Meet Raphael Parry!

MEET THE CAST:

Raphael Parry is the Executive & Artistic Director of Shakespeare Dallas and Founding Producer of Project X - but for a couple months, he's hanging at Kitchen Dog, where he plays Old Man in THE CHAIRS, open now through March 9 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

RAPHAEL

Full Given Name

Raphael Pinkney Parry III

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Zodiac Sign

Sagittarius

Current Show You Have Been Recommending to Friends

Sleep No More

Favorite Play

Beginner by Erik Ehn

Most Played Song on Your iPod/Device

"A Kind of Blue"- Miles Davis

Last Book You Read

An American Spy by Olen Steinhauer

Last Good Movie You Saw

Lincoln

Favorite Pre-/Post-Show Meal

Pizza & Shiner (after the show)

Superstitions?

All of them. You know, whistling in the theatre, any lines from MacB, black cats, under the ladder, etc.

Worst Flubbed Line/Missed Cue/Onstage Mishap

At the old Arts District Theatre at Dallas Theater Center - I was playing Tartuffe and was on top of a table ready to make love to Elmire and my entire seam of my pajama bottoms ripped out. I was wearing only a dance belt and half of a full house got to enjoy a full moon rising.

Worst Costume

Same play, I had to wear a loin cloth that I was sewn into every night, while I carried a huge yellow cross across the stage and then mounted the cross to be an image of Jesus.  Didn't get a laugh in Dallas.

Must-See TV Show

Mad Men

Bucket List Roles

Lear, more Beckett

First Show to See at Kitchen Dog

Mud

First Show to Be In at Kitchen Dog

Road

A Play That Hasn’t Been Done on a Dallas Stage But Should Be

Red Devil Battery Sign by Tennessee Williams

Performer You Would Drop Everything to Go See

Gary Oldham

Show You Hope Never to See Again?

A Christmas Carol

What Did You Want To Be When You Were Little?

Archeologist

Best Piece of Theater You’ve Ever Seen

War Horse in London or Money in London Dream Profession if You Didn’t Become an Artist? Wow. Maybe a fishing guide in Colorado.

Don't miss Raphael Parry in THE CHAIRS, running now through - March 9. The Column urges you to "Make your way to Kitchen Dog Theater at The Mac and prepare to be amazed, intriuged, baffled, enlightened, moved and exhilarated by this extraordinary production."

Buy tickets for THE CHAIRS here.

Meet Rhonda Boutte!

MEET THE CAST:

KDT Company member Rhonda Boutte plays Old Woman in THE CHAIRS, opening tomorrow, February 8 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

RHONDA

Full Given Name

Rhonda Deone Boutte

Hometown

Dallas

Zodiac Sign

Leo

Current Show You Have Been Recommending to Friends

Penelope at the Undermain Theatre [We made Rhonda fill this out awhile back and Penelope has since closed -  but The Ghost Sonata opens there in April!]

Favorite Play

So many, hard to single out one.

Most Played Song on Your iPod/Device

Right now, "Controversy" by Prince. [We couldn't find the original to link to, but please enjoy the  Maya Rudolph/Gretchen Lieberum cover band PRINCEss.]

Last Book You Read

Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy  by Simon Louvish

Last Good Movie You Saw

Amour

Favorite Pre-/Post-Show Meal

Post-show - Mexican food

Superstitions?

I carry a show gift that a mentor gave me in my stage makeup bag; I have never taken it out.

Worst Flubbed Line/Missed Cue/Onstage Mishap

In a college production of The Owl and the Pussy Cat I had a quick costume change and put my nightgown on backwards and I didn't know until the lights came up onstage. The neckline was to my belly button. Other people renown for wearing their clothes backward...

Worst Costume

None worn by me.

Must-See TV Show

Newsroom

Bucket List Roles

Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks; Pickling by Suzan-Lori Parks; Anything written by Erik Ehn [Rhonda starred in the Project X production Diamond Dick: The Tulsa Race Riots by Erik Ehn in a production directed by Raphael Parry, that traveled to New York and was called a "standout."]

First Show to See at Kitchen Dog

The Woods by David Mamet

First Show to Be In at Kitchen Dog

In the Jungle of Cities directed by Tim Johnson [Please know how badly we wanted to show you a picture of Rhonda as the pimp named 'The Baboon' and how devastated we are that we can't find one]

A Play That Hasn’t Been Done on a Dallas Stage But Should Be

Venus or In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks

Performer You Would Drop Everything to Go See

Sting Hey girl

If You Had to Run a Show for 10 Years, What Would it Be?

