“IF I HAD A SHOW ON RIGHT NOW, I'd beg you to skip it and see this astonishingly adroit one-man show which on the surface is a comedy about an actor's life of auditions and disappointments but in depth will strike you as being all about YOU!”

— Robert Patrick, playwright, Kennedy's Children

“'small PARTS' has something for everyone. In his one-man show, Richard Tanner tells the story of his life as a struggling actor, and NOBODY tells a story better than he does. His humorous anecdotes about growing up wanting to be an actor, and his eventual heartbreaking endeavors to make it in Hollywood are amusing from beginning to end. Everyone can identify with his touching and hilarious moments. This is a very special show – when it's over you just want to be Richard’s best friend.”

— Janet Charlton, Janet Charlton’s Hollywood

“Richard Tanner is a master at drawing an audience into his world . Just a few adjectives that come to mind – ‘charming’, ‘hysterical’, ‘poignant’ . As a theater person myself, it was great fun trying to figure out if he’s improvising or sticking to the script. Whoever has any interest in solo performance should get their butt over to the Lounge Theater to see Master Tanner.”

— John Fleck

“Loved this show! It would be so easy to think, “Oy, a one-man show about being an actor?!” but thinking that would be a huge mistake. It is funny, relevant, beautifully paced, relate-able (even if you’re not in Show Business)and, despite is light subject matter, has great humanity and depth. Richard Tanner is a huge talent and this show is not to be missed!”

— Hillary Rollins

“Richard Tanner's show is just great ! He’s beautifully intelligent, funny, quick, smart, warm, witty, and so much more. It would be great to see someone with his talent as writer and actor have his own show on television. What fun it would be to see his rich imagination at work every week.”

Small Parts is a “must see.” This is theatre at its very best. Go, by all means, GO!!!

— George Chakiris, Academy-Award® winner

“His voice was fantastic...he needs a broadway play!”

— Joan Quinn, The Joan Quinn Profiles

Richard Tanner Bio

“There are no small parts, only small actors.”

- Konstantin Stanislavsky

“B*llsh*t.” – Richard Tanner

You know me. At least, my face looks sorta familiar, doesn’t it? Probably because I’ve appeared in over 65 TV shows, feature films, shorts, plays, educational training films, and webisodes. And once, a commercial for Japanese yogurt. Or maybe it's because you were standing next to me in the "15 items or less" line at Ralph’s last week (I swear, I thought a six-pack only counted as one item). Anyway, I’ve written this show, called small PARTS. It's being directed by renowned film director Jim Fall. What’s it about? About 75 minutes. Just kidding. It’s about… YOU. Again, kidding. It’s about me, of course – and it's an uproarious farcical rant chronicling my 20+ years navigating the rocky waters of this business they call Show.

You’ll experience the highs and lows, the ins and outs, the thrills and chills of a life devoted – against all odds, advice and common logic – to acting. You’ll gasp at my exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the exciting world of cable TV auditions, 99-seat Equity Waiver theater and soul-robbing temp jobs! You’ll marvel at my tales of unscrupulous agents, psychotic directors and delusional producers! ( I may even name some names. )

Best of all, it’s interactive -- that’s right; you, too, can be in on the action! Kind of like Real 3D™. (Only it’s real. And in three actual dimensions.) Sparing no expense, we’ll be employing the latest hi-technology to keep you fully engaged and entertained: audio tapes, slides, and even (if budget considerations permit), a filmstrip.

It’s a story into which I’ve poured my heart, my soul, and my freakishly over-sized ego. And it’s returning to the Lounge Theater in glamorous Hollywood, USA for 6 (count ‘em) 6 performances, October 15th, 22nd, 29th, November 5th, 12th & 19th. Don’t miss it!

You’ll laugh! You’ll cry!! And then, you’ll go home!!! (Actually, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay at the theater because the one-eyed snake lady is doing her donkey show).

