Interview with Scott Duff of WE THREE LIZAS

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for About Face Theatre. Their remount of Dream Boy was one of the first productions I saw when I first moved to Chicago. My first gig in Chicago was being a part of the inaugural season of the About Face Youth Theatre, work I continued for years after as part of About Face's Education Outreach Program. About Face has always produced innovative and thought provoking queer work. This season, they offer up the entertaining We Three Lizas , a (just-campy enough) musical that combines It's A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas in one fabulously queer package. About Face has found an instant holiday classic for the LGBT community and I hope it becomes a holiday mainstay like the Goodman's A Christmas Carol and American Blues Theater It's A Wonderful Life: Radio Show.

The central character in all this colorful mayhem is "Conrad Ticklebottom," our stand-in Scrooge/George Bailey/Grinch, hilariously played by Scott Duff . A long-time Artistic Associate of About Face, Scott was one of the directors who worked on the first About Face Youth Theatre production of First Breath with me. After a stint in Memphis, Scott triumphantly returns to the Chicago stage in this production. I caught up with him about the show:

Danny Bernardo (DB): Welcome back to Chicago, Scott! What were you up to in Memphis?

Scott Duff (SD): I moved down there to be with my partner, Jerre. While I was in Memphis I created a theatre curriculum for an independent school and served as a Guest Artist for Rhodes College in their theatre department.

DB: And now you've made your triumphant return to the Chicago stage! What's it like working with About Face again?

SD: It's kind of a surreal homecoming. I've been a part of About Face since the beginning, and I've helped develop over a dozen new shows with them, including the very first youth project which you were in! It's been fabulous to work with some familiar collaborators (Scott Ferguson, Josh Horvath,... um... my partner Jerre Dye) and some brand new faces. After 16 years, About Face still has this vibrant creative spirit that makes it feel like my artistic home.

DB: Your character "Conrad Ticklebottom" is like equal parts Scrooge and Grinch, but you bring such fun and flair to him. What's it like to play him?

SD: I love playing the bad guy! Not to say that Conrad is all bad, he's just stuck in a box and at the end of his rope (to mix a metaphor). Plus I finally get to unleash some inner bitchiness that was stored up after years of teaching! Conrad just blurts things out without a filter.

DB: One of Conrad's biggest struggles is reclaiming his youth and beauty, a seemingly universal problem for gay men regardless of age. Why do you think that is?

SD: Vanity. Plain and simple. It's odd how much value we place on physical perfection. I mean, I get it. Who wouldn't want to look like an Adonis? But quite often, there is no there there. I kind of like being the "old guy" in the cast. But it is definitely a different experience.

DB: What are some of your favorite memories from the process or performances so far?

SD: I love how much the audience gets into the show! For much of the performance, I'm on stage watching these incredible numbers being performed by a ridiculously talented cast and you can feel the excitement coming from the audience. And, it surprises me a little how quickly they follow the emotional shifts of the play. One minute they are laughing at some ridiculous thing that's going on, the next they are completely invested in a tender moment. It's like a very special episode of Blossom. I love it.

DB: What do you hope audiences take away from the show?

Not to be too corny, but the show is about being your own person and not taking yourself too seriously. I guess Liza Minnelli embodies a "follow your bliss" kind of mentality. Follow your passion, ignore the critics, and always wear Halston.

We Three Lizas runs until December 23 at The Steppenwolf Garage. Tickets are available online or by calling (312) 335-1650.

Photo credits:
-Production photos by Michael Brosilow
-Scott Duff headshot by Brandon Dahlquist