IMFourPlay

Jay Hopkins is a new face to the company of FourPlay: The (Improvised) Musical, but will be very familiar to those who know SAK well. He is an improviser of formidable skill and experience, and personally, one of my favourites to play alongside in the Lab or on Corporate events. Due to his busy life and schedule as a producer, director, actor/improviser, instructor and playwright, I arranged to meet with Jay between stops on the Lymmo Bus for a quick chat and a piece of chewing gum.

Current favorite musical: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Current favorite improv game: Genre Roller Coaster, and always Crime Endowment and Parallel Universe

DC: Jay, I believe you are the most senior member of the SAK family involved onstage in this production of FourPlay. Just exactly how long have you been part of SAK, and what keeps you coming back for more?

JH: Well Dave, I've been with SAK since 1992 (14 years for those of you counting) and I stick around in some capacity or another for two reasons: the work is always fun and unique (I can always find something new to challenge myself personally) and the people I get to work with are the greatest.

DC: I agree. I haven't seen as much of you around the Lab lately as you recently began your own theatre production company, Jester Theater, with your wife, Diana. What is Orlando like as a theatre market for an up and coming theatre company?

JH: I won't lie. It's hard. Let's just say that the biggest hurdle is the money. Theater is expensive to produce, from renting a space to paying talent to paying royalties to programs, posters and (if you're lucky) advertising. Plus, Orlando is a tough nut to crack when you share your entertainment dollar with the tourists and the theme parks -- in addition to movies, outdoor activities, etc... That being said, I find it exciting. This environment forces you to produce quality work, because if you don't, you'll fold FAST. The theater community has been almost totally supportive, sharing info and resources when they can. It's still early to tell, but it looks like we're starting to tap into the crowd that wants to have live entertainment. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

DC: I have mine crossed for you too, although things seem to be looking very promising. Your company produced the extremely successful South-eastern premiere of The Musical of Musicals: The Musical earlier this year (with our very own Jim Rhinehart as the Musical Director.) You are clearly a fan of the musical as your direction displayed a finely tuned understanding of the genre. What is it that attracts you to this form?

JH: How odd. It's funny but I never thought of myself as a "musical" lover. I always thought of myself as a "comedy" lover. But I guess I clearly do like musicals. Thinking about it now, I guess it's this: musicals (or music in general in my experience) are clearly a form that are entirely unique as entertainment. You can see a murder on the news but rarely do you see 25 people break out in dance on the news singing about joy. You can see people talking in your day to day life. Or fighting or crying or arguing or all the things you see in a play... but mostly, you don't see people breaking out in song in your day to day life. That convention is almost entirely unique to musicals. I love that. As most of you who know me... I'm an entertainment junkie. Plus I guess I'm fascinated by the skill of those people who can sing well. Now that's talent.

DC: While you are probably best known around O-town as an improviser, you are also currently performing in the The Constant Wife at Mad Cow Theatre (with FourPlay's multi-talented choreographer, Heather Lea Charles). Alongside your growing resume as a performer and director with Jester, should we get the impression that are you leaving your roots as a predominantly improvisation-based performer?

JH: That's an odd perception of me too in my eye. I received a degree in Acting and Directing from UNC- Greensboro long before I started improvising. I've always said improv is a tool for acting and acting is a tool for improvising. I'll never leave improv -- let's just say I'm just focusing on some of the other parts of my skillset right now. I love improv but it gets stale if you only do the same kind of show for too long. You have to step away to keep it fresh. That's why actor's do different plays. That's why I'm so excited about FourPlay. This is stepping into some new territory for me as an improviser while still being based in what I feel strong at.

DC: I find FourPlay pretty exciting too. Thanks so much for making some time for me between your other rehearsals and productions. I believe this is my stop...

To learn more about Jay, go here.