Martin McDonagh is known for writing plays that most find provocative, shocking and even offensive (see The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lieutenant of Inishmore). For actor David Jeremiah, that's nothing more than a professional challenge.

In A Behanding in Spokane, produced by Second Thought Theatre, Jeremiah plays a small-time weed dealer who unwisely tries to con a disfigured psychopath (played by the icy-eyed Van Quattro). In between shows, he took the time to fill out our survey of serious, fun and sometimes ridiculous questions.

Full name: David Jeremiah

Role in A Behanding in Spokane: Toby

Previous work in the DFW area: Most recently Broke-ology at Jubilee — Kingy Tre Garrett!! And The Whipping Man at Circle Theatre — Kingy Monty Sutton!!!

Hometown: Oak Cliff

Where you currently reside: The B.A.D. (Bishop Arts District)

First theater role: Boy Beetle in the Butterfly's Evil Spell by Federico Garcia Lorca

First stage show you ever saw: The Lion King at Fair Park — Kingy Kelly Abbott!!!

Moment you decided to pursue acting: The moment I chose to do something positive.

Most challenging role you’ve played: There's not one in particular. It's more of my unintentional and automatic disability of finding über real-life parallels between my character's situation and my own. Because it becomes distracting. Not to the point of a method actor going off the deep end (I'm in no way method) but more of me wasting time in wonder of how eerie the connection is. Which causes me to major in the minor — focus on something that's not as reliable as lets say ... OBJECTIVE. It's the old soul in me.

Special skills: Some people say staring. Uh, .folding my ears inside of themselves then making them pop back out on command, being proud and loving my siblings way too much.

Something you’re REALLY bad at: Losing at Monopoly. Playing with my family is asking to be emotionally scarred.

Current pop culture obsession: Chicks that are half-rockabilly, half-punk — coined ROPUN by yours truly — Kingy David Ristuccia!!! Also, Rising Kneeeeee!!! and L.A.M. Projects.

Last book you read: The Nigger Factor by Gil Scott-Heron

Favorite movie(s): Paid in Full, The Bear, The War, Layer Cake, Vanilla Sky, Buffalo 66, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, Dogville, Hurly Burly and Spanglish

Favorite musician(s): I listen to soooo many genres it ain't even funny. Old 50 Cent if I had to jam to one thing for the rest of my ride.

Favorite song: Lately, "Goldie" by ASAP Rocky.

Dream role: Ariel in The Pillowman, also by Martin McDonagh

Favorite play(s):The Pillowman

Favorite musical(s): Me no likey.

Favorite actors/actresses: Daniel Day-Lewis — if he can be considered an actor. He's more of a piece of art within himself. Also my boo-ski-boo Marion Cotillard.

Favorite food: My Granny's hot water cornbread. Anything my baby sis cooks for me.

Must-see TV show(s):The Wire and Boardwalk Empire

Something most people don’t know about you: I'm FLOCKIN' TERRIFIED of hypodermic needles, but I LOVE getting tattoos.

Place in the world you’d most like to visit: Africa. Show those lions my agility.

Pre-show warm-up: I take the textbook "red leather yellow leather" vocal warm-up and put my own little spin on it. I name a random item in whatever room I'm in and stick "leather" on the end of it. Then I hurl random insults at my fellow cast members and add "leather" to the end of those.

Also there's a part in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps where Shia LaBeouf's character tells Josh Brolin's character: "F@#* you, Brenton!!! I like to say that to the air for about three minutes with as many different inflections as possible.

Favorite part about your current role: Honestly, that I get to act black for an hour and some minutes.

Most challenging part about your current role: Playing the circumstances without JUST playing the circumstances. In a piece with stakes and farce this high, it's easy to slip into solely playing an emotional state and allowing the other elements to fall by the wayside. It's almost like acting twice, thrice, etc. It's a very welcome exercise in being completely submissive to the actual moment.

Most embarrassing onstage mishap: Audibly pooting onstage — seeing how gentlemen don't fart.

Career you’d have if you weren’t a performer: A fake performer?

Favorite post-show spot: Pizza Lounge off of Expo and Perry all day. I've got some kingin' memories there that I wouldn't trade for all the marbles.

Favorite thing about Dallas-Forth Worth: That it's ripe. And for all the caca that pretentiously unpretentious people talk about it, it's my city. So people have to ask themselves: Are they gonna barbeque or mildew?

Most memorable theater moment: Being a gentleman onstage.

---

A Behanding in Spokane runs through January 26 at Second Thought Theatre.