Month: March 2017

Meet the First Chris Borthwick

May I Have Your Attention, Please? was first written as a short story but when I was asked to start a drama program from scratch, which had no money for scripts, royalties etc, I adapted the short story I had written in college into the play version that everyone sees now. I am honored to spotlight for you the actor who was the first Chris Borthwick, 20 years ago in 1997. Meet Josh Collins.

17577941_10158654542620647_1693334078_n Joshua Michael Collins,  34 year old who just got back into acting. Currently represented by V&C Talent agency, Bowling Green, KY.

Q. How does it feel to be the first actor to breathe life into Chris Borthwick?

“It is a true honor to be the first to portray Chris. It’s a character that we all on some level can connect with. At some point in our lives, we or someone we know has felt total isolation. Given the chance to share and hopefully, enlighten someone to realize the risk of suicide that many face is so important. I just hope that someone who has seen or will see Chris’ story can change their outlook.”

Q. What age were you when you played Chris? How did you find the emotions for Chris that range from wacky, class clown to dark and disturbed?

“I was 14 and always a bit of a class clown naturally. For the painful emotions, I always recalled the moments that had hurt me the most and transferred those emotions to the performance.”
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54456_468106665628_2264358_oThe first cast of May I Have Your Attention, Please? 1997
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Q. What advice would you give to actors who will play this role?
“My advice is the same as the technical approach that I used. Find that place where you know you have been, or find someone who may be alone or depressed. Reach out to them. Hopefully, you will help them as well as yourself.”
Q. Did you have any idea at that time that the play would go on to reach people worldwide?
“The fact that the play is performed worldwide doesn’t surprise me, because it has such a powerful message.  It changed me. It taught me to pay more attention because loved ones may not be as happy as they appear. And yes! I can still say my ABC’s backwards.”
#Theatre4Change

Award Winning Performance!

Best representative of Festival Spirit and Scene with the most Impact

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Henry Gordon Academy performance of May I Have Your Attention, Please?

Drama Festival Results:

  • Best representative of Festival Spirit and Scene with the most Impact
  • Tyler Mugs – Best Actor and Best Solo Dramatic Performance
  • Claire Melissa Sainsbury – Best Supporting Actor
  • People’s Choice Award
  • Overall Winner

Stay tuned for a complete spotlight on this amazing cast, crew and Director and their first ever regional win! Expect the spotlight in May after their performance at Provincials. #BreakaLeg #Theatre4Change  #endingthestigma

Cambridge HS Night of One Acts, Milton, GA

 

Emma Toor to direct, May I Have Your Attention, Please?

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(Photo and article, North Fulton Neighbor News)

Cambridge High School Advanced Drama Company Seniors will sit in the director’s chair for the company’s “One Acts” series to be performed on March 16 and 17.

“We have five seniors that have been rehearsing the one act plays,” said said Cambridge High School Drama Director Tracey Buot.

All directors are members of the Cambridge Advanced Drama Company.

“The Harsher” will be performed on March 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. in the Cambridge Theatre.

It will be accompanied by two additional one-act performances per evening.

“May I have your attention, please?” and “No More Mister Nice Guy,” will be performed on March 16.

“Dinner with the MacGuffins” and “Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa,” on March 17.

Tickets are $5 and sold at the door.

Cambridge High School is at 2845 Bethany Road in Milton.

More information about the theater department is available at www.cambridgetheatre.org.

Lindsay Moscarello is a reporter for Neighbor Newspapers in and around Roswell. She graduated from Auburn University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication.