Performer of the Week: Nick Edwards

Nick has been apart of Hogwash since the beginning of the Seattle run last year. He's a very talented artist and performer, designing the posters and all the props onstage as well as painting faces before the show. He's made all the fantastic props that have helped develop the stories and enhanced the children's experience on stage. He's had to be able to think ahead and anticipate what will happen two to three scenes ahead of the actors. He's always thinking outside the box, making props that improve the dynamic between the actors and the audience. We're all very sad that last week was his last performance. We all wish him the best and know this will not be the last time Hogwash sees Nick Edwards. Farewell and best of luck! His craft and imagination will be missed by all.
What was your favorite moment from the show this week?
I dunno about last week, but one of my favorite moments ever was when we one of the suggestions we got "tiger," and I could tell Scottie B was going to come out as the tiger character in the next scene. Well as soon as I heard the word tiger I started making paper plates into tiger stripes (orange and black poster paint and some good ol' double stick tape). As soon as I put the stripes on Scottie, I knew they were not going to stay on. But he dashed across the stage a couple times, dropping a few stripes as he did. When he finally entered the scene he had about half of them left and they were falling off left and right. But then the scene turned into a story about helping the tiger find and keep all his stripes. I always love it when the players take the art for what it is, even it's limitations, and make it into something incredible and interesting to watch on stage.
What do you enjoy most about Hogwash?
I really like the role I play in the show. I get to do lots of little things that make a big difference to the story. It's also fun trying to figure what the improvisers on stage might need next and (more importantly) how to make it. My supplies, as varied as they are, require a bit of imagination and a bit of ingenuity to make it work. I've done a bit of improvising in my day but being the artist in Hogwash is unlike any sort of improvising I've ever done before.
When did you start performing?
I'd love to say it was in my first play in high school but regrettably there are hours and hours of footage of me as a young'un singing and playing and completely and totally, unabashedly mugging for the camera. No doubt about it, I was doomed from the beginning.
Who do you admire?
Toughie. It's difficult for me to choose one of the big names we all know and recognize. I think more so than that I'm inspired by the people I know or meet. Little moments of brilliance or dedication or passion. Those keep me going when it's rough. And the idea that maybe, just maybe I could one day be one of those to someone I know or meet.
What is one of your most memorable moments performing?
This happened during the first run but I remember Ian and one of the other players were good friends who loved roller coasters and hot dogs. They were going to enter an amusement park model contest but got into a fight and decided to work on their own. When the scene turned to Ian's workshop the model I made for him was basically a flat piece of foam core with a pipe cleaner sticking through it like a pole. I think it may also have had a piece of construction paper taped to it. He just sat there staring at the "model" and it was so sad and pathetic. But it was also a brilliant moment of pathos where we all understood how much those two friends needed each other as well as how important their friendship was.