Brian Martin & Kim Saunders in MERCHANT OF VENICE at Gough Street Playhouse. Custom Made Theatre Company
What most excites you about this production?
Working with a great group of theater people, almost all of whom I have never worked with before and getting to play such a wide variety of characters.
What is the greatest challenge you face with this show?
I think the greatest challenge for me will be to creating such a wide variety of characters and making sure each is fully developed and distinct, as well as having to change from one character to another with very little time between shows.
What kind of research are you doing to prepare?
My research primarily involves my character’s backgrounds. For "Mormon Mother" and "Brother of Bridezilla" I have been reading and watching documentaries on the Mormon religion so that I can understand how Elliot’s religion has shaped his views on life; in particular homosexuality and what it would mean for a Mormon to devote himself to creating a perfect gay marriage. For Rites of Passage I have been reading up on heroin addiction to learn why someone may get involved with the drug, and what withdrawal from it would feel like. I have also been watching documentaries to see its effects, and how and what users feel about the drug and their addiction.
What have been some of your favorite previous roles (or productions you have been involved with)?
I feel so lucky to have been in some great productions here in San Francisco. Since I was little I always loved the movie CLUE and wished there was some way to be in it, so getting to play Wadsworth in Boxcar Theatre’s production was beyond a dream come true. No Nude Men’s production of THE EDENITES stands out because I loved my character Xavier so much and I was able to perform what is now my favorite monologue. And Eric Birling in AN INSPECTOR CALLS with SF Stageworks holds a special place in my heart because it was the most demanding role I had been given up to that time and every performance felt challenging and exciting.
Since this play is about the right to marry what are some of your personal feelings regarding marriage that you would be willing to share?
Prior to these last few months my main thoughts on marriage were whether I would want to get married or even be allowed to. Now the idea of marriage has become a big part of my life due to the recent Supreme Court decisions, my sister’s impending wedding and of course working on LAWFULLY WEDDED. I see marriage as something that creates major change in a person’s life and identity, which at this moment in my life, I find pretty scary. But being with my sister as she faces this major life change I understand a little more clearly, that when you feel you have found the right person, the fears are worth facing.
What do you hope audiences will take from this production?
I hope audiences leave the theater feeling satisfied and entertained, thinking about the ideas the plays have raised, perhaps with a greater understanding of human nature and why marriage equality means so much.
Working with a great group of theater people, almost all of whom I have never worked with before and getting to play such a wide variety of characters.
What is the greatest challenge you face with this show?
I think the greatest challenge for me will be to creating such a wide variety of characters and making sure each is fully developed and distinct, as well as having to change from one character to another with very little time between shows.
What kind of research are you doing to prepare?
My research primarily involves my character’s backgrounds. For "Mormon Mother" and "Brother of Bridezilla" I have been reading and watching documentaries on the Mormon religion so that I can understand how Elliot’s religion has shaped his views on life; in particular homosexuality and what it would mean for a Mormon to devote himself to creating a perfect gay marriage. For Rites of Passage I have been reading up on heroin addiction to learn why someone may get involved with the drug, and what withdrawal from it would feel like. I have also been watching documentaries to see its effects, and how and what users feel about the drug and their addiction.
What have been some of your favorite previous roles (or productions you have been involved with)?
I feel so lucky to have been in some great productions here in San Francisco. Since I was little I always loved the movie CLUE and wished there was some way to be in it, so getting to play Wadsworth in Boxcar Theatre’s production was beyond a dream come true. No Nude Men’s production of THE EDENITES stands out because I loved my character Xavier so much and I was able to perform what is now my favorite monologue. And Eric Birling in AN INSPECTOR CALLS with SF Stageworks holds a special place in my heart because it was the most demanding role I had been given up to that time and every performance felt challenging and exciting.
Since this play is about the right to marry what are some of your personal feelings regarding marriage that you would be willing to share?
Prior to these last few months my main thoughts on marriage were whether I would want to get married or even be allowed to. Now the idea of marriage has become a big part of my life due to the recent Supreme Court decisions, my sister’s impending wedding and of course working on LAWFULLY WEDDED. I see marriage as something that creates major change in a person’s life and identity, which at this moment in my life, I find pretty scary. But being with my sister as she faces this major life change I understand a little more clearly, that when you feel you have found the right person, the fears are worth facing.
What do you hope audiences will take from this production?
I hope audiences leave the theater feeling satisfied and entertained, thinking about the ideas the plays have raised, perhaps with a greater understanding of human nature and why marriage equality means so much.
BRIAN MARTIN is excited and grateful to be working with Wily West on LAWFULLY WEDDED; he previously worked with the company when he appeared in two stage readings for SPOOKY CABARET this past October. Brian is a native San Franciscan and a recent graduate of San Francisco State, where he majored in theater with a performance emphasis. Brian has worked with various theater companies throughout the Bay Area and was most recently seen as Stephen in ROCK N' ROLL with Actor’s Ensemble of Berkeley and as Lucentio in San Francisco Theater Pub’s production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. He also recently appeared in Custom Made Theatre’s production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE where he played Lorenzo. Some of his favorite roles include Xavier in THE EDENITES with No Nude Men, Geoff in A TASTE OF HONEY with Virago Theatre, The Little One in HOW TO LOVE PERFORMERS UNDER STRESS, Eric Birling in AN INSPECTOR CALLS with SF StageWorks, The King of Hearts/Dormouse in ALICE IN WONDERLAND with Atmos Theatre, and Wadsworth in Boxcar Theatre’s production of CLUE.
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