Micheal Harrison is t
he owner of Horrible productions, which has been presenting large scale Electronic Music and performance events in Atlanta for 9 years. He began acting as a child and has focused on directing for the last 7 years. He primarily works on original pieces created with an ensemble cast using movement, music, and classic texts.
Live Arts Theatre is excited to share our stage with this talented director. He honored us by sharing a little more about himself in this interview:
Q: Is this your first show with Live Arts Theatre? If not, what are some of the other shows you have done with us?
A: I was the Stage Manager for Cabaret, and I directed both pieces in the 24 Hour Musicals.
Q: Name two fun facts about you.
A: 1. I collect Chuck Taylor shoes (I have about 20 pairs I cycle through) and 2. I enjoy cooking, and creating my own recipes.
Q: What is your dream Directing job?
A: To do a large scale production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Germany or Japan.
Q: What attracted you to Dog Sees God?
A: I love Pop Culture, and I like the idea of using it to explore more serious issues.
Q: If you could be a comic book character, what one would you be?
A: Dr. Strange
Q: Dog Sees God is based a beloved comic strip, and we get a look of what might happen when life gets real. Why do you think this is a good way to present difficult topics?
Directing team for 2016-2017 season: D. Norris, Bill Pacer, Becca Parker, Micheal Harrison
A: I think people like the comfort of things they are familiar with. If you can use that to draw them in, then it is easier to present them with some difficult issues that they might not otherwise have allowed themselves to confront.
But that’s not all, we also sat down with Micheal Harrison and other season directors at the beginning of this 2016-2017 season, themed Death and Taxes to pick his brain about this exciting show. Here is what he told us:
Dog sees God is an unauthorized Parody of a famous comic strip, and a bit of a dark comedy, that involves a famous dog and his owner. The kids in the strip grow up and face real life issues that kids today face like sex, drugs, suicide, and bullying. By using characters we are really familiar with in situations we would not expect them in we can look at the situations from a different perspective.
When asked if we will recognize these famous mysterious characters, Micheal replied that the comic strip and costumes will definitely clue us in, and “Beethoven” will absolutely ha
ve a piano.
He Added, Everyone, (parents, anyone who leads or influences teens, and) most especially teens need to come and see this show. They will see that “these characters are my friends, that happened to me last night”.
Dog Sees God runs from October 21-November 5, 2016 at the Belfry Playhouse (downstairs at Norcross Presbyterian Church), 3324 Medlock Bridge Rd, Norcross GA