For the past few months, I’ve been working on a side project; a show entitled “A Dissertation on the State of Bliss.” I’m working with some amazing people – Jack Moore devised and directed the piece, with Musical Direction by Charlie Creasy. It’s the first act of a night entitled “2 Acts in Two Acts.” The music is exquisite and the character is someone I can sink my teeth into.

I play Hero Richardson, a man who takes refuge in a bar (and in his favorite Brandy) after the love of his life leaves him.

When I first started exploring this character, I thought he was the very antithesis of who I was. I thought we were nothing alike, that we made different choices and had different ideas about love. This character comes to life through a seemingly unrelated selection of songs. And as the show goes on, we realize that the songs are more connected than we originally thought. We meet Hero at the lowest point in his love life but he hides it quite well. But there he is, at this bar, with his brandy, trying to come to terms with how he can heal this tremendous hurt he’s going through. And by the end of the show, he’s made his choice.

And I realized that, while the choices Hero and I make wouldn’t necessarily be the same, I can relate to his flaws. And I can relate to the loneliness he feels. We’ve all been in a place where we’re surrounded by people, sometimes they’re strangers, sometimes they’re people we love, people who love us, and we feel alone and isolated. He tries to avoid the pain he’s going through and I can understand that.

This project is a creative, artistic endeavor and I’ve really enjoyed working on it. I’ve really enjoyed spending time in this character’s world. And I’m excited to share it with you!

Go to www.DeanRegan.com/2acts for more information.

Join Dean in Palm Desert on May 18th-20th as he performs with Rocky Blumhagen and Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer in “2 Acts in Two Acts,” directed by Jack Moore. Dean is the “Man That Got Away” who drops into his favorite 52nd Street boîte for a nightcap (or two) to recap his very recent singleness. For more information about how you can see this fun show, CLICK HERE.

The room was electric with eagerness and curiosity and a positive, nervous energy.

“I don’t have a question,” this boy said, “But I want to sing when I grow up.”

I paused for a moment and smiled. “That’s great!” I told him. And it was.

If there’s one thing that I, as an entertainer, want to provide, it’s inspiration to the younger generation. So when Redmond Community Concert Association asked me to do a school assembly with the kids at their local elementary school, I jumped at the opportunity. The children were hungry for the Arts (aren’t we all?) and I was thrilled to help fill the void.

The assembly started and the students didn’t know what to expect. But two verses of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” later and they were hooked, up on their feet, dancing and smiling. After a few rounds of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” we moved onto some other classics, like “Trouble” from The Music Man and more contemporary songs, like “Electricity” from Billy Elliot. I could see the excitement in their eyes as we talked about what got me into performing in the first place and how the choices I made when I was their age shaped my life. (I had been introduced to Broadway by a beloved teacher of mine in High School and if not for her, who knows what I’d be doing with my life!)

I was honored to have the opportunity to help shape the futures of these bright, passionate children. And I’m grateful to Redmond Community Concert Association and Tom McCall Elementary School for making it happen.

The bounty lasts until about mid-March, when the orange blossoms push out the fruit and give us something else to enjoy – their sweet scent in the Spring air.

What do you love most about the change from Winter to Spring? Leave us your comments below!

For more information, go to www.redmondcca.org.

Have you had any creative inspiration or challenges lately? I’d love to hear about them! Post your comments below.