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    Actor Spotlight

    How Tom Hanks inspired Dallas' Michael Federico to become an actor

    Lindsey Wilson
    Nov 6, 2014 | 1:02 pm

    Michael Federico has spent his years in Dallas making a name for himself not only onstage, but also off. A company member at Kitchen Dog Theater, Federico also wrote the book for the local musical that took the city by storm, On the Eve. The time-traveling show won accolades from critics and audiences alike as it played first at Fair Park’s Magnolia Lounge, and later as part of the 2014 season at Theatre Three.

    Now Federico returns home to KDT in The Arsonists. A new translation by Alistair Beaton of Max Frisch’s 1953 play, The Arsonists is an absurdly funny parable about accommodating the very thing that will destroy you. Original music by Jon Schweikhard rounds out the experience, which runs November 7 through December 13 at McKinney Avenue Contemporary.

    Federico recently took the time to fill out our survey of serious, fun and sometimes ridiculous questions.

    Name: Michael Federico

    Role in The Arsonists: Eisenring

    Previous work in the DFW area: Mike in Barbecue Apocalypse (KDT), Ralph D in The Motherfucker with the Hat (KDT), Leo in Profanity (Undermain), Andrew in Becky Shaw (KDT), Konstantin in The Seagull (KDT), Ariel in The Pillowman (KDT)

    Hometown: I was born in Philadelphia, but I grew up in Plano.

    Where you currently reside: East Dallas

    First theater role: I played Pat Sajak and emceed my elementary school talent show. Does that count?

    First stage show you ever saw:Annie at the Dallas Summer Musicals or Something’s Afoot at Creed Repertory Theatre. I can’t remember which one was first.

    Moment you decided to pursue a career in theater: I owe my theatrical career to the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan classic Joe Versus the Volcano. During my eighth grade year, I was deciding whether or not to take theater in high school. I went to see that movie, and during the scene in which Hanks is dancing on a raft made of luggage while “Come and Go with Me” plays, I was like, “I’m going to take theater in high school, and I’m going to be an actor.” Always a good idea to make major life decisions at 14.

    Most challenging role you’ve played: Konstantin in The Seagull

    Special skills: Singing ’80s-style metal. Growing a beard quickly.

    Something you’re REALLY bad at: Cooking

    Current pop culture obsession: The return of Twin Peaks

    Last book you read:If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino

    Favorite movie(s):Back to the Future

    Favorite musician(s): Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Pixies, Pavement, New Order, Led Zeppelin

    Favorite song: “Ceremony” by New Order

    Dream role: Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

    Favorite play(s):Travesties by Tom Stoppard, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Seagull, The Threepenny Opera, Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill, On the Verge by Eric Overmyer

    Favorite musical(s): Into the Woods, Assassins, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Little Shop of Horrors

    Favorite actors/actresses: Frances McDormand, Julianne Moore, Tina Fey, Stanley Tucci, Brian Cox, and basically the entire cast of Party Down

    Favorite food: Fried chicken (preferably from Babe’s)

    Must-see TV show(s):Broad City, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, Doctor Who, Veronica Mars, Breaking Bad, Gotham, Twin Peaks, The Office (BBC), Sports Night, Slings and Arrows, Party Down

    Something most people don’t know about you: I am terrified of crocodiles.

    Place in the world you’d most like to visit: Iceland

    Pre-show warm-up: I usually drink a 32-ounce Coke, listen to show-related music and then do the Kitchen Dog group warm-up.

    Favorite part about your current role: It’s fun to play someone who is amoral.

    Most challenging part about your current role: I think Eisenring is always a few steps ahead of everyone else, so trying to keep up with the crazy jumps in his thought process can be a challenge.

    Most embarrassing onstage mishap: Opening night of Charm at Kitchen Dog, a prop that plays a huge part in the end of the show got stuck in a weird pocket-within-a-pocket of my pants and I couldn’t get it out. I tried for what felt like three hours. The playwright was in the house.

    Finally, I just grabbed another random prop that was in my other pocket. Luckily, I was on stage with John Flores and Jeffrey Schmidt and they totally went with it, changed the scene on the fly, and somehow made it work.

    Career you’d have if you weren’t in theater: I’d like to say superstar point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, but I’ll go with English professor.

    Favorite post-show spot:Lakewood Landing

    Favorite thing about Dallas-Fort Worth: Most of my favorite people live here. And the Mavs.

    Most memorable theater moment: Opening night of On the Eve at the Magnolia Lounge.

    Becky Shaw at Kitchen Dog Theater.

    "Becky Shaw" at Kitchen Dog Theater
      
    Photo by Matt Mrozek
    Becky Shaw at Kitchen Dog Theater.
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    bookworms unite

    Fantasy reigns as the No. 1 book genre for Texas readers

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 25, 2025 | 3:22 pm
    Poets Books in Dallas, independent bookstore
    Poets Books/Facebook
    Poets Books is one of six local independent bookstores participating in the third annual Oak Cliff Book Crawl on April 26.

    A new study revealing the top book genres enchanting each of the 50 states has revealed a surprising fact about what Texans like: The No. 1 pick for avid readers in Texas is fantasy books.

    The book trends report by security experts Cloudwards examined Google Trends data to discover the top literary genres for each state. Romance was the leading genre infatuating most states (22 in total), with literary fiction, poetry, and fantasy ensnaring 24 other states combined.

    Besides being the No. 1 genre in Texas, fantasy books also dominate for readers in Washington, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

    The report says these innovative states that boast high quality universities and bustling tech sectors are the driving force behind growing demand for fantasy books and other works of imaginative literature.

    "The enduring popularity of fantasy may be attributed to its unparalleled world-building capabilities and capacity to address complex social issues through allegorical frameworks," the report said. "Undoubtedly, for many, fantasy offers a temporary escape from day-to-day stresses and worries."

    The rise of BookTok — a popular TikTok category centered around reading, book clubs, and popular books — may be another major factor in the younger generation's shift towards reading. The category has over 53 million posts to prove it.

    Well-known fantasy books that have remained in the zeitgeist in recent years include George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series (a.k.a. Game of Thrones), Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series, and Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series.

    Many of these titles can be found on the shelves of Dallas' many independent bookstores, just in time for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26. It's crucial that Dallasites support their local bookstores rather than shop from big box stores like Amazon, Target, or Barnes and Noble.

    In fact, local book lovers can show their support for independent bookstores during the third annual Oak Cliff Book Crawl on April 26. Six Dallas bookstores will have special programming to celebrate the day: Whose Books, The Wild Detectives, Pan-African Connection Bookstore and Resource Center, Poets Books, Lucky Dog Books, and the recently opened romance-only Blush Bookstore.

    Here are a few more non-exhaustive options for shopping at independent bookstores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area:

    • A House with Books, Keller
    • Crow Hollow Bookshop, Allen
    • Deep Vellum, Dallas
    • The Dock Bookshop, Fort Worth
    • Interabang Books, Dallas
    • Monkey and Dog Books, Fort Worth
    • Neighbor Books, McKinney
    • Read Shop, Dallas
    • Storytellers Bookshop, Dallas
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