Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron West.
Ron, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started working for The Second City International in 1984 and still do on occasion. I have lost count of the number of shows I’ve directed for SC. I moved to LA in 1994 to work in film and TV and from what I hear those industries still exist. I have adapted several Shakespeare plays for the stage, including THE COMEDY OF ERRORS AT SHEPPERTON and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW 1919. Recently I have staged the topical sketch show THIS WEEK THIS WEEK at the Atwater Village Theater in Glendale. I am working on yet another musical with Phil Swann and Andy Marx. I took a writing workshop, the first time I’ve been in a student in about 40 years, because I thought now’s the perfect time in my life to spend a jillion hours writing a novel.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a very smooth road except for the gap between paychecks, the occasion when I had no ideas, the phrase “we’re not budgeted for that,” the audience that failed to show up, the audience that didn’t respond when they did show up, the actor I had to fire, the slapdash rehearsals I conducted to replace the actor I fired, the actor I couldn’t fire because he was bankrolling the thing, the power outage in the middle of the show, the lousy reviews, the good reviews where praise went to someone’s head, and the bad decisions I made that cost me friendships.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What do I do? Mostly now I write and direct, mostly for the stage, but my wife and I have written and produced a bunch of shorts, sparked by the claustrophobic quarantine of the pandemic. Lately I have written/directed musicals (THE PEOPLE VS FRIAR LAURENCE, deLEARious, and NEIL SIMON’S MUSICAL FOOLS, to name a few.
I am most proud of forging fearless ensembles of players, and for writing the following lyric, “You’re a preening plutocratic pompous plumed peacock,” in a song called “The Rivals,” from NEIL SIMON’S MUSICAL FOOLS.
What sets me apart is I can get more done in 3 hours of rehearsal than any other director on the planet.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Recent events clearly indicate that the current administration is intent on withholding arts funding and even suppressing free speech. It’s never been easy for regional theaters to raise funds and now it is increasingly difficult.
It’s not news that production is leaving California for tax-friendly, cheaper labor states, And placing 100% tariffs on movies made outside the USA is not going to help anybody.
We live in a discouraging time, where the superstitions, conspiracy theories, transactionalism, and distorted nostalgia of certain leaders eclipse science, fact, reason, compassion, and the right thing to do.
For my part, I plan to tell the truth and support local arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theronwest.com
- Instagram: RonWest98
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonWestNow
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-west-a4945b6/
- Twitter: west98
- Youtube: Lord Capulet
Image Credits
The headshot is by Erin Fiedler. The candids are mostly by Harry Murphy.