HAPPY HOUR with Ben & Alexander Podcast

HOLLYWOOD CLOSE UP with Natalie & Wayne Podcast

Call Answered: Richard Tanner: small PARTS: Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Series

Posted October 9, 2014

"Call Me Adam" chats with actor and writer Richard Tanner about his one-man show small PARTS, which is enjoying an extended run in the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Series from October 15-November 19 at The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood, CA (6201 Santa Monica Blvd, between Vine St and N. El Centro Ave).

small PARTS is part cautionary tale, part irreverent skewering of show business, using multimedia to chronicle the ins, outs, highs, lows, and mind boggling absurdities of Richard's 20+ year career as a working actor in over 75 feature films and primetime shows including NBC's smash hit The Golden Girls as "Young Stan," The West Wing, CBS' The Agency, and ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!

1. After a successful run in the Hollywood Fringe Festival, your one-man show, small PARTS, is making a return for 6 performances only in their Encore Series. What excites you about having this extended run? THAT IT’S ONLY ONCE A WEEK, AND DOESN’T IMPINGE ON MY ALL-IMPORTANT WEEKEND-LEISURE TIME. LOL

THE SERIOUS ANSWER, OF COURSE, IS THAT IT ALLOW ME TO SHARE MY STORY WITH MORE PEOPLE, RE-SHARE IT WITH THOSE WHO’VE INDICATED THEY WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN, AND CONTINUE TO PERFORM WHAT IS, FOR ME, AN EVER-EVOLVING PERFORMANCE.

2. What made you originally want to write a show about your 20-year career in Hollywood? NO ONE ELSE OFFERED TO. LOL IN TRUTH, I’D NEVER SEEN A ONE-MAN SHOW THAT ADDRESSED THE SAME THEME. I’D SEEN LOT OF PIECES ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PURSUING, OR LETTING GO OF ONE’S DREAM. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT LETTING GO OF ONE’S DREAM – AGAINST ALL URGES/ADVICE TO THE CONTRARY? (AND YES, IT’S A COMEDY. 🙂

Richard Tanner in "small PARTS"
3. How does your show differ from other one-person shows about Hollywood careers? UNLIKE MANY THAT I’VE SEEN, IT’S NOT A COMPENDIUM OF "AND THEN I DID..." RATHER, IT’S MORE OF A CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT THE STUFF NO ONE TELLS YOU WHEN YOU’RE STARTING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN HOLLYWOOD. (I DID MENTION IT’S A COMEDY, RIGHT?) ALSO – AND VERY IMPORTANT TO ME – IT’S NOT JUST A "TALKING HEAD" SHOW – IT RELIES HEAVILY ON MULTI-MEDIA; PROJECTIONS, SOUND, ANIMATION. THERE ARE EVEN SUBTITLES WHICH ACT AS A SECOND "CHARACTER." AND DID I MENTION AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION?

4. How do you feel the Fringe Festival helped nurture this show in a way that another festival might not? AS A FRINGE FESTIVAL VIRGIN (IT’S NICE TO STILL BE A VIRGIN AT SOMETHING), I CAN’T SPEAK TO OTHER FESTIVALS. I CAN SAY THAT FROM THE START, THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE EMPHASIZED COMMUNITY – ENCOURAGING ALL PARTICIPANTS TO SEE THEIR COLLEAGUES SHOWS, INVITE THEM TO THEIRS, CROSS-PROMOTE SHOWS, SHARE TIPS, SOCIALIZE. AND DRINK. A LOT. LOL

Richard Tanner
5. What do you hope audiences come away with after seeing small PARTS? TO NEVER, EVER MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID. (SEE A PATTERN, HERE? MAKE A JOKE, THEN GIVE A SERIOUS ANSWER.) FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HOPE THEY’RE ENTERTAINED. AND NEVER, EVER BORED. I ALSO HOPE THAT THEY’RE A BIT CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY WHY I HOPE ARE UNEXPECTED ELEMENTS – IN BOTH FORM AND CONTENT. THE MOST GRATIFYING RESPONSES I’VE HAD HAVE BEEN, "I DIDN’T WANT IT TO END,” AND, “I’M NOT AN ACTOR, BUT I COMPLETELY IDENTIFIED WITH YOU."

