Seattleplays.com profile

Dawson Nichols

What a talent -- best known for his stunning one-man shows, but also capable of elegant, ensemble acting  . . . But where's he been, lately? Nichols re-mounts his one-man Virtual Solitaire at the CHAC (lower level), and talks about his mysterious disappearance from Seattle theater:

When was the last time you performed in public in Seattle? Jeeze, it's been a long time now that I think about it.  I entered the UW PhD program just after 9/11 in 2001, so it was some time prior to that.  I was on tour prior to that too, so I think it was when I did Fires in the Mirror at Intiman in '99.  Wow, this'll be my first show at home this millenium.

Well, what the heck have you been up to, and why so long no acting around here? I have toured this show and other solos back East and to Canada and Australia.  I was creative director at a radio theatre company and wrote a 9 hour cyberpunk series called The Fourth Ambit (see ambitgroup.com).  I co-wrote and performed in a two-hander that toured internationally called Into The Ring ( intothering.com).  I have gotten my PhD at the UW and taught theatre there, at the U of South Carolina, and now at Cornish.  Also, I have a family.

Re Virtual Solitaire": Have you ever been lost -- truly lost -- on-line? I defy you to find someone who has spent more than an hour on-line who hasn't been lost on-line

What advice would you give to the would-be solo actor? What kind of personality do you think it takes? Is it all about material and technique, or . . .? All of life is a solo performance, so it takes all kinds.  I'm not being flip, I just think anyone can do it, they just need to know how to set their parameters.  You get to play to your strengths when going solo, so figure out what those are and exploit them.

‘Virtual Solitaire’ by Dawson Nichols October 20—November 26, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm. CHAC Lower Level, 1621 12th Avenue (at Pine). $10 brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006

Do you miss acting as part of an ensemble? I did an ensemble show last year. Into the Ring.  At the time my partner and I had exclusive stage rights to The Lord of the Rings, and so we put on a two-hander that examined the Tolkien phenomenon.  That was great and I look forward to ensemble work again.

Is there hope, for Seattle theater? Yeah.  We just need theatres who will produce Seattle playwrights with Seattle directors using Seattle actors and designers.  It'd be the only truly regional theatre in the country.  But that's doable.