Friday, February 24, 2012

FRIGID Festival Interview - John Grady of "Fear Factor: Canine Edition"

By Byrne Harrison

John Grady is an actor and a writer from New York City. He starred off Broadway in Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell and as a member of Blue Man Group. He is a multiple story slam winner at the Moth, and has performed on the Moth Mainstage in New York City, Detroit, and Portland. His stories have aired on NPR, CBC Radio, and KCRW. John worked with film director, Francis Lawrence on both "I Am Legend," and the NBC drama "Kings." A graduate of the theatre program at UC Irvine, John also trained at the National Ballet School in Toronto and danced with Ballet British Columbia in Vancouver.

Show: "Fear Factor: Canine Edition"
Website: http://www.thejohngrady.com/

How did you first get involved in theatre?

When I was cast as Roger “the Mooner”, in a high school production of "Grease" that my friends convinced me to try out for.

Who are your biggest influences?

William Forsythe, Simon McBurney, and Spalding.

Tell me a little bit about your show.

It’s about my life and misadventures with my dog, Abby. My dog, acting as co-pilot, guiding me along the way. Myself, facing my own fears and shortcomings, to help her.

What inspired you to write it?

Well, being unemployed is a good motivator, and also being involved in the storytelling scene in NYC and Los Angeles.

Who are your collaborators and how long have you been working with them?

I flew solo creating this show. Though being on a walkabout with Abby for 13 years was quintessential.

What's next for you after FRIGID?

I will be touring this show to the Rogue Festival in Fresno, then to the London, Ottawa, Nanaimo, and Vancouver Fringes in Canada. You can always check in at http://www.thejohngrady.com/ for updates on future performances and appearances.

And finally, if you could say anything to your potential audience, what would it be?

Thank you for silencing your cell phones. Let’s begin…


"Fear Factor: Canine Edition"
Written by: John Grady

The Kraine Theater
85 E. 4th Street

Feb 24, 8:30PM
Feb 26, 1:00PM
Mar 01, 9:00PM
Mar 03, 7:00PM
$15.00

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