Blake Hametner
Read on for a glimpse into the mind of a Pegasus veteran, Blake Hametner!
How long have you been involved in theatre?
The official answer is sometime in elementary school, but according to my folks I have been performing since I figured out that my brain and my mouth can work at the same time.
How long have you been involved with Pegasus Theatre?
I started with Pegasus in their 2009-2010 season with the world premiere of Death is No Small Change! by Kurt Kleinmann. When I auditioned, I noted that I would be interested in any backstage work Pegasus could offer me and because of that Kurt and Barb called me up and offered me a position backstage as a makeup technician. This show marks my 6th trip to the Living Black & White™ world. [Editor’s note: When Blake isn’t performing on stage, he is the magic behind part of the makeup effect. That’s all I can reveal — I am sworn to secrecy!]
Any favorite moments so far with Pegasus that stand out for you?
A high ranking favorite Pegasus moment was when I got to check off the on-stage death moment from my actor bucket list. I still remember what my mom said to me after she saw the show, “I thought there would be blood….” Thanks Mom.
You’re currently in performances for Death Is a Bad Habit! Tell us something interesting about the performance period, perhaps something you especially like about them, or a favorite moment?
My favorite part of being involved in a Pegasus production is through all the comedy and wacky adventures that Harry, Nigel, and Lt. Foster have, you get a surprising and delightful history lesson. Everything from the wardrobe, the props, the subtle (and not-so-subtle) references peppered throughout each and every script is a treasure hunt of history. I think this is a somewhat overlooked aspect of the Living Black and White(tm) productions. The entire creative team unites to bring to life a fantasy world of “farce meets noir “and no detail escapes to ensure that the audience gets an accurate slice of American life in the 1930s and 40s
What do you do when you aren’t working with Pegasus?
By day I work in Telecom support for North Lake Community College in Irving Texas. Before that I have worked at Theatre Too, Shakespeare Dallas and with North Lake College theatre
Looking back at all your experiences, who would you say has influenced you the most in your theatrical career?
Looking back on everything, I think trying to keep a well rounded library of books in my life has helped me in my theatrical career. I read books like eating meals when I was a kid. Every day I would read and then one day I started reading out loud, and then to keep things interesting I would add character voices as best I could. I was lucky enough to have wonderful parents who noticed it all and they put me in theater classes which lead to my involvement in performing in elementary, middle and high school. Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biography, True Crime, Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror are all found on my bookshelf and they have all helped me bring characters to life on stage.
What comes next for you?
Travel. I will be accompanying my girlfriend to Athens, Greece, as she speaks at the 7th Annual International Conference on the Visual and Performing Arts this May. En route there will be stops in Canada and Switzerland. And with gas prices the way they are, a road trip is looking more and more enticing. Time to start throwing darts at a map of the continental United States! [Editor’s note: We are officially jealous!]