The Sloan must go on

When Damon Sloan steps foot on the Joliet Drama Guild’s stage next Friday, he’ll be playing a part his father truly believes he was born to do.

“I saw ‘The Foreigner’ even before he got involved in acting,” Barney Sloan said. “The play was always in the back of my mind as something (Damon) could do because of the facial expressions and physical comedy.”

Damon Sloan, a Morris native who by day works as the dean of students at the University of St. Francis, will play Charley Baker, a Brit who comes to Georgia with a friend. Because of Baker’s shyness, the friend explains to another group that Baker cannot understand a word of English. Since the group freely conducts itself in Baker’s presence, he soon learns of their inner-most secrets, including one to stage a Ku Klux Klan rally. Baker then spends the next few days “learning” English so that he may stop the group’s demonstration.

“The wrinkle is the audience knows that Charley can understand English, but the other characters don’t,” Sloan said.

The play is being presented Feb. 12 through 14 and Feb. 19 through 21 at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theater, 201 West Jefferson St., Joliet.

One may think it’s difficult playing a character who barely speaks for the first half of the play, but Sloan said the gig is perfect for him.

"I'm not into playing romantic leads," the 1992 Morris High School graduate said. "Anytime I get a chance to do something involving physical comedy and facial expressions, it just works out a lot better."
Sloan first started acting while in high school and, like most fledgling actors, once had dreams of acting in New York. But, those dreams soon gave way to a full-time job in the higher education field. After earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Ball State University and a master's degree in student counseling, he took a job as the assistant dean of students at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich.

“I didn’t want to have to think about where I was getting money for my next meal,” he said of why the dream of being a professional actor eventually fell by the wayside.

While working at Siena Heights, Sloan took advantage of a free tuition perk and earned a second bachelor’s degree, this one in theater.

“During my time there, I acted in about 25 to 30 plays,” Sloan said.

Sloan moved back to Morris in December 2008 and last March starred in the musical “Baby” at the University of St. Francis.

He had always wanted to fulfill his father’s prophecy by starring in “The Foreigner.” The prophecy turned to reality when Sloan found out a few months ago that the Joliet Drama Guild would be performing the play. He auditioned for and was awarded the lead role.

In March, Sloan will make his homecoming at the Morris Theatre Guild as Simon Bliss in "Hay Fever," a comedy about a four-member Bohemian family each expecting their own house guest for the weekend.
Sloan said he's most excited to perform in the group's new home in the CanalPort Community Center after its previous theater was destroyed in a fire nearly three years ago.

“I’m looking forward to it; it will be nice to break everything in,” Sloan said.

Because rehearsals for the Morris guild’s play began Monday, Sloan now finds himself preparing for two shows away from home most every night. Both are volunteer posts, and the 3- to 4-hour rehearsals are held after working a full day at the university.

While Sloan said he’s not resurrecting his New York dreams any time soon, he’s not willing to trade his acting for an easier schedule.

“I don’t know what else I’ll do,” he said. “I just like to do it.”