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SHOW BUSINESS:WEEKLY
In The Beginning ... Actors, Singers and Writers Share
their First Big Moment
Chad
Allen:
by: Scott Makin
Veteran TV actor Chad Allen worked steadily for over
fifteen years as an ensemble member of My Two Dads, Our House
and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Allen, who successfully transitioned
from childhood star to teen heartthrob to theatrical producer
without writing a tell-all book or participating in a celebrity
boxing special, brings a rare dignity to the ominous phrase
"grew up before our eyes on television."
A native of Southern California, Allen’s career began with
a sibling novelty act. "I started
really young–at four. My parents entered my sister and I in
twin contests at places like the Orange County Fair. People
would always tell them we should be in commercials. Not being
in show business, they thought it might be a fun way to get
some money for college." The following year
he began taking acting classes and appeared in local Civic
Light Opera productions. At age eight, a guest role on Saint
Elsewhere put Allen on an unexpected path that lead to consistent
work in series television until the age of 24–with small pockets
of calm as a student.
As an undergraduate, Allen’s self-imposed exile from series
television was short-lived. "I
was enrolled as a freshman at NYU when they told me the Dr.
Quinn, Medicine Woman pilot got picked up. I expected it to
be done after one season. It lasted from 1992 to 1998."
As Dr. Quinn was renewed year after year, Allen found himself
longing for the creative challenges of live performance. The
decision to recommit himself as a stage actor while enduring
the daily grind of series TV was a pivotal moment of transition
from actor to producer. "One of
my best friends at the time was Heather Tom, who was on The
Young & The Restless. She was experiencing the same frustrations
I was. On a TV series, it’s really hard to keep the work fresh
and interesting and exciting. To save my soul as an actor,
I began working in the theater again. "
Mid-way through Dr. Quinn’s run, Allen and Tom co-founded
Creative Outlet–a non-profit Los Angeles based theater company.
Allen became Creative Outlet’s producer and–by necessity or
design–also performed lead roles in productions including
Biloxi Blues and Of Mice and Men. Creative Outlet soon morphed
into a full-fledged production company when they joined forces
with God Help Productions to produce the Los Angeles premiere
of Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi. Each new production
became a trial-by-fire education in balancing creative and
commercial ambitions. To help find that balance, Allen and
Tom created Cayman Prod Inc., a for-profit entity that nurtures
projects with the potential for a run outside of LA. Allen’s
desire to create synergy between the non-profit and for-profit
worlds was further realized when he was recently asked to
join the Artistic Advisory Board of Revelation Theatre (a
NYC-based non-profit that develops new work with Broadway
potential. At www.revelationtheatre.org,
you can access their debut season calendar and preview their
39th Street; theater, currently under construction).
Allen has not let the demands of producing eclipse his desire
to perform. "Right now, my energy
is focused on helping Revelation Theatre with their NYC premiere
production. But through my own company, I’ve been working
with David Mixner, a longtime political activist. He’s writing
a play and has promised it to me."
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