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Chris Murray is one of Portland's hardest-working young actors. How do I know? Because the dude sends me some sort of press release almost weekly. A member of improv comedy company Super Project Lab and a prolific performer in companies across town, from Stark Raving Theatre [RIP] to Portland Center Stage. He won a Drammy Award for an Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2006 for his portrayal of Shane in Take Me Out at Artists Rep. On Friday, he opens Adam Bock's The Receptionist at CoHo Theater. The show, which co-stars the Sharonlee McLean , Laura Faye Smith and Gary Norman (excellent actors all), is an office-space dark comedy in the vein of Bock's play The Thugs , which Rose Riordan directed last year at Portland Center Stage. Riordan's directing this one, too. Should be great.
How long have you been in Portland?
I have been in Portland for six years.
Was that your hometown?
I went to school in McMinville , OR.
How was Linfield, as an aspiring actor?
Not to get too personal, it wasn't a specialized school, in regards to an acting program. I respected all the professors, it was just a question of getting real world training as opposed to book work.
What brought you to Portland?
My parents live close by and I just love Portland.
What was your hometown?
Columbus Ohio.
What was your first paid acting gig.
My first paid gig was a commercial I did for an online stock purchasing company called Sharebuilder.com. Actually no, that's not true. My first paid acting gig was in the movie Kindergarten Cop when I was 10 years old. I was a featured extra, so I played the role of Kyle at Fair.
You're a member of Actors' Equity now, right?
I just went union for Sometimes a Great Notion at Portland Center Stage.
Do you have a favorite role in Portland?
Shane in Take Me Out was my most exciting. I think the favorite role is yet to come. I think it's coming this February at Third Rail. [As Mairtin in A Skull in Connemara ].
Do you act full time, or do you have a day job?
I teach part time, and I fix computers part time, but really just anything to stay afloat. Acting is where I get the majority of my income, which is really a blessing. I've tried to do little things here and there to stay afloat when casting doesn't go my way.
Your email address is thechrismurray @[ redacted] Why the Chris Murray?
Because Chris Murray was taken and I hate it when people put numbers in their name, because I can never remember it. Plus I'm arrogant. [laughs ] No, my old email address was waiterforlife and I figured that wasn't doing me any favors, giving me a pass for not getting cast.
Why should we see The Receptionist this weekend?
It's honestly a unique theatrical experience. Man, everything I'm thinking of sounds so fucking clichéd. It's like nothing you've experienced before on a live stage.
Elaborate, please.
Most shows are presentational, and this one seems to plot its own course without any regards for what the actors are doing of what the directors are doing. It sort of makes its own way, and I think it's fascinating to experience it.
WWeek 2015