Austin Theatre Profiles: Dave Buckman and FamiLIES, by Alex Garza
Performer/writer/directorDave Buckman grew up in Southern New Jersey between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. He describes the backdrop of his youth as being less like THE SOPRANOS and more like BOARDWALK EMPIRE. It was in this setting that he first started performing plays in high school and into his college years
If someone asked Dave where got his calm demeanor and such a strong interest in the arts, how might he respond?
“I went to a Quaker private school from first grade through tenth,” he admits.
“I was a comedy nerd from very early.” he says. “I saw a Marx Brothers film when I was in the fourth grade and I was hooked immediately.”
He says many of his heroes seemed to have an improvisational background, such as Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, and Robin Williams. While attending American University in Washington D.C. he took some improvisation classes, both on campus and at Comedy Sportz in Rosslyn, Virginia.
“I taught those improv games to my fellow theatre students,” he remembers. “I’ve been performing, directing, and coaching sketch and improv ever since.”
From there, he began his path towards life in Austin. On that journey he found work as an usher at Second City in Chicago, one of his lifelong dreams. He worked his way up to night manager, finally taking on the roles of teacher, director, and also actor. In addition he was Artistic Director for two years in Amsterdam at comedy theatre Boom Chicago.
“People in my casts at both places have gone onto some major careers. Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Jason Sudeikis, John Lutz, and many others. Working with them was an amazing experience.”
For Buckman some of his most artistically fulfilling pursuits have bee helping to start the ColdTowne Theater here in Austin and his work with improv troupes “The Frank Mills” and “Braintrust.” He's also proud of the sketch show Late Bloomers that he wrote with his wife and creative partner Rachel Madorsky. The performance won Best of the Fest at FronteraFest last year.
Buckman's play famiLIES is currently running at ColdTowne. He has been developing this project for more than five years. It originated as two separately improvised pieces by Dasariski, a three-man troupe of actors and writers from Los Angeles. It gets its name from their last names: Bob DASsie, RIch TalARIco and Craig CackowSKI. Around 2005 they improvised, transcribed and rewrote the shows Loose Fish and Dead Uncle Ted. They performed them as plays, portraying all the characters themselves. They were kind enough to let ColdTowne produce them here in Austin in 2010 with a cast of Austin improvisers.
“As I was working on them, I noticed how four of the characters could easily become two characters and how some of the storylines could be combined into the same universe. It took me five years of editing and reworking that notion to get a workable script. Now here we are with a new play inspired by some improv shows that happened in LA in the '00s.” The show runs until June 18.
As executive director Dave Buckman is proud that Coldtowne Theatre will continue to produce some amazing improv and sketch shows. The venue offers an average of more than twenty performances a week and the same number of classes, an indication that the improv scene in Austin is strong.
Buckman is highly optimistic. “I've been in Austin now for ten and a half years,” he says, “and I still love it every day. ColdTowne Theater and its community of comedians have been such a blessing and gift in my life. I don't know where I’d be or what I'd be doing without them. It wouldn't be nearly as satisfying.”
Dave Buckman's creativity and his calm demeanor have made great contributions to its theatre and improv communities, who look forward to seeing where Coldtowne can take us from here.
Alex Garza is an actor and writer living in Austin, Texas.
FamiLIES
by Dave Buckman, Dasiriski and ensemble
Coldtowne Theatre
May 14 - June 25, 2016
ColdTowne Theater (4803 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751)
Saturdays May 14th, 21st, 28th and June 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th at 8:30 PM
TICKETS: $12 admission at the door, $10 online
MORE INFO AT: http://www.coldtownetheater.com or (512) 814-TOWN
