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LAist Interview: Mitch Watson
The Actors' Gang 25th Anniversary Season will feature a revival of the Gang's 1992 hit "Klub". The production opens April 12 and reunites the company with director Michael Schlitt, songwriter David Arnott, and writer Mitch Watson. LAist asked Mitch Watson about his years in 'The Gang", his work in animation, and the existential world of Klub.
LAist: What is Klüb?
Mitch Watson: Well, it’s an old abandoned theater that once you get into, you can’t find the way out. It’s also a show that never ends for the actors who are unfortunate enough to find themselves there. Klub is the place you go when you ambitions in life have put you in a place of total denial as to who you really are.
The play combines ideas from No Exit and A Chorus Line. Any Cats?
“Cats” as in the play? Of course there are ideas stolen from “Cats.” In the theater, all roads lead back to Andrew Lloyd Webber. If you are referring to actual cats, sadly we were not able to cast any as they are drunks and refuse to show up on time.
Have you made any changes to the show since the 1992 production?
There are a lot of tweaks throughout. Mainly to deal with the space which is about five times bigger than the one we did the play in originally. There are also two scenes that were completely rewritten because we were never really happy with the way they were the first time. I’d say, though, that about 80 percent of the show is the same.
How did your originally get involved with the Actor's Gang?
Through UCLA. I was friends with Jack Black, who had worked with them in the past. He took me to a couple of shows. Then my buddy Keythe Farley brought me down after I’d graduated. I basically hung out for a year, writing stuff for them, until they accepted me. It was kind of like pledging a fraternity, but not so homoerotic.
Is there an official initiation when you become a member?
Back then it had a lot to do with the quality of your drugs. I have no idea what it is like now.
Can you describe the Actor's Gang aesthetic?
What first attracted me to the company was it’s screw you, punk rock attitude. They really didn’t seem to care about who they pissed off, which I really liked. The people in the company were also not like your usually theater crew. They didn’t talk about theater so much as they talked about music, and politics, and pushing the audience to an uncomfortable place. Back then, for me, it was like belonging to a really cool band. There were no limits to where we could take things.
You also write for several show at Nickelodeon including Tak and the Power of Juju. How did your work as a playwright prepare you to write for animation?
Well, oddly, because of the Gang's heightened style, it actually was a really good training ground. Animation pushes things into the absurd just like the Gang does in their plays. I was actually hired after a guy from Warner Bros. saw my play “Asylum”, which is a pretty dark play, but it had a lot of absurd elements.
The Nickelodeon animation studio looks like a kids playground. What is your favorite toy that you keep in your office?
I have a three-foot tall ventriloquist dummy that sits on my coach and terrifies people whenever they stop by.
What other projects are you working on now?
I just finished a live action feature for Cartoon Network, and sold two pilots, one animated and one live action, so I’m pretty busy.
Where do you hang out in when you are not writing plays and animation projects?
Honestly, I watch a lot of movies, so I’m at the Arclight a lot. I’ve also fallen in love with the subway system in LA. Lately I’ve been taking that downtown, and re-discovering Olvera Street, Chinatown, and the toy district.
What is your favorite restaurant?
Real Food Daily. I enjoy the fact that they will bring me a plate of something totally unidentifiable, but it still tastes great and actually might be good for me. Also I am a Mexican food junky, and their tacos are awesome. Oh, and the waitresses are really cute and don’t smell like patchouli.
Favorite place to get a drink?
8-18 Wine Bar on Riverside in Toluca Lake. I love that place. I also like The Castaway in the hills of Burbank because the view is great and the drinks are cheap.
Favorite LA Landmark?
Magic Castle. I performed there as a kid. It’s kitschy, but in a good way. And there are secret passages. I love secret passages.
The cast of Klub at The Actors' Gang
Klub opens on April 12 and runs though May 10 at The Actors' Gang.
Written by Mitch Watson
Directed by Michael Schlitt
Songs by David Arnott
Featuring Brian Allman, Hannah Eden Chodos, Joseph Grimm, Emilia Herman, Nathan Kornelis, Michael Neimand, Lauren Oppelt, Evie Peck, Michael Schlitt, Robert Shampain, Beth Tapper and Mitch Watson
Artitic Director: Tim Robbins
THE ACTORS' GANG
Ivy Substation
9070 Venice Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(two hours free parking available across the street in Ince Parking Lot, corner of Culver and Ince)
TICKETS:
The Actors' Gang
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm: $25
Saturdays at 10:30 pm: $15
All Thursday night performances are Pay-What-You-Can
photos of the cast of Klub by Jean-Louis Darville