Saturday, April 25, 2015

Holy Shuffhausen! McDonald Tabbed To Play VBS Doctor

Joe McDonald, a light veteran of community and church theater, has been granted the lead role in Epiphany Catholic Church's summer production of "The SonSpark Labs Show" as part of its Vacation Bible School program.

McDonald will play the role of Professor Peter Petri, a good-natured know-it-all whose engaging personality and friendly demeanor make him the perfect science show host.

After coming up short in an audition for alter ego Dr. Emil Shuffhausen in a performance of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels this spring, redemption seemed to come quickly in his mind after surviving the selection process.

"I'd worked for, like, hundreds of hours on an Austrian accent last summer," a wide-eyed and possibly medicated McDonald explained exuberantly in between sniffles as part of a much longer rant. "To prove that I can really do this is just, I mean, it's just amazing."

"He walked up to me during post-Mass cocoa and crescent rolls one Sunday and asked if we needed any actors for the VBS skits. We usually have kids do the acting but..." trailed off VBS director Theresa French uncomfortably. "He just seemed... really intense about the idea of being a doctor with an Austrian accent. I don't want to say 'obsessed'... but anyway... I just couldn't feel safe about saying no. Not without another adult present."

The SonSpark Labs Show will be the week of July 20-24, and also feature Becca Macak as the bright and ever-helpful co-host lab assistant Sally.

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