Interview: Co-Director, Dan Deal of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER at Reverie Actor's Company

Dan Deal has been an active part of the Lancaster theatre community for more than 20 years. He is a long-time member of the Story Team at Sight & Sound Theatres where he has helped to produce and direct many shows in both their Lancaster and Branson, Missouri locations. He has spent much of his time outside of Sight & Sound engaging with local organizations and has performed in or directed for numerous churches, museums, schools, and theatres, including The Allenberry Playhouse, Lancaster Bible College, PRiMA Theatre, Rock Ford Plantation, Row I Productions, Servant Stage Company, Theater of the Seventh Sister, The Ware Center and even the Mayor's Tree Lighting.

Dan studied theatre throughout high school and began working immediately after graduation. He is grateful for the opportunity he has had to work alongside many incredible members of the theatre arts world over the years. Dan is also the winner of the TBS reality television series, The Mansion (but that's whole other story).

BWW: For readers unfamiliar with the Reverie Acting Company, can you share a little bit about your history and mission?

DD: We describe Reverie Actor's Company as a "boutique theater company." Basically, Reverie is comprised of a group of people who have worked together in a variety of productions over the years. With Reverie, we wanted to focus on simple storytelling for the opportunity to revisit those traditional and modern classics that we all found attractive.

BWW:"The Man Who Came to Dinner" is a classic comedy of the American stage. Why do you think it is still such a popular play almost 80 years since it first debuted on Broadway?

DD: This play has great writing that has held up with the test of time. We love it for the same reasons that we love great sitcoms: classic characters, wacky neighbors, and celebrity guest stars thrown into silly situations. It's Hollywood-meets-small town. All of these things are still very much present - and relatable - today.

BWW: A lot of the humor in this show stems from the demands of an extremely annoying house guest. Name the one thing about live theater that annoys you and why.

DD: I love almost everything about live theater, but it is like life ... unpredictable. That can be challenging, but challenges are opportunities. If you learn to roll with that unpredictably, like our lead character in the play, you can find the joy in almost any situation.

BWW: Can actors learn to be funny or is it just something they are born with?

DD: I've seen both - actors who learn to find the comedy in a role and actors who are just naturally funny. When you put the right actor in the right situation, funny will happen!

"The Man Who Came to Dinner" opens October 25th. Tickets and more details can be found at their website.