6. Out of all the TV shows you were featured on, one of my favorites was as "Young Stan" on The Golden Girls. Looking back, what did you enjoy about being on that show? What did you learn from The Girls? IT WAS THE FIRST PRIME-TIME, HIT SHOW ON WHICH I’D BEEN CAST, WHICH WAS A THRILL. IT WAS ALSO MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A THREE-CAMERA, LIVE AUDIENCE SHOW, WHICH, FOR SOMEONE WITH A THEATER BACKROUND LIKE MYSELF, WASEXTREMELY SATISFYING.

AS FOR THE "GIRLS," BETTY WHITE WAS EXACTLY WHO SHE APPEARS TO BE (NOT ALWAYS THE CASE IN HOLLYWOOD), AND ESTELLE GETTY WENT ON TO DO A READING OF A PLAY I WROTE, MYSTERIES OF THE RAINFOREST.

Richard Tanner
7. Out of the 75 feature films you've been in and TV shows you've been on, are you able to pick out a few favorites? What made them your favorite? I’M ASKED THIS QUESTION A LOT, AND WITH NO FALSE MODESTY, I CAN’T. (AND NOT BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL MY "CHILDREN," AND I LOVE THEM EQUALLY, AS I’VE HEARD SOME ACTORS SAY. LOL). IN TRUTH, MOST OF MY CAREER "CHOICES" HAVE BEEN WHETHER TO GET A PAYCHECK OR NOT. 🙂 I WILL SAY THAT I’VE WORKED WITH SOME DIRECTORS WHO IMPRESSED ME GREATLY WITH THEIR ABILITY TO STAY CALM UNDER PRESSURE, AND THEIR GENUINE UNDERSTANDING OF – AND KINDNESS TOWARDS – ACTORS. WEST WING WAS SATISFYING IN THAT REGARD, AND BECAUSE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY QUALITY OF THE WRITING. (THE FACT THAT IS WAS HUGELY POPULAR DIDN’T HURT, EITHER.) AND THERE ARE SOME INDEPENDENT FILM PROJECTS WHICH REMAIN DEAR TO ME BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED ME TO STRETCH AS AN ACTOR.

8. What's the best advice you've ever received? WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, DON’T PICK AT SCABS, AND ALWAYS WEAR CLEAN UNDERWEAR IN CASE YOU’RE HIT BY BUS. IF YOU COME SEE THE SHOW, YOU’LL GET TO HEAR—AND LAUGH AT -- PLENTY OF THE REALLY BAD ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS! AND HERE’S A GREAT INSIGHT I RECEIVED: EVERY AUDITION IS A CHANCE TO DO WHAT WE, AS ACTORS, LOVE TO DO MOST IN THE WORLD – ACT. (PRETTY GOOD, HUH?)

9. What have you learned about yourself from being an actor? THAT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE – NOT JUST AS AN ACTOR, BUT IN THE WORLD – ONE MUST MAINTAIN A BALANCE. BETWEEN WORK AND PLAY. GENEROSITY AND SELF-INTEREST. SERIOUSNESS AND SILLINESS. SOLITITUDE AND COMPANY. SELF- CONFIDENCE AND OPENNESS TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. AND ESPECIALLY – AS AN ACTOR – THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A THICK SKIN AND AN OPEN HEART (FREQUENTLY SIMULATENOUSLY). YOU TRY IT. 🙂

10. How do you want to be remembered? FOR GIVING SMART, FUNNY, MEMORABLE ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

11. If you could have any super power, which one would you choose? TO CONTROL TIME IN ORDER TO HAVE ENOUGH OF IT TO DO EVERYTHING I’D LIKE TO DO. THAT, AND THE POWER TO GET IMMEDIATE SATISFACTION EVERY TIME I CALL THE PHONE COMPANY.

12. If you could be any original Life Saver flavor, which one would you be? RED. (THAT’S A FLAVOR, ISN’T IT?)

This is the Demo Reel Richard REALLY wants to send out to casting agents