personality , in person , I am pretty quiet and reserved , until people know me , but I love playing the character that isn ’ t afraid of anything .”
Getting to help bring local playwright Amber Frangos ’ “ Mary ” to life was a particular honor for Alvey , and the role of Joseph was a “ humbling experience ” for Alvey .
“’ Mary ’ is Amber ’ s labor of love , and seeing her passion for this project gives me so much serotonin ,” said Alvey . “ She and Maria ( McNeil , who co-wrote with Frangos , handling the music ) have absolutely written a masterpiece that I hope goes far . I want it to be a cornerstone of theater . Much like ‘ Our Town ,’ I want every beginning theater to think , ‘ We need to do Mary : Her Story .’
“( Joseph is ) not the focus in this story , but he is an ever present calm ,” added Alvey . “ He is a dim figure in the context of the Gospel , but he was known as a kind , hard-working man . I see a lot of myself in Joseph in this way . ... I also have learned a lot from him , as he only speaks when it is important for him to ( speak ) as a character . He doesn ’ t ramble or confuse , he says his piece and goes on . I definitely needed more of that in my life .”
Alvey has also been exploring the stage from the writer ’ s side of things , and even developed an audio series for Flashback called “ Camp Anomaly ,” much in the style of a radio drama from years past with a creepy modern twist .
“ My writing comes from my past , and the exploration of that . Every script I write has some relation to my family or stories I heard growing up , shucking corn with my grandmother ,” he said . “’ Camp Anomaly ’ comes from my mother and grandmother ’ s love of the SyFy channel . I would spend a lot of nights watching these creature features with them and maybe talking about the special effects that went into them , how campy they were , and I like putting those personal connections into my works .
“ With writing , you get to put more of yourself into the piece ,” he added . “ As an actor , we read other ’ s words ; as a writer , we create the words for the actor to bring to life . Both sides are magical , in different ways .”
Alvey is also working with Billy Christopher Maupin on the first year of what he hopes to be an annual camp for the Let ’ s Play ! theatre games aspect of Flashback Theater Co . Registration is now going on for the camp , to be held June 6-17 ; registration will be open until May 31 . More information can be found at flashbacktheater . co .
While he certainly has many talents , it ’ s acting where Alvey has found perhaps his greatest public success so far , and personal success as well .
“ Acting helps me explore more parts of myself ,” he said . “ I have a past , as all of us do , ( in which ) I wasn ’ t able to fully express myself . Acting allows me to explore those parts of myself that I don ’ t get to while working in the office . As a performer , acting gives me the tools to overcome the anxieties we all feel . Stage fright is a very real thing , but when I ’ m in character , my character doesn ’ t have that , they have their own problems to deal with .
“ The biggest challenges are always finding my limits as an actor , and pushing those limits ,” he added . “ Another challenge is the exploration of humanity , I find myself questioning society as we hold the mirror up to it , and what my role in that society is . But with that , the rewards are getting to hold the mirror up to myself and other actors and see who we are and what we give to the world .”
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“ My writing comes from my past , and the exploration of that . Every script I write has some relation to my family or stories I heard growing up ...”
- Thomas Alvey
38 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky June 2022