Whether it’s on stage or behind the scenes, on boards or off, Blake Tanner has been a fixture in Birmingham theater since studying theater at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His latest show is “A Bright, New Boise,” with performances through March 23 at Theatre Downtown. Here, Tanner talks about his theater history, his love for Shakespeare and his current show, which he has been a fan of for a while.
Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m 31 years old, born in Birmingham and lived in Alabama all my life. I’ve been in theatrical productions since eighth grade or so. I have a bachelor’s degree in theater and one in Information systems, both from UAB. I think I was a third- or fourth-year senior by the time I finally got both degrees, haha. I currently work in IT by day, and whatever work I can do for the theater by night. I think that since 2010 or 2011, there have only been one or two years where I haven’t been on stage in a theatrical production. My first show at a Birmingham theater was in 2017, “Crimes of the Heart” at Birmingham Festival Theatre. Since then, I have found a strong passion to help enrich and support theater however I can. The Birmingham theater community is full of amazing and kind people who are passionate about telling stories and letting their voices be heard. I’ve been on the board of directors at Theatre Downtown for just over two years now, and I’m so excited to be onstage in another production in our new space. There’s so much more left to do.
What’s your first memory of being on stage?
The absolute very first time I ever got on a stage was in our theater room at Corner High School. It wasn’t part of a production or a performance, but an exercise. It was the first day to our beginning theater class in eighth grade. The theater teacher, Mike Putman, had every student get up on stage to say one sentence – “I like white rice.” He wanted us all to get on stage to say that one phrase so we could “hear” each other’s rural Alabama accent. We were learning how to lengthen our I sounds to be better heard and understood onstage. I remember a whole class of kids getting up on stage and saying, “I like white rice,” over and over again until it got to me. It was surreal, but a good introduction to the strange things you can see in a life in the theater.
What’s your favorite role you’ve played or show you’ve been in?
I’ve had a lot of really fun roles that will stick with me for a long time. I think one of my most favorite shows I’ve ever been in would be “The Diviners” at BFT in 2018. I met some amazing people, and we made a truly beautiful piece of theater on that stage. I think my favorite role might actually be Christopher from “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.” Christopher was an absolute bear of a role. He is off stage for maybe one or two pages in the whole two-hour show, and most of the dialogue is from his point of view. Christopher has an unnamed neurodivergence. His point of view as a performer was definitely not easy to pin down, but I was very proud of the work I put into Christopher.
Who is your favorite playwright?
I’ve been a Shakespeare nerd since high school, and that never truly went away. I haven’t read every one of his shows cover to cover, but I have studied and analyzed most of the bard’s plays. There’s something about the wit with which Shakespeare writes that feels lost today.
Do you have a favorite song from a show?
I actually think my favorite song from a musical would be “Wait for It” from “Hamilton.” Of all the songs I love from that show, “Wait for It” hits me right to the core.
What kind of music do you listen to when you’re not performing?
I love music from just about any genre or time period after the ‘60s. One day I could be feeling like a Weezer binge one day, then a deep dive into some hair metal like Aerosmith, cool down with a couple of Decemberists songs, finish up by listening to The Beatles for a few hours.
What podcasts do you listen to?
Oh, I have a really eclectic list of podcasts that I listen to. I’m actually doing a relisten of some series of Dan Carlin’s “Hardcore History.” That’s up there for the top spot. I love any podcast that’s historically based or that has a good story.
What’s the last TV series you binged?
I’ve been in back-to-back shows since the year started, but around mid-November 2024, I saw that Netflix had “Monk” on their show list. “Monk” was one of my favorite shows back in the day. I ended up watching through it before the year was over!
What is a role you wish you will or could have played?
Back on my Shakespeare bandwagon, I’ve wanted to play King Henry V for a long time now. He’s got some great speeches, and he’s written like a true leader. I think you can produce that show in a way that a lot of audiences would be able to understand the story past the text.
Any great advice you’ve been given by a director or anyone else about being on stage?
Best bit of advice I got from my director Dennis McLernon at UAB during my time there. We were at our first or second night of rehearsal for the first bigger role I had been cast in at the time. I was really nervous, and I think it showed. Dennis pulled me aside and said something like, “Hey, Blake, it’s alright, don’t be nervous, you already got the job!” That really turned things around for me. I had gotten the job because in the director’s eyes I was the person for this part. So, any time I get a role in a show I have to remind myself that I already got the job, and I just have to do the work.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
I have a few voice and movement exercises that I do before almost every performance. Mostly some stretches and deep breathing that I learned at UAB. Then I like to walk the stage alone before the house opens. I don’t really get butterflies anymore before a show, but these little rituals help save my voice and keep me centered before a show.
What about “A Bright, New Boise.” How did that come about? A normal audition?
We did have normal auditions for “A Bright, New Boise,” and I was excited to read but I didn’t expect to be asked to read for Leroy. I’ve known about “A Bright, New Boise” for a long time, though. It came out around the time I graduated high school, and I remember a few people talking about it at SETC. I was in a similar place as Alex’s character at the time. The uncertainty and fear of going out into the real world is certainly very easy to resonate with. I was ecstatic when I heard we were doing this show, and seeing it on stage brings me so much joy.
Can you tell me about the play and your role in it?
It’s hard to get into too much detail about this show without getting into complete spoilers, but “A Bright, New Boise” centers on a long estranged father’s (Will) attempt to reconnect with his son (Alex). Until recently, Will was a member of a church up in far north Idaho. Suddenly he shows up in Boise and gets a job at the same Hobby Lobby his son works at, and life ensues. I play Leroy, Alex’s adoptive brother and self-proclaimed protector. Leroy also works at the Hobby Lobby, though he doesn’t take his job all that seriously and has his own brand of fun in the office, you could say.
What do you hope audiences will come away with after seeing the show?
I hope that people see the characters in this show, and the decisions they make, and the consequences of those decisions. My hope is that if anyone who sees this show is faced with the same decisions in life that some of these characters make, they can remember this show and say, “What if I don’t do what that person did?,” or “What if I make the decision for myself and my life that they couldn’t?” The show is absolute poetry. It’s got a quick wit, great comedy and some really hard-hitting and real questions. I am so proud to be a part of such a dynamic powerhouse cast.
What’s next for you?
Probably a break, haha. I’ve gone from doing no shows in almost a year to doing two back-to-back, and I’m tired. I will be on stage again at Theatre Downtown later this year, though!
“A Bright, New Boise” at Theatre Downtown through March 23.
