About Chris
I was born in a little town called Macedonia, Ohio. I grew up with three older sisters: two, four and six years older. My parents were very disciplined in their procreating.
When I was ten years old my father got a job in the big city of Akron, Ohio. So this little country boy was thrown into the inner city.
I went to Buchtel High School, studied music, played football, sang in three different choirs and performed in the Musicals: "Finian's Rainbow", "Once Upon A Mattress" and "The Music Man". I was very lucky. When I arrived at Buchtel, Susie Benningfield, a gal just out of The University of Texas, took over the music department. She was full of energy and built an amazing program. This was especially great for me because I went on to have a career in musical theater.
Off to Connecticut College. I rowed crew and studied more music, dance and acting. I also took my first gymnastics class.
In college I met another great teacher who helped me along my path. I asked my dance teacher out for coffee (because I thought she was cute). She asked me if I was serious about being a dancer? I said yes. She advised me to drop out of regular college and move to NYC where I could be trained by professional dance teachers.
The advise may sound crazy but I realized years later her advise was sound.
A dancers career can be over at age 25. I was already 20 years old and I had only been dancing for two years. She knew I was already behind and the clock was ticking.
I took her advise. I auditioned and was accepted to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts where I studied acting.
Meanwhile I took dance/acrobatic classes with Chuck Kelly. Chuck supplied many of the acrobatic dancers in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Broadway. Chuck was responsible for much of my professional career. I even got to perform at the New York City Metropolitan Opera. The Met called him up because they needed four acrobats for a show called "Parade". I then went on to perform in summer stock with Debbie Boone in "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers", Barry Williams in "West Side Story" and finally, Richard Harris in the National Tour of "Camelot." I was first hired by "Camelot" as the acrobatic court jester and then after three years I took over the role of Mordred.
(Somewhere in there I got married and then divorced).
After six years the Camelot Tour ended and I went back to NYC but had trouble getting work. I was no longer an acrobat and competition for actors and singers is much tougher. I ended up driving a cab in NYC for two years. A thrilling experience until I got mugged. Now I started thinking about leaving NYC.
I had visited friends in Eugene, Ore a few times during breaks from the Camelot Tour. So I moved to Eugene for one year to see if I liked it.
I have never left.
I did odd jobs when I first arrived. I did some acting, singing and dancing, I taught acting, I worked construction, I worked on a fishing boat and finally landed a great job working with people with disabilities.
While working with people with disabilities I put The Game of REAL LIFE together.
I managed the group home for a year until I decided to work full time on the game business.
Now I hand make the games and sell them at Saturday Market and online. I work at home in my studio. I put on music or documentaries (currently listening to a 48 episode Great Courses lecture on ancient Egypt by Professor Bob Brier of Long Island University).
During the week I get orders online, pack them up for shipping and drop them off at the post office. Then on Saturday I take my games down to Saturday Market and sell them.
Its a good life.
