Spotlight On...Scott Michael Morales

Name: Scott Michael Morales

Hometown: McKinney, TX

Education: BA in English at Marymount Manhattan College, plus some acting here and there

Favorite Credits: Playing a meth cook/addict in the independent film "Pearl," Playing most of Shakespeare's characters in the play The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Playing a massage parlor patron in a Trojan Condom commercial.

Why theater?: Because its urgent and immediate; you can't escape the audience and that is utterly thrilling. And because I get to do funny voices.

Tell us about Professor Ralph's Loss of Breath: Its a fun, silly comedy with just the right amount of meat on its bones: it tells the story of a man-child who endures a crucible and, when he finds himself on the other side, he finds that he has grown up a little and discovered just how lucky he is. Plus funny funny voices.

What inspired you to join the cast of Professor Ralph's Loss of Breath: I love big, broad comedy, and the opportunity to do something so vaudevillian gave me a great chance to do just that.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Theater that pushes me into any extreme direction, be it positive or negative, and makes me a little uncomfortable. Ian MacKellan, Gary Oldman, and Meryl Streep are my heroes alongside Luke Skywalker and Emmitt Smith (somewhat different categories, though).

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: See above, especially Emmitt Smith.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Many, but one that sticks out in recent memory is the production of The Other Place put on by MTC a couple of years ago. Laurie Metcalf delivered one of the single best performances I have ever seen.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: It would be an animated film called "Scotty Bones: Tales of a Jedi Master" and would be directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It would feature the great Gary Oldman as my voice with my body modeled after a younger Wallace Shawn. Or if they called me up, I would gladly do it.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Jean Claude Van Damme movies. Except I don't feel guilty...

What’s the most played song on your iPod?: I want to be cool and say something no one has heard of, but let's be honest here, its probably a movie score by John Williams.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Working in film? Too easy. Probably a minister or a teacher. Or a comic book writer. Or a space marine.

What’s up next?: Working on a new play about the Van Goghs called The Room that will go up later in the year, working on a web series called "Written for You" that will come out in the Spring, chasing that dream, more funny voices.