Episode #39
Welcome Actor Justin Demers!
Actor, Musician, and Noises Off Avoider: Justin Demers on I Saw You In That Thing I Saw You In! This episode of I Saw You In That Thing I Saw You In dives deep into the art of stagecraft, vocal discipline, and the delicate balance between high-level performance and creative burnout! Host Stephen Lomer sits down with multi-talented New England actor and gigging musician Justin Demers. The Musician vs. Actor Identity Crisis Stephen challenges Justin on how he defines his creative identity. While his social media simple tags him as a musician and singer-songwriter, Justin explains how balancing theater contracts with gigging prevents his "creative muscles" from going stale. He opens up about keeping performance as an intense passion rather than a soul-crushing corporate job, maintaining a day job specifically so he can protect his love for the arts. The Great Noises Off Betrayal In a hilariously tense segment, Justin confronts Stephen over a broken promise. After assigning Stephen one specific piece of pre-podcast homeworkâwatching the classic comedy Noises OffâJustin discovers Stephen aggressively failed to complete the assignment. The two engage in a hilarious back-and-forth negotiation, complete with Letterboxd plugs and a strict end-of-summer deadline to save their friendship. From Audition to Curtain Call: The Stage Masterclass Justin provides an exhaustive, step-by-step masterclass for anyone curious about the mechanics of professional theater: The Post-Pandemic Audition How virtual self-tapes transformed the stage casting process, saving actors from awkward group auditions in front of entire rooms of competitors. The Sprint of Tech Week Navigating dry tech, wet tech, costume fittings, and the intense time constraints of learning full, two-act musical choreographies in as little as eight days. On-Stage Intimacy & Over-Communication Justin highlights the necessity of over-communicating and strict choreography when handling intimate scenes on stage to ensure absolute safety and comfort for all partners. The Frozen Show Why actors owe it to the audience to keep a show "frozen" once it opens, avoiding ego-driven improvised changes while still letting the emotional depth of the character naturally grow denser over a 10-week run. The High School "Booze-ical" Scandal Justin shares a wild behind-the-scenes story from his junior year at Bates College. He details the infamous tradition of "The Dirty Show"âa secret, one-night-only, sold-out late-night parody performance where the cast completely rewrote family-friendly shows into filthy, unhinged comedies. Justin recalls taking a heavy drag of a joint in the wings right before stepping on stage for High School Musical, immediately realizing he was completely incoherent, and improvising his way through a sold-out theater with zero memory of the script. Justin's Essential Advice for Actors "Don't try to fit the exact mold you think a casting director wants. Don't steal pieces of other people's performancesâit comes off as hollow and phony. People have incredible bullshit meters. Bring a version of yourself that is rooted in real life and real truth. Even if you get rejected, you'll know you presented something authentic rather than a lie." Where to See Justin Next Catch Justin on stage at the Prescott Park Arts Festival, starring as the Prince in their summer production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella! Support the Show & Our Sponsors: Parody News Network (PNN): Parodying your favorite television and movie plots as real-world news broadcasts for your protection. Subscribe here: youtube.com/ParodyNewsNetwork ď¸ I Saw You In That Thing I Saw You In: Follow us on Spotify and drop a review if you loved Justin's deep dive into the theater world! #JustinDemers #StephenLomer #StageActing #MusicalTheater #PrescottParkArtsFestival #CinderellaMusical #ShrekTheMusical #NoisesOff #AuditionTips #SelfTape #TheaterLife #NewEnglandActors
