ALLAN BAKER is an Equity actor based out of Florida. OAT is fortunate to have this 53-year-stage-veteran appearing as TITO MERELLI in Lend Me a Tenor and as VICE PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS PANCH in The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Recently Allan chatted with OAT Producing Artistic Director Jason Cannon about his career and his upcoming summer in Rolla.
Pictured: Allan Baker* as Tito Merelli in a previous production of Lend Me a Tenor.
*Denotes Member, Actors' Equity Association
1. So, Allan, this will be the fourth time you’ve played Tito Merelli in Lend Me a Tenor. What draws you so strongly to this role?
As actors, there's a plethora of reasons we enjoy, and are drawn to certain roles. By the way, anytime I can use the word "plethora"... It might be the "challenge" of a certain role, or perhaps a character perfectly fits one's particular talents, and said actor wants to take full advantage of the opportunity to shine. Perhaps an actor feels that an iconic role like Richard the 3rd, Willy Loman, Oscar Madison or Tevye are just roles they have to do once in their lifetime.And then there are the roles that are aspired to simply because
they're so damned much fun, nothing more. "Tito" is so much fun, I hope to continue doing it until I'm dragged from the theater kicking and screaming. Coincidentally, that occurred recently. The fact that is was the audience, and six theatre critics is totally irrelevant...With "Tito", I get to play a larger-than-life character, sing a bit of opera, do comedic takes for half an hour, kiss a variety of females, run in and out of slamming doors wearing a big, gaudy costume, all the while feeling and taking in the energy of a crowd roaring with laughter. Other than that, it's no fun at all...
2. Where are you from and how did you decide to spend the summer at OAT?
I'm originally from Wichita, KS, and currently reside in Neptune Beach, FL, a near-perfect beach community 1/2 a block from the Atlantic Ocean, just east of Jacksonville. I was aware of Ozark because of my friend Steven Flaa, a member of last summer's company, and director of this summers' "25th...Putnam...Spelling Bee". I went online, saw that that you were doing LEND ME A TENOR, and anytime I have a shot of doing TENOR...Of course, the decisionto spend my summer at Ozark was pretty much yours, seeing as how YOU are Ozark's "Biggest Cheese" and have the final say-so. But then, how could you not cast me: I was brilliant at the audition - well, semi anyway -command the stage, am just like Pavarotti - meaning of course that I love pasta - and have handled this interview like I do most things - with great humility...
3. How did you get in to the theatre?
I got into theater because of my Aunt Kathy. She was in high school and doing a production of KING AND I. The director needed kids to play the Siamese children, and Kathy thought of me. I might've only been six, but the dedication, dazzling stage presence, and pathos I brought to the situation was so evident, that the director naturally
thought of me when he needed a Siamese child to lift up Anna's dress when she's first introduced to the children.Unaware of exactly why, this felt pretty darn nifty. I could sense from my fellow Siamese brethren that I'd scored a coup with this particular piece of blocking, the envy was palpable. The director could've chosen one of the other kids, but he didn't. I guess some of us "have it", and some of us don't... For all intents and purposes, I had found my life's work, and for the last 53 yrs.---"Being on stage", I mean!
Many have said it was the lifting up---Wait a minute, where was I? We better move on...
4. What’s one of your fondest theatrical memories as a performer?
I've never had a better time on stage than the six glorious weeks I did SUGAR BABIES in Orlando, FL. Without proof, I DO think I was a vaudeville/burlesque comic in a former life. I've always felt comfortable, at home, and completely in my element, if I'm wearing a loud, striped suit - or a god-awful dress and ill-fitting wig for that matter - a skimmer on my head, holding a rubber chicken, and rattling off bad jokes. Is there
anything better? Well, maybe - but for our purposes here today, I don't think so. I was blessed with a terrific Second Banana, the freedom to do just about anything, it actually helped when I couldn't remember my lines, and probably most of all, an intangible that we all aspire to - a nightly, unwavering, fan base of elderly women. They laughed at everything I did, sent me notes, cookies - one was NOT pleased that I wanted to share them with my castmates - called me on the phone, and if I remember right, I think there were a couple of marriage proposals. If any of them had had any money...
5. What are you most looking forward to experiencing in Rolla?
What any, self-respecting person wants to do when he's in Rolla - get to the Slice of Pie. Seriously, I want to do good work, with good people. I mean come on, I'm close to my old stompin' grounds in the midwest - many lifelong friends will be coming over to see TENOR and SPELLING BEE - I'm getting to do LEND ME A TENOR for the 4th time, with a brand new cast of people, I'll be working with my dear friend Steven Flaa in SPELLING BEE (we wowed the masses last summer together in MIDLIFE: The Crisis Musical), a couple of Kansas City BBQ binges are not far away... Sounds like a pretty great summer to me...
