FPCT Spotlight - October 8, 2010

Jeff Murray

 

You have had a long career working for the foreign service and have lived in numerous countries.  Which was your favorite and why?

 

Jeff:  Tough question.  I guess I enjoyed all of my postings, although for different reasons.  Immersed for years in different cultures, becoming fluent in different languages was the biggest kick for me – an incredible experience.  But I'd have to say my two favorites were the assignments as press and cultural attaché at the U.S. Consulates in Milan, and later in St. Petersburg.  Northern Italy is just a stunning place to work and play for four years; and St. Petersburg is simply over the top for anyone who loves classical Russian music, theater, art, architecture and literature.  Just unforgettable.

 

Were you able to do any acting in any of those places?

 

Jeff:  You can almost always find an English-speaking theater group anywhere in the world where there is a critical mass of British expats.  Earlier in my diplomatic career, when I had fewer managerial responsibilities, I was able to find time to act in places like Portugal and India.  I was especially flattered to have been able to join the British Embassy theater group in New Delhi, playing Jack (in full, flamboyant British accent) in The Importance of Being Earnest.

 

What made you decide to act?

 

Jeff:  I've always been an actor!  I was a shameless ham in grade school, junior high and high school productions, and then switched to being a radio disk jockey as an undergraduate, in graduate school, and even in the Air Force.  But after nearly 30 years of acting the part of an American diplomat, I decided to return to the stage – the script changes more often, and sometimes I get to scream!

 

What is a favorite character you have played?

 

Jeff:  Not to be coy, but my favorite character is always the next role I land.  I get inordinate pleasure out of applying and auditioning for a part, getting to know and rehearsing with the director and cast, and then performing for an audience.  It's a sickness, I know, but relatively benign.

 

You recently moved to Federal Hill from the Washington D.C. area.  How do you like it?

 

Jeff:  Love it!  Working for the State Department, my wife and I were forced to live in the D.C. area whenever I had a state-side assignment; we bought a place in Falls Church, Virginia, because of its reputedly great school system.  But once our daughter was out of high school, we realized that our increasingly frequent trips to Baltimore to check out exhibitions and hang out in Fells Point and Mt. Vernon had implications.  Such as, why aren't we living there?  We got lucky this summer, finding a gorgeous place here and selling our Virginia townhouse within a week.  I went to college in Philly, so I'm working on resurrecting my Middle Atlantic accent to try to blend in, hon.

 

Any projects on the horizon?

 

Jeff:  Mauritius, directed by Fool for Love producer Mark Steckbeck, opening up right here at Fells Point Corner Theater on January 14.  I'm really thrilled about participating in this production:  I get to play a particularly loathsome piece of work, and it's always reassuring when I'm typecast.  Please come see us!


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