfishly marching about the stage trying to show off. These naysayers just don't understand. I am still the same person I always was. And I certainly don't plan to make this Acting business a pattern. Quite the contrary: after this show, I'll go back to my light control console and likely never walk in the light again. We shall see.