Diamond Dick: the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921 by Erik Ehn Newton Pittman and Rhonda Boutte in Diamond Dick: the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921

What Holds Dallas Back From Theatrical Greatness?

Edge

Show You Hope Never to See Again?

Not a play but a musical: Oklahoma. I was in a horrible production in school so I can't bear to see it.

Dream Profession if You Didn’t Become an Artist?

A musician or a painter.

What Did You Want To Be When You Were Little?

Rocky the Flying Squirrel

Best Piece of Theater You’ve Ever Seen

Morning, Noon and Night by Ted Shine; I saw that play at 8 years old and that play made me want to be an Actor.

Don't miss Rhonda Boutte in THE CHAIRS, running February 8  - March 9. TheaterJones says, "Considering the K-Dogs' love for the absurd - this one's a must." 

Opening Night and Valentine's Day are already sold out, so hustle up!

Buy tickets for THE CHAIRS here.

Meet Tim Johnson!

MEET THE DIRECTOR:

KDT Company member Tim Johnson doesn't do double-duty, he goes for quadruple and then some: Director, Development Manager, Administrative Assistant, Actor, and twice a week you can find him teaching the kiddos at University of North Texas. Oh, and did we mention that later this season you'll see him onstage performing his one man show (called, appropriately, one:man.show)? Yeah, he's kinda busy. Tomorrow, catch his most recent directorial work in THE CHAIRS, opening tomorrow, February 8 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

TIM

Full Given Name

Timothy James Johnson

Hometown

I never lived anywhere longer than two years as a child.

Zodiac Sign

Gemini Sun, Taurus Moon, Gemini rising  (my mother and stepfather are both professional astrologers)

Current Show You Have Been Recommending to Friends

Um, when exactly would I go and see another show???

Favorite Play

I am in love with whatever show I am currently working on.

Most Played Song on Your iPod/Device

Does NPR count? I have recently been obsessively listening to the album Kulanjan by Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabate.

Last Book You Read

Notes and Counternotes by Ionesco and Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chodron

Last Good Movie You Saw

I've been watching "The Lord of the Rings" movies in 15-20 minute increments after rehearsals.

Favorite Pre-/Post-Show Meal

I share a bowl of baby carrots with Iris (my dog) every evening after rehearsals while we watch our 20 minutes of LOTR and snuggle on the sofa.

Superstitions?

Nada.   Pop Culture Guilty Pleasure Star Trek: The Next Generation (loud and proud Trekkie!)

Worst Flubbed Line/Missed Cue/Onstage Mishap

I almost decapitated Max Hartman in OTHELLO - he forgot to duck. Oh, and years ago, I was playing Wally the Water Bunny (from the Bronx) in a touring show about water conservation. I stepped out to start the show for our preview audience before we hit the road and there were about 500 first and second graders and they all started screaming and I completely went up on my lines. I stared at them for about twenty seconds and then exited the stage.

Worst Costume

The Z Cavariccis I wore during OTHELLO.

Must-See TV Show

I only have Netflix. TV is of the devil.

Bucket List Roles

I'd direct anything by Albee or Beckett. If someone wants to give me a chunk of change, I'm itching to do THE BALCONY and MOTHER COURAGE.

First Show to See at Kitchen Dog

Mud.

First Show to Be In at Kitchen Dog

Sore Throats (I directed, 1993)

A Play That Hasn’t Been Done on a Dallas Stage But Should Be

Shopping an F***ing [by Mark Ravenhill]

Performer You Would Drop Everything to Go See

Tina Turner (I couldn't afford the ticket last time she was in town) or Bill Irwin. I always try to catch Laurie Anderson when she is in town.

If You Had to Run a Show for 10 Years, What Would it Be?

Nothing sounds more painful - I'd rather be a dairy farmer.

What Holds Dallas Back From Theatrical Greatness?

$$$$$$$ (or lack thereof)

Show You Hope Never to See Again?

Christmas Carol

Dream Profession if You Didn’t Become an Artist?

A man of leisure.

What Did You Want To Be When You Were Little?

A man of leisure.

Best Piece of Theater You’ve Ever Seen

Hmmm.... I watched 16 of the 18 total performances of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? when I directed it for Kitchen Dog. It wasn't the best piece of theater I've ever seen, but it was the best piece I've ever had a part in making. L to R: Cindy Beall, Kieran Connolly, KDT Artistic Director Christopher Carlos, and Brandy McClendon in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in May/June 2000

Don't miss THE CHAIRS, running February 8  - March 9. TheaterJones says, "Considering the K-Dogs' love for the absurd - this one's a must." 

Opening Night and Valentine's Day are already sold out, so hustle up!

Buy tickets for THE CHAIRS here.