The delightful Layne Manzer – whose heart can be won by loyalty (or steak) – shared these thoughts with us right before we entered tech for The Long Count.  It was his first show with New Leaf – but we hope he’ll be back for more.

1. In a word, today I feel: Absorbent

2. I am a theatre artist because: I think this has changed as I’ve continued to mature in my theater experience. I remember it used to be because I needed to perform. It was a very selfish thing. I needed that attention. Luckily I feel that I have become a utensil to tell a story. I have the opportunity to be used to as a channel to tell a story that creates challenge to the audience and affects intellectually, emotionally, and/or spiritually. I am a theater artist because I am able to find enjoyment in fulfilling my piece in the theater “puzzle” for the projects I work on.

3. I am a theatre artist in Chicago because: Well, honestly it is close to where I was raised (Nebraska) which is why I am the most familiar with this city. I find Chicago the most approachable and least pretentious of cities to do theater. There is an amazing storefront appeal that is a recognizable voice of this city that I really am drawn to. The community is very tightly interwoven and allows for a lot of highly inspirational & experimental art to take place because of the very supportive artistic home we have here.

4. In regards to The Long Count:

               a) Today, I am most excited about:
Watching the technical elements play with what we have been establishing since day one. There has been an overseeing eye that has been taking into account all the lights, sound, music, set, etc. and we are finally getting the chance to bring each of these new characters into our process as another member of the ensemble. Because this show seems to be very fantasy and movement oriented the technical elements have the opportunity to really make bolder choices than in the realm most of the traditional scripted shows I have seen and been a part of and it really influences my work as an artist on this show. 

            b) Today, I am asking myself this question:
Am I going through a long count in my own life? Have I already been through a long count?

5. Five years ago, I thought: everything was the “end of the world” or the start of the “next best thing”. Now, as I have seen a few things cycle out and begin to recognize patterns in my life. I realize that everything has a place and nothing is really the end of the world. If things are not ideal now I just have to hold on and wait and the cycle will come back around. As for those things that I consider the “next best thing” I find out that there is always something bigger and better and I need to be wary where to invest myself.

6. Five years from now, I: will have a castle. Or at least I will have a place to call a castle. I would settle for a condo or a house.

7. In a word, how do we build a future from a present we didn’t expect? BOLDLY