Theater keeps Parrill busy

Dec 01, 2008 (The Wilson Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- BBT | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Michael Parrill is still trying to catch his breath.

For the first time in his amateur theater career, Parrill acted in two local theater productions at one time this fall.

While he admits the experience of learning hundreds of lines of script and keeping up with the demanding rehearsal and performance schedules just about killed him, Parrill enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the cast of Wilson's first comic opera, "The Impresario," and part of the cast of "Christmas Belles," a Southern comedy.

Parrill, 47, said he loves to play the "comedic, bumbling fool" type of characters.

He hasn't decided yet if he will seek a role in the upcoming Playhouse production of "Twelve Angry Jurors." But odds are Parrill and his wife, Susan Montano, will have some hand in helping pull the show together.

Montano is often behind the scenes of the productions Parrill performs in helping with hair and make-up. Amateur theater is a means for the family to give back to the Wilson community they have grown to love since moving here in 1986. The family not only has ties to the Playhouse but also to theater at Barton College, ACT! for Youth and Theater of the American South.

Parrill's favorite role thus far was playing the character Fagan in the Playhouse production of "Oliver" in February because he got to sing even though he's not a singer.

"You can always count on Michael giving 100 percent, whether it be on stage or off stage," said Kathy Creech of The Playhouse. "He has become invaluable to The Playhouse in so many ways. His talent on stage is evident as he brings his characters to life, but his work off stage, whether it be in helping to build the set or working as part of the backstage crew, and his dedication is what the audience doesn't see, is just as important. He is indeed a wonderful asset to The Playhouse."

Creech said the Parrill family makes a great team.

Parrill is impressed a city the size of Wilson has four major players when it comes to community theater. He remembers growing up in central Ohio where there was nothing available to nurture his love of acting. Parrill said one of his favorite groups is ACT! for Youth because of the opportunity it gives young people to learn skills in addition to acting, such as building sets. The children also learn responsibility and in the process are exposed to "some cool people," he said.

Parrill's father worked in a factory and his mother was a housewife. The highlight of the year was the annual Ohio State and Michigan football game. Parrill's younger brother runs a tattoo parlor across the street from Ohio State University, which provides a steady supply of customers. Parrill describes his brother as covered head-to-toe in tattoos while Parrill hasn't worked up the nerve yet to get his first tattoo.

Parrill left Ohio at age 15 to attend boarding school in Princeton, N.J. After high school, Parrill studied mathematics at the University of New York at Albany. He remembers Albany as a dark, depressing place to live. Montano was in the doctorate program at the University of New York at Albany. The couple came to North Carolina when Montano landed a job teaching Spanish at Barton College. Parrill finished his undergraduate degree at Barton.

"Barton College is a great community," Parrill said. "It's so nice to have a liberal arts college in town."

Parrill said the professors and students who come to Wilson because of the college bring a "flavor and depth to the community" that wouldn't be here without Barton.

In 2000, the family moved to Paris for about a year and a half while Parrill was still working with Ernst & Young as a consultant. Parrill said the experience was fun except his son, Ethan, didn't like moving, and Montano had to adjust to not working while there. While in Paris, the family traveled to other locales in Europe. His French is limited even though he had a private tutor. Parrill also speaks Spanish and German. The family was inundated with visitors as long-lost family and friends took advantage of the chance to visit Paris.

Parrill said his children are very good travelers and can be packed and ready to roll with passports in hand in five minutes. Ethan is a sophomore at Barton while the couple's daughter, Anna Jane, is a senior at Greenfield School.

Seven years ago, Parrill decided to slow down some in terms of business travel and took a job with BB&T in Wilson. He manages large technology projects for the company.

But the family still travels.

Parrill said his children have spent a month in Mexico every year of their lives.

creech@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7822

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