Jim Beaver – Verdigris

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) Verdigris is a play you wrote and created yourself?

A) Yes, absolutely.

Q) Where did the idea for it come from?

A) It actually came from real life. When I was a student in college, I had an experience somewhat like depicted in the play. I got a summer job working for a paralyzed woman in a wheelchair and the situation and all of the people who surrounded her were so interesting and so fascinating to me that I thought I could create a dramatic story around them. It took a few years to come up with the story. The facts of life are different from the facts of the play, but that was the genesis of the script. I don’t know that they would recognize themselves if they were to read it because they are very different from the characters that I have created for the play, but the situation is very similar. So, that was my inspiration. It didn’t come exactly out of my imagination, but it was more inspired by real life.

Q) How involved were you with the casting of the play?

A) I was very involved! The director, Mark Travis, and the producer, Charlie Mount, had the full authority for casting, but I was always a part of the process making sure that the performers chosen were the ones closest to the characters as I had envisioned them. It was a mutual arrangement. Under normal circumstances I let the director have the final word because that is his job, but we all came to very strong agreement on everybody with this cast. And I’m very, very happy with the cast. 

Q) Was the cast chemistry instant or did it take some time to bond?

A) I think we all began to bond really quickly. Several of us knew each other and had worked with each other before. Sheila Shaw who plays the woman who I described in the wheelchair was in the original production thirty years ago. So, she and I know each other very, very well. She is playing a different part now. I knew most of the people in the cast, not all, but we have all come to know each other very well and it is a very tight ensemble. We’re all very close off stage and that does wonders when you are doing an ensemble piece like this, especially a piece that involves a lot of characters who are family members. It’s in the nature of theater that if everyone is a halfway decent person you bond pretty quickly.

Q) Fans have been really involved with Kickstarter for the play. Why was that such an important way for them to be a part of the play?

A) We were always going to do the play and we were always going to figure out someway to come up with the money. It’s more and more expensive to produce a play, especially as in our case where we wanted to pay the actors. There are a lots of ways to do it, but few of them are easy. I have such a great rapport it seems with the fans of “Supernatural” and some of the other shows I have been on, most particular “Supernatural” fans who are just wonderful devoted loyal and generous people. It just seemed like a way of expanding this production out into a larger community. Not everyone could see it, but it was a way of achieving our goal and at the same time letting an awful lot of people feel like they were a part of it and a part of the process (or helping get something meaningful done). Hundreds of people jumped at the chance to pitch in. We gave them some goodies to say “thank you.” It wasn’t really in repayment. But the fact is so many people just wanted to be part of something that was so important to me and I’m really gratified by that. People are just very, very kind and I’m very appreciative of it.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the fan feedback you will be receiving?

A) I’m hoping the feedback will be good from those who come. I know we have a lot of fans and donors who are coming to opening night. I know we will have others coming to other performances. I hope they have a wonderful, funny, emotional experience when they see it.

Q) How can fans continue to be involved with the promotion of the play?

A) Certainly, I’m posting things on Facebook and Twitter. I’d love it if they passed those on and told their friends who are in Southern California (or who might be) about the play and their opportunity to come see it. We’re fully funded for making the production happen so we have no need to ask anybody for that, but we would sure like to have full houses! Anyone who has been fond of my work in the past and is interested in what I am doing presently I would love to see them come to the show. If they do come to the show, please stick around afterwards and say hi because I would really love that!

Q) Is there anything else you really want fans to be sure they know about Verdigris?

A) I am in the play, as well as having written it. If that doesn’t drive them off, I guess nothing will. It’s a character who is pretty far from Bobby on “Supernatural,” but we both have a fondness for the booze. There might be some similarities there, but nobody should come expecting to see Bobby’s beard because I’ve shaved it off for the play.

Q) “Supernatural” is on Season 10! What can you tease is in store for Bobby this season?

A) Well, ever since I got dead it’s been kind of sparse for Bobby on “Supernatural.” I think I had one appearance in Season 8 and one appearance in Season 9. I have my fingers crossed, although it is getting kind of late in the game for Season 10, but there is always Season 11 and probably more than that. I have been so busy with these other projects that I haven’t followed closely what is going on in Season 10. I know that Dean (Jard Padalecki) has The Mark of Cain on him and that is causing some problems. I wish I had something really good I could tease you with. I would say just keep watching and don’t give up hope on Bobby coming back. I always feel like the powers that be will bring him around every once in a while for a visit just to remind people of what they have lost. Seriously, I hope they find an opportunity to resurrect the character in some way because I really love playing him.