October 2000 Gossip

From time to time a member of the Fort Wayne community theatre will escape the Midwest and venture off to seek his or her fortune in places beyond. Wayne Williams is one such fugitive.

Williams recently moved to New York City and secured a job as the business manager for The Culture Project, and the company manager at 45 Bleecker Theater for an off-Broadway show called and god created great whales, which will have a limited 5 week run.

"The show was a hit when it played for two weeks at the Dance Theatre Workshop in June," says Williams, "so we are hopefully going to capitalize off the rave NY Times reviews and some amazing word of mouth. What an experience it has been to be an integral part of making this show happen!" The show runs off-Broadway August 30-October 1 and stars Rinde Eckert and Nora Cole.

When not at the theatre, Williams plays piano with a German avant-garde musician (who plays flute, drums, and the piano strings in the box on the floor) who lives with 60's super-model Varushka.

He is the musical director for Marisa Berenson in a one-woman show, A Chinese Portrait of her Life. "She was interviewed by Metro News for Fashion Week," Williams reports enthusiastically, "and she mentioned me by name!" Berenson is scheduled to appear on the cover of Town and Country in November.

Williams also had his New York stage debut in the latest installation of The 24 Hour Plays, in which he played The King of Big Ideas. "I was a big hit with the audience as well as my co-workers at 45 Bleecker Theater," Williams jokes.

He was also on the staff of the Tony Awards Ball.

"I never would have believed there wouldn't be enough hours in the day to accomplish the multitude of tasks and priorities that require one to be in two places at the same time," he says. "You realize you haven't eaten anything today, and you wonder why in hell you have pieces of gaffers tape to stuck to most of the fingers of your right hand; a portable phone, a screw, and a 36-inch 2x4 in your left hand; and you're standing in a window 3 1/2 feet off the ground.

"Time to walk away for awhile. Walk out across the street and try not to pass out before I get to Hong Kong Take-Out for my daily Tofu Broccoli in Garlic Sauce with white rice.

"But don't let me fool you, I'm not complaining! On the train going home I sometimes giggle like a weirdo," he says, "when I realize how the theater enriches, entertains, and totally consumes my life."