Michael Ross a big booster of local theater

TOM TITUS

For someone who had to be dragged kicking and screaming -- literally

-- to his first audition, Michael Ross has done all right for himself

in the world of local theater.

Ross, 51, now one of the most proficient actors and directors in

Southern California community theater, vividly recalls his traumatic

introduction to the stage at the age of 14.

“I was painfully shy when I was young,” he said. “My parents

believed that a drama class would help me come out of my shell. They

forced me to take drama classes despite my objections.

“The drama teacher put pressure on me to audition for the school

play, ‘The Taming of the Shrew.’ At the last minute, I decided not to

audition and my mother physically dragged me there. I was cast in the

role of Hortensio and, as they say, the rest is history.”

Forcibly thrust into the theater, Ross discovered that he actually

liked it. He liked it so much that he’s made it a huge part of his

life ever since. He went on to earn a degree in cinema and television

at USC and graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

For one who looks on theater as an avocation, he’s been enormously

busy at it. Take this year, for instance. Ross currently is heading

into the closing weekend of “Plaza Suite” at the Huntington Beach

Playhouse, where he plays the frustrated father of a reluctant bride

in the final scene.

It’s a welcome laugh-inducing role after his last two assignments.

Earlier in 2005, he performed in “The Little Foxes” (as Oscar, not a

very nice guy) at the Newport Theater Arts Center and directed Arthur

Miller’s “The Crucible” in Huntington Beach. Not many chuckles in

that one, either.

After “Plaza Suite” closes, Ross will have a week off before

conducting auditions for his next directorial project, “The Amorous

Ambassador,” at the Long Beach Playhouse. Once that show opens in

late August, he’ll have a bit of a break before directing “Guys and

Dolls” at the Newport Theater Arts Center early in 2006.

Ross has many fond memories of his theater experiences, several of

them from his work at the Huntington Beach Playhouse.

“I was part of the cast of ‘Rumors,’ which was the playhouse’s

first production in the newly built Library Theater,” he said. “I

remember touring the theater while it was still under construction

and the excitement of ‘christening’ the new theater.”

(That show, by the way, was judged the best production of that

season).

Once, when directing Huntington Beach’s “Inspecting Carol,” he was

forced to step into the show to replace an ailing actor on closing

weekend.

“This wasn’t too bad -- I’ve had to do it before,” he said, “but

the role was Tiny Tim and I’m 6-foot-3 and over 250 pounds.”

Although Ross’ talent is as large as his frame, he declares he’s

never been interested in pursuing theater as a career.

“Because of this, I am able to pick and choose what I direct or

what I audition for,” he said. “I feel so fortunate that throughout

my grown-up life, I have been able to pursue my passion.”

That passion has led to over 50 acting roles including, for the

Huntington Beach Playhouse, Teddy in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Owen

Turner in “Light Up the Sky,” Saunders in “Lend Me a Tenor” and Ernie

Cusack in the aforementioned “Rumors.” He’s been Barney Cashman in

“Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple,”

Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Wargrave in “Ten Little Indians,”

Kolenkhov in “You Can’t Take It With You,” Freddie in “Noises Off,”

Jacob Marley in “Scrooge” and Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on

the Way to the Forum.”

Ross also has directed more than 50 productions including, for the

Huntington Beach Playhouse, “The Philadelphia Story,” “Laughter on

the 23rd Floor,” “Dial M for Murder,” and the aforementioned

“Crucible” and “Inspecting Carol.”

Michael Ross spreads himself around the Southern California

theater scene, and fortunately, there’s enough of him.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.