Upon graduation, a favor was due to me from a gent named Bill Osetek, who had an actor bail out on his MFA directing project and asked me to take over at a moments notice (a trend that would continue in my professional career). He promised to introduce me to as many people as he could in Chicago. He invited me to the press night of 1776 at the Drury Lane theatre in Oakbrook, IL where he fulfilled his promise. On that night I met two gentlemen, Marc Robin and Michael Weber, who gave me my first paying acting job in Gigi at Theatre at the Center in Munster, IN. Working with Marc brought on an opportunity to work on a show he was involved with at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. I understudied four roles in The Ballad of Little Jo. I also met the artistic director of Drury Lane, Ray Frewen, that night. He later cast me in my breakthrough role of Kenickie in Grease.

In my four years in Chicago I worked quite steadily at the Drury Lane as an actor in adult and children’s shows, a carpenter, a stagehand, a spotlight operator and a receptionist, but most often as a clutch situation understudy. Being a quick study landed me permanent roles in My Fair Lady, Lucky Stiff, and an amazing three day stint as Che in Evita.

I did, however, branch out from my “theatre home” to experience more. I found myself doing outdoor Shakespeare for a summer in The Taming of the Shrew. I played Rudy in the Chicago premiere of King O The Moon at the Mercury Theatre. I also teamed up with Marc Robin, once again, to host a national tour of The Sing A Long Wizard of Oz.

One of my greatest honors was working for and with Jeff Daniels on the World Premiere of his play, Across the Way, directed by the amazing Guy Sanville at the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, MI. They encouraged me to leave Chicago and get out to New York. They planted the seed that would come to fruition two years later.