Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The Gospel According to...Paul Thomas Truitt

Name: Paul Thomas Truitt

Hometown: Berkeley Springs, WV

Education: BA in Drama from The University of Virginia

Who do you play in The Mysteries?: James the Less

Tell us about The Mysteries: The Mysteries is a marathon production historically telling the stories of the Bible while paying respect to the core myths and mysteries that are crucial in the religious text.

Describe The Mysteries in three words: Smart, sexy, mind-bending

What’s the wildest costume you wear in The Mysteries?: My wildest costume would have to be from Jeff Whitty’s play, where I enter the stage dancing and wearing cat ears and a makeshift Tallis.

If you could be anyone from The Bible, who would you be?: Lazarus for sure. He got a second chance and lived it up!

Which company member is most likely to actually have lived during Biblical times?: Leemore Malka. She even used to live in Israel.

Which company member is most likely to be the Messiah?: Alex Seife. He holds an otherworldly knowledge behind his pensive eyes, as if he just knows.

Most likely to become an angel?: Dominique Brillon. Sweetest. Person. Ever.

Most likely to hear voices in their head?: AJ Ditty.

Who’s the most spiritual?: Thats a good question. I’d say Rebecca Rad, but I’m not sure why. It’s just a feeling I get about her.

On the 8th day god said _____: Let there be coffee!

Are you going to heaven or hell?: If Hell exists, I’m definitely headed there.

Which of the Seven Deadly Sins are you?: Lust. It’s gotten me in some pretty tight situations before.

What’s the biggest inside joke at The Mysteries?: Probably snapping our fingers and yelling “WERK!” when we like something onstage during rehearsal. Or backstage. The snapping stems from the workshop, where we performed in Ed’s loft apartment and refrained from clapping because of his neighbors.

What is the most rewarding part about being a member of The Mysteries?: Working with SO MANY talented people. I learn something new every single day from these guys. Ed has assembled a cast that not only clicks onstage, but very quickly began clicking offstage as well. I never tire of heading to the bar after a show and enjoying a brew with my fellow cast mates. Some lifelong friendships are being made.

Why should we come see The Mysteries?: You should come see The Mysteries because it is unlike anything you have ever seen before and unlike anything that will ever happen again. We are telling the most well known story on the planet, but telling it in a way that sheds light on what religion became afterwards and how it changed during that tumultuous time in Judea. Sure, some people aren’t going to like what we have to say about the stories that they’ve held as absolute truth their whole lives, but why else make a piece of art like this if you’re don’t want people to question something? It’s hard to explain. You just need to come see it.