MEET THE CAST OF UNDERPANTS GODOT!- Secret Theatre Interview!

MARK-EUGENE GARCIA--No introduction needed. Read on for Mark's thoughts on mangerie!

Why did you take up performing?
"Performing started with music and music started with HER: My elementary school crush was the first chair flute player and I learned how to play flute well enough to be second chair so I could sit next to her. Years later, she would quit band and I would quit girls. But music would lead me to musical theatre and theatre in general."

Photo by Reiko Yanagi

Who is your character? How are you like this character?

"In THE UNDERPANTS GODOT, I play Mark Ransom, who plays Vladimir in 'Waiting for Godot'. It’s complicated ...but it’s not. My character and I are alike in that:
We’re both actors named Mark. 
We both have a lot of a lot of respect for theatre. 
We both fight to elevate the visibility of queer characters. 
We both agreed to do shows in our underwear. 
And we both have a pretty wicked sense of humor.
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​How do you differ?

"We’re different in that Mark (him) [is] a lot smarter than Mark (me). I realized that when I first read the script. Preparing for the role, I had to read up on Beckett, re-read some theatre history, revisit some Shakespeare, as well as research some Queer Cinema of the 80s and 90s. He also didn’t like 'Batman Begins' and I did.  That’s important."

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Photo by Reiko Yanagi

What kind of challenges have you faced with making your character come to life?

"Aside from the research to keep up with my characters passion for classic theatre, I’ve also been spending more time at Blink Fitness. I don’t know if that’s my or my character’s vanity forcing me to do that."

What do you think the audience will really enjoy seeing and learning from this tale? 
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"I think the audience is going to laugh. A lot. I did. My first experience with THE UNDERPANTS GODOT was that of an audience member when I watched the Secret Theatre's UNFringed Festival production. I fell in love with the cast. I fell in love with the writing. I had so much fun. I told all my friends to go see it. I had no idea I’d join the cast a year later. That’s been a dream come true."

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Photo by Reiko Yanagi

Any particular scenes? Any life lessons or historical lessons?

"There is a moment in the show when a character says 'we’ve had a lot of fun here today', and as a character and as an actor, my heart leaps. Throughout the show, these characters debate and act and stage and re-stage and scream and choke all in the name of art. It just reminds me that we are our best when making art. Hearts and brains combine in ways that they don’t in other walks of life. Yeah we may have different opinions and tastes, but we need to be reminded that we are our best when we make art. This play does that from beginning to end."
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If you were not in the entertainment field, what else would you want to do with your life?

"After saying what I just said about art, I can honestly say that I cannot answer this question."

Tell us about your costume! If you have more than one, describe your favorite one.

"My costume is a white pair of Fruit of the Loom briefs. I’m a boxers guy, so briefs is a challenge. I don’t know how some guys do it."
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(EDITOR'S NOTE: The ladies of "The Real" discuss Boxers vs. Briefs: https://youtu.be/SEvapnxgDYM)

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Photo courtesy of ABC

Can you let us in on a little known fun fact about you?
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"Speaking of vanity, I gotta plug my reality project. Watch me re-live my awkward high school theatre years on ABC’s Encore! with Kristen Bell. It’s on HULU and ABC.com.Do it for her. She needs the fame. I think she sang some song about a snowman once." *

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www.Markeugenegarcia.com

Mark-Eugene Garcia: Actor, Writer, Storyteller 

* I’m kidding. She’s the loveliest person I’ve ever met.
Thanks for the thorough answers, Mark! I guess we know you won't be pilfering your costume after the final show.
And yes, Kristen Bell twas in "Frozen," and sang a song about a snowman, snowflakes, and letting it all go..... but she also performed this burlesque number in the movie "Burlesque," watch it HERE
https://youtu.be/8-PCLG0SLkU
(Im sorry, no Kristen Bell in THE UNDERPANTS GODOT)
AND PLEASE, PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
http://secrettheatre.showare.com/UnderpantsGodot