By Rachel
White
Entire contents are copyright © 2012 Rachel White. All
rights reserved.
 |
| Robbie Lewis. |
Pandora
Productions has been pushing boundaries and entertaining the Louisville
community for the past ten years with its commitment to producing cutting edge
theatrical works that “speak to the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and
Questioning community.” Pandora is a theater company with a mission, and it
instills that mission in its actors and crew. Up-and-coming Louisville actor
Robbie Lewis was new to Pandora and to the world of theater just a few years
ago, but after a successful audition he soon began to see Pandora as his home.
“My best
friend at the time was auditioning for Oh My God Mother. He finally got
me to go and audition. I went in with no expectations. Had no idea what I was
getting into.” Robbie sang, got the part, and found himself swept up in the
Louisville theater world, auditioning regularly and bonding with the community
at Pandora, including artistic director Michael Drury. He seems surprised and
touched that Pandora would embrace him in the way that it has. “To be honest, I
don’t know what Michael sees in me, but I guess it’s something.” Robbie has
since appeared in four Pandora productions in the past two years, including Oh
My God Mother, Zanna, Don’t, Gays in Toyland, and the Rocky
Horror Picture Show. He has also branched with Sock Drawer Productions’ [title
of show]. Like any actor Robbie has a day job, and theater is something he
does at night. He doesn’t get paid, but he loves what he does, and he has the
enthusiasm of someone who has just discovered something new and wonderful about
himself. “It’s an incredible addition to my life that I never knew I had.”
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| Robbie Lewis in a previous Pandora show. Photo courtesy of Pandora Production. |
Robbie is
particularly adamant about Pandora’s message and its role in the Louisville
community. “Pandora has a message. Their mission is to tell stories about the
gay community, all aspects, whether from a male homosexual perspective or
transgender perspective or lesbian perspective.” Robbie is confident that his
work with Pandora is changing people’s lives by making them look at these
issues in a new light.
Robbie will appear
in Pandora’s upcoming show, Bare, which will be his fifth show with
Pandora. Bare will appear at the Bingham Theatre at Actors Theatre and
will be directed by Michael Drury, whom Robbie calls “a mentor.” Bare is
a pop opera about two young boys who meet at a Catholic boarding school and
fall in love with each other. One wants to share his feelings with the world;
the other is desperate to keep it a secret. “The story is great,” Robbie says.
“It’s a very important message that I think a lot of people need to know. There
are high school teenage issues that I think everyone can relate to, whether
it’s the homosexuality aspect, the relationship that people have with their
friends, or boarding school with all these rules.” Robbie plays Peter, who
struggles with coming out to his family and friends.
“One of his
struggles is with his mother, trying to come out to his mother, because Peter’s
character is very strong. He knows himself and wants to come out. His boyfriend
at the school doesn’t and is comfortable with the closet life.” The play is
especially important at a time when bullying and teen suicide are so often in
the news.
+with+Ray+Cooper+in+OMG!.+Photo+courtesy+of+Pandora+Productions..jpg) |
| Robbie Lewis (right) with Jason Cooper in Oh My God Mother. Photo courtesy of Pandora Productions. |
“These kids,
they’re all trying to be heard – that’s the biggest message about this show. They
all want to be heard, whether it’s heard in confession, or telling your mother
that you’re gay, or telling your roommate that you hate her guts – they’re
trying to find a voice. And we don’t listen, and we don’t hear. We see in the
papers and read in the news about these kids killing themselves because they’re
not being heard.”
The title, Bare,
suggests nakedness, and sex; but Robbie says it isn’t about literal
nakedness but about “baring your soul. You’re stripped. It is stripping.” At
the same time, the play is a musical and entertaining. “The music is the
driving force of the show. It’s fun.”
In lieu of
his deep relationship with Pandora, I wondered if Robbie had any plans to
audition elsewhere, to expand his world as an actor and develop his career. He
shows some interest in that idea: “After this show closes I’m going to go over
and do Rent at Center Stage. That’ll
be my first show with Center Stage.” At the same time, his loyalty to Pandora
is clear. “I think I will always and forever call Pandora my home,” he says,
“as long as I keep doing theater. Theater people are awesome. I’m definitely
happy where I am. I’m just enjoying what I’m doing now. I really dive in; I’m a
committer. I want to learn everything.”
Bare
Book by Jon
Hartmere, Jr., and Damon Intrabartolo
Lyrics by
Hartmere and Music Intrabartolo
Directed by
Michael Drury
May 10-20,
2012
Bingham
Theatre at Actors Theatre
Theatre Information
Pandora Productions
P O Box 4185
Louisville,
Kentucky 40204
502.216.5502
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