NYC theater festival features work by ASU alum, faculty member

A one-man play created by ASU alumnus Christian Moralde and directed by faculty member Charles St. Clair has been selected for inclusion in United Solo, the world’s largest solo theater festival, taking place at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City.

Moralde, a 2005 ASU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in performance studies, will perform “DON’T CALL ME WALTER!” on Oct. 18. The show is directed by St. Clair, who teaches in ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

Based on Moralde’s life story, the play centers around Moralde’s experiences growing up as a self-described fat, OCD-ridden, Filipino boy with a worrisome mother. Moralde takes the audience on a personal journey of living life with models as he enters the Los Angeles-based entertainment industry ... all while wearing a Rolex watch with a history. Featuring personal anecdotes full of past celebrity encounters, biting humor and candid drama, this original show has been met with critical acclaim.

“DON'T CALL ME WALTER!,” which premiered in Los Angeles in 2005, was performed in Phoenix at ASU’s West campus in 2011.

“I first found out about United Solo when an acquaintance of mine, Anthony Rapp from the Tony Award-winning show ‘Rent,’ received attention for his solo performance,” Moralde said.

“After having my world premiere in Los Angeles and taking the show to my alma matter, I felt New York City would be an appropriate next stop. I submitted my show and was thrilled to be selected,” he said. “Taking on a wider scope for an audience and bringing the energy of the Broadway world into my material has always been a dream that I had for ‘DON'T CALL ME WALTER!’”

As a host for The Fashion News Network, Moralde has appeared as a TV personality on NBC, Fox and the TV Guide Channel.

“I am proud to say that despite a full festival line-up, 'DON'T CALL ME WALTER!' has been singled out by press outlets Broadway World, Playbill and Time Out Magazine for its merit and content,” Moralde said. “Along with three-time Emmy winner Charles St. Clair directing the show, it is being produced by Dana Kenerson, who was nominated for a 2012 Emmy as producer for Anderson Cooper’s TV show, ‘Anderson.’”

St. Clair is known locally for his directing work with theater organizations including iTheatre Collaborative, Black Theatre Troupe and others. He teaches classes for New College’s bachelor’s degree program in interdisciplinary arts and performance, offered through the School of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies.

“It is an honor to work with our students as they progress through their careers and become colleagues,” St. Clair said. “Christian was an outstanding student and now it’s a pleasure to direct him as a professional actor in his one-man show at the United Solo festival. It’s particularly exciting that this is an original production and that IAP and SHArCS were instrumental in its development.”

The Oct. 18 performance of “DON’T CALL ME WALTER!” is scheduled for 9 p.m. at Theatre Row on 42nd street in New York City. Tickets are available through Telecharge or 212-239-6200 and at the Theatre Row Box Office (410 West 42nd Street).