Friday, June 22, 2012

Spotlight On...Derek Ahonen

Name: Derek Ahonen

Hometown: Chicago

Education:
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Favorite Credits: Happy In The Poorhouse

Why theater?: It’s live.

Tell us about The Bad and the Better: It’s a detective story about undercover cops, anarchists, political power players and it has a great score, brilliant lighting, and a director that mined it for all that its worth.

What inspired you to write The Bad and the Better?: I wanted to write a cop trilogy based upon Star Wars, but then I realized that was stupid.  So I just wrote an honest detective story and filtered it through my fucked up personality.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Theatre created by artists that are equally in touch with both their demons and angels.  Losers with beautiful hearts inspire me the most.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?:
I want to do a play with Cerveris.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I have recommended Jersey Boys way too often to feel like a real playwright.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?:
Ben Gazzara would play me in a movie called, “The Sloppy Lover.”

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Shark Tank and The Olive Garden.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be: in AA

What’s up next?: I’m acting in a film down in North Carolina called, Triggerfish.

For more information on The Bad and the Better, visit thebadandthebetter.com