Rick Steadman - Actor and Improvisor

My friends Kathryn and Matt, the producer and director behind Bang Bang Gameshow!, got access to an apartment that had been damaged in a fire. Before the building got fixed, we ran in and shot a series of variations on a CSI-styled scene using the burned-out room as our backdrop. Some were straightforward, some were satirical. They should end up being really cool-looking, and as always, I had a lot of fun working with M&K. Once we've got them cut together, I'll be sure to post them here somewhere.

I'm very excited about this one. I've just been cast in the role of Yellow Dog in the upcoming World Premiere of Skeleton Stories by Delondra Williams at Theatre of NOTE. This a beautiful play about a young girl who, on Dia de los Muertos, chooses to journey to the Underworld in search of her deceased mother. As Yellow Dog, I play the guide in the Underworld, a charming yet threatening and sexual guide who should not be trusted. Skeleton Stories opens on October 1, and will be an ambitious production, including dance, mask work, puppetry, Greek choruses, and more. Check out the show's website here: skeletonstories.com

"We play to win, but we don't care if we lose." This is one of ComedySportz's mottoes. "Competitive" improv is sort of a funny thing, since we're really trying to entertain the audience more than we're trying to "win." That said, it's fun to win.

ComedySportz LA played our match against ComedySportz New York tonight. We were really excited, since it's the first time in years these two teams have been matched up. I was so happy to have my friends Myles Nye and Luis Cortes, and our Artistic Director James Bailey as my teammates in this match. We had a blast playing with/against New York, and though we won the match, it was clear that the New York team had a great time, too. Since the tournament isn't really structured like a normal tournament, and the matches are scheduled in advance based on a number of factors, this will be the LA team's only tournament match this year. I'm glad we made the most of it.

This week, I'm in Philadelphia, for the annual ComedySportz World Championship. About 150 improvisors from all over the US, as well as Manchester, England, and Berlin, Germany, are descending on the City of Brotherly Love like a horde of incredibly funny Mongols to "compete" for ComedySportz's Meaningless Cup. This will be my ninth consecutive tournament, and each year it's held in a different city. I've never been to Philadelphia before, and I'm having a great time so far. I'm looking forward to my LA team's show playing against New York on Thursday. More info on the championship is here: www.comedysportzphilly.com/tournament2010/

I'm very excited that Inside Private Lives, the interactive show I was in for most of 2009, will be remounted through the month of July at the Fremont Center Theatre in South Pasadena. In each performance of the show, six actors perform. Each actor performs alone with the audience, portraying a controversial figure from the 20th century. The audience is encouraged to ask questions of the character, to talk back, harangue, to interact however they see fit. I play the eccentric pianist and composer Glenn Gould. For the actors, it's a tough job: we've written our own script, based on a great deal of research, but we also have to be ready to improvise with the audience throughout the piece, and to use our research to stay true to the character as we do. And of course, we're alone with them, no other performers to help. It's a thrilling show, and one of the hardest things I've ever done.
We've gotten Critic's Pick twice from the LA Times, a GO from the LA Weekly, and a lot of other great press. We won Best Improv/Comedy Show at last year's San Francisco Fringe Festival, and the show had successful runs in New York and at Edinburgh Fringe as well.
We'll be at the Fremont Center Saturdays in July at 8pm. I perform on the 10th and the 24th. Come check it out! More info: www.insideprivatelives.com

This weekend, I shot a really fun T-Mobile Commercial for Father's Day with the awesome team from Supercoolcreative Productions. I had so much fun working with this team, and I really hope to do it again soon! What's more, they work FAST! The commercial's now live. Check it out on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bro4xEl6KsU. Enjoy!

I'm overjoyed to announce that Bicoastal Talent and Literary will now be representing me theatrically. I've been with Bicoastal commercially for a few years now, and the experience has been fulfilling and profitable, so now that I'm across the board with them, I'm happy as a clam on vacation. In some place that clams really enjoy. More info on Bicoastal: www.bicoastaltalent.com

Though I was very sad to end our wonderful run of Holy Ghost at Theatre of NOTE, there's a bright side. I get to return to improvising with my friends in the Main Company at ComedySportz LA! Look for me performing there throughout the summer. My next show there will be Friday, 6/12, at 8pm. More info: www.comedysportzla.com

Holy Ghost is now an Ovation Recommended show! We've gotten a GO from the LA Weekly, as well, (he calls mine a "heartbreaking and tender performance,") and we're selling out houses left and right! For Steven Leigh Morris' lovely review in the Weekly, click here: blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/stage-news/stage-raw-holy-ghost/

I shot a short film today, tentatively titled E.D.P., directed by LMU film professor Patrick Scott. I had a great time, though the changing weather throughout the day made shooting tricky. The supporting cast were all real police officers from around the Southland, which was interesting. So was having a bunch of fake guns pointed at my face. I'm really looking forward to seeing the final cut of this film. I think it's going to be really sad and really funny at the same time.

I'm proud to announce that I've been cast in the role of Cetnik in the thrilling new show Holy Ghost by Jon Tuttle at Theatre of NOTE. This will be a West Coast Premiere of a beautiful, complex play. For more information, check out theatreofnote.com/HolyGhost.html.

Welcome to the new RickSteadman.com!