The UNOFFICIAL UGA Drama Blog

Then I realized it’s cause I haven’t really told
anybody enough to write about. So here’s a bit of
Jon for ya.

For several months now, I’ve been training in the
art of maskmaking under the watchful eye of
Stanley Sherman, one of the leading maskmakers and
Commedia Scholars in the coountry. I’m beginning
to strike out on my own and, thanks to some
donated studio space from someone with a bit
extra, I am actually going to turn it into a
business as soon as I get licensed.

I’m currently working on developing a show with
the Stolen Chair Theatre called The Man Who
Laughs. It’s based equally on the novel by Victor
Hugo, the silent film that should have starred Lon
Cheney, and our own rampant imaginations. It will
be a live action silent film for the stage with me
as the title character, whose face was disfigured
into a permanent smile by a group of vengeful
gypsies. The lovely Jennifer Wren will be
prtraying my blind ingenue love interest.

We open Halloween night at the Red Room, come in
costume and get a discount. This is the 3rd show
I’ve done with Stolen Chair and the shows turn out
pretty damn well, so check us out.

I’ll also be traveling to Singapore at the
beginning of December to be a part of the
Initiation International festival. My friend
Alexia Vernon’s show, The Joy of Lex, was invited
as one of two shows from the US to participate.
Yay for us!

Recently, I have made the decision that my true
calling is in balloon sculpture hats. As anyone
who was around for Katherine Sanderlin’s B-day can
attest, I make the most beautiful, completely
balanced, elegant balloon hats. Or I make them
really large. I can never remember. But if you see
me on the street corner making little latex
animals, drop a dollar or five in the hat and get
me out of there.