The O-town Scene

April 21, 2011

The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY

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Casual Chit Chat Each week, we have a casual talk with a member of the community. This week ‘Neighborhood 3’ Director Marc Shaw of Hartwick College and Cassandra Miller chit chat, casually. You moved to Oneonta from Santa Barbara four years ago; how was that transition and what changes have you adjusted to living and working here? I moved from Southern Cal- ifornia to teach at Hartwick four years ago. The transition was tough because most of my family lives in the western United States — so trips to see my extended family are less frequent. Weather-wise, I had to get used to the unre- lenting, bitter cold. My fear of earthquakes is now a fear of ice storms. Food-wise, I rerouted my passion for bur- ritos into barbecued chicken. But most of my time has been spent prepping for the 10 or 11 different courses I teach at Hartwick — and the play(s) I direct each year. Comedy seems to be an area of theater you’re drawn to – you’ve run an improv troupe and won acting awards for your por- trayal as a character actor in comedic roles in a couple of Shakespeare plays. How is comedy incorporated into your latest project, “Neighborhood 3: Requisi- tion of Doom,” a modern play you directed that closes this weekend at Hartwick College? There’s always room for laughter in any type of storytelling; and I don’t think “Neighborhood 3: Requisi- tion of Doom” is any differ- ent. There are some tense situations in “N3,” but Jen- nifer Haley, the playwright, 10 O-Town Scene April 21, 2011 has penned some memorable and funny lines. Even under extreme circumstances, the characters themselves are identifiable and quirky, so some of the laughs come from the audience’s connection to them. You have an interest- ing background – not only were you raised Mormon in Utah, but you were also born in Scotland. How do you keep alive those as- pects of your heritage and upbringing? I lived in Scotland un- til I was 10, then I lived in Utah for 11 years. Scottish Mormons are as common as Welsh Jews and Leprechaun Atheists. I wish I were cool enough to still lounge around in a kilt, or to have a solo show about Robert Burns or Joseph Smith in the works, but — no. I guess my rare upbringing makes me interested in others’ personal narratives and diverse origins — maybe that’s why I love teaching “solo performance.” When you immigrate around the world at age 10, that’s probably the formative experience of your life. Your professional name is Marc E. Shaw; does anyone ever replace “Shaw” with a second “Marc”? And is Marc “Children of the Revolution” (there’s an excellent YouTube clip of this song with Ringo Starr and Elton John jam- this, I might as well invoke Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There” — with various actors playing different times in the Mormon/Scottish spell- ing of Mark? The only people who call me “Marc E. Marc” are the “Funky Bunch,” and that’s on the rare occasion that I thrust shirtless against a chain-link fence while singing “come on, come on, feel the vibra- tion.” Again, very, very, very rarely — weekly at most. “Marc” is the French spelling of “Mark,” and I was named after glam-rocker Marc Bolan from T-Rex, most known for ming, too). What famous actor would play you in a biopic, and what other actors would play significant people in your life? Wow, I had never even dreamed to fantasize this be- fore, so thanks for the oppor- tunity. I suppose if I am to go all the with way my life. Scottish actor Billy Boyd, who played Pippin the Hobbit in “Lord of the Rings,” would play me as a Scottish schoolboy (my ex-girlfriend once cornered Boyd in a bar in Los Angeles and told him he is my doppelganger). Mark Rylance, my favorite stage actor, will play me in any scenes in the theater. Giovanni Ribisi — who I also slightly resemble — will play me if I ever have to act tough: maybe if a student tries to bribe me for a grade. Cate Blanchett can play me when I was writ- ing my disser- tation (she plays longsuffering well). Geoffrey Rush will play me if I end up in a mental hospital (this has not yet hap- pened). Ryan Gos- ling can play me if I’m in an “emo” love scene either in the rain or on a bridge, or with a “Real Girl” (this has not yet hap- pened). As for my immediate family, as long as she can do a good Scottish accent, Dame Judi Dench will play my mother, because they are both honorable British women. My father will be played by Will Smith, for box office draw. And because I can: everyone in Oneonta and at Hartwick would be played by Jim Henson pup- pets from “Fraggle Rock” to “Labyrinth” to “The Muppet What rock stars inspire you and your professor bandmates? My bandmates are my inspiration. But I think they are mostly inspired by Hob- bes, Foucault, Derrida and Ozzy. Oh, and one of them has this weird thing for Willie Nelson. What are your top five favorite bands/musicians? I’m going to quickly say The Smiths, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Burial, Velvet Under- ground, and then not second- guess myself. The school year is almost over; do you have plans for the summer? Working on my tan, some theater, some writing/edit- ing. What’s the best part about living in the Oneonta area? That’s where Hartwick is, so I get to teach what I love. Contributed photos Show.” I would be played by Animal, screaming “OH- NEON-TAAAH.” What do you do when there is an untalented student in one of your acting classes? Talent is overrated. I say that on the first day of class. It’s more about your capac- ity to risk and about being prepared. Enough about class; what do you do in your free time? I hear you’re a bit of a rock star. If a rock star plays in the woods, but no one is around to listen, does that count? I don’t think so. No band I am in has played live yet, so I can’t really comment. In my free time, I jog. I also watch the Food Network while eating (makes my food taste better, especially in HD).

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