BoomTown Profiles - Matt Walley - Part Four, conclusion.

Matt Walley is a smart man, a good guy, and a highly talented theatre artist. He likes his dog, pro football (Bears Fan), family and friends. He has a wonderful sense of humor and a kind demeanor. People are comfortable in his presence. I am. Except when he is a clown. Then I’m terrified! It’s not him. Just me. Clowns you know. Actually Walley plays a wonderful clown. It is part of the work he champions. He brings it out of great tradition and the wonderful, engaging personality that I was just alluding to shines through in this creation of his. How can you not love Walley? And how can you not love his Clown? Every actor must choose how and where he/she will perform. And then you must study and work toward that. Walley has chosen a unique and interesting way of working. And he has studied and prepared himself well for the work he chooses. Walley and Angela Horchem have established Theatre3. In this venue, they create works which include the use of their wide range of skills - clowning, music, storytelling, beer brewing, arts and crafts, to name but a few…and of course acting. With other talented artists, Paul Amiel included, they have made some productions that stand on their own in terms of style and content and form. Seriously, they are part of this thing that is going on in Tucson that is completely “hairbrained” and makes everything exciting. Like when Joe and Cindy at the Rogue decide to have Patrick Baliani translate and adapt freaking Purgatorio for a production. Or Christopher Johnson decides that he can work 4 or five jobs, direct 19 plays, act in 8, take yoga, and post on Facebook. And next month is even busier for him. Or Michael Fenlason at Beowulf Alley decides that the theatre will give money to charitable organizations. To name but a few in a whole bunch of possible examples! Our renaissance is being created by all these people who just don’t know any better! Tip of the iceberg, tip of the iceberg. And now, even our spectators are getting seriously involved. Anyone read Pat McKnight’s emails and postings about the state of theatre here? The collective energy is fast growing. If only we could get that big State Theatre out of shambles.

Walley’s biography and resume as an actor and theatre artist, which I have only barely touched in these posts, is testimony of hard work and artistic progression and a life lived with purpose. I hope my thoughts and opinions in this brief description provide a glimpse, a small profile of the man and artist Matt Walley is. Having Tucson at the crossroads or vortex or as some ideological inspirational force in all of it is a marvelous happening. His presence as part of our theatrical landscape and topography puts him and us squarely in a place to learn, to create, and to grow. We, Tucson, are one.

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