Steve Peebles

So I'm playing Templeton the Rat in a production of Charlotte's Web.

It runs two shows a week for $30 a show, but it's not really the way that I thought my career was going to go.

I'm two years out of college, I was a serious actor, here I am.

I get a call from my buddy Jonathan, he says, hey man, are you doing a show right now?

I'm wearing the rat costume, and I'm like, not really, what's up?

He says, Maine South is looking for an immediate replacement for My Favorite Year.

You'd rehearse three days next week, you'd go on Friday, Saturday.

If you don't know, My Favorite Year is a musical about a TV variety show, and Maine South is a high school.

And I kind of focus on that detail.

I said, Maine South is a high school.

And he's like, yeah, the kid playing Alan Swan got caught drinking at a party, but they open tonight.

So he's on this weekend and then you're on next weekend.

And like, I'm a full adult.

I'm not trying to do high school musical, let alone an actual musical at an actual high school.

And I'm like, okay, so what does this high school want to pay me to learn a show in a week?

And he was like, $2,000.

And I got in my car and I got a copy of the script and I went to the show that night.

And guys, it's a great show.

Okay, so Alan Swan is this old Hollywood icon who gets called in last minute as an emergency replacement as a guest host on this variety show.

And when he shows up, he's an alcoholic mess, which like, ouch, but okay, that's in my wheelhouse.