Entertainment - Entertainment News

POSTED: Monday, Apr. 13, 2009

Artist profile: Hiro Yamamoto

Hiro Yamamoto, who’ll be 48 on Monday, April 13, started acting with the Sudden Valley Barn Theatre after his wife, Kate, and their two sons, Choji, 11, and Yoshi, 9, had been in a couple of shows. Although he admits he hasn’t any theatrical credentials, it’s not the first time he’s appeared on stage. He was the original bassist and founding member of Seattle grunge band Soundgarden, and started the independent band Truly. He plays Marco the Magnificent in the Barn Theatre’s production of the musical, “Carnival,” which plays Friday, April 17, through May 3.

Question: How did your family get you to be in shows at the Barn Theatre?

Answer: They sort of talked me into it. Although, they didn’t have to try too hard. I liked the idea that the whole family was involved in something. And once I got started... well, this is my sixth show.

Q: What’s your day job?

A: I am a chemist. I analyze drinking water for volatile organic compounds (stuff like the by-products of chlorination and other contaminants: solvents, gasoline, pesticides, herbicides) at Edge Analytical (in Burlington). I work with some great people and enjoy working with the instrumentation. It is also satisfying to work in the environmental field, knowing that I am helping ensure the safety of the drinking water supply.

Q: What were your growing-up years like?

A: I grew up in Park Forest, Ill., a south suburb of Chicago. I loved playing baseball and basketball as a child. And also enjoyed playing and singing Top 40 songs on the piano. I’ve always loved popular music. Wanting to get away from Midwestern suburban life, I ended up in Seattle after high school, and eventually came to Bellingham to finish college when Kate, my wife, got her master’s degree at Huxley.

Q: What’s cool about “Carnival?”

A: There are some great people in this show. It is awesome to see my kids really develop as actors and singers. I guess that is the key. And it isn’t just the kids. Kate and I have really improved, too. Kate has much more theater experience, having been in plays since she was little and singing in choir. The kids have gotten some great training from (director) Ellen Kester, and the experience of being onstage since they were 5 or 6 years old is invaluable. This show in particular has some great roles for kids. The puppets scenes are just amazing. They steal the show.

Q: Tell me about your character, Marco the Magnificent; anything like you?

A: My character is an aging magician who has an ever wandering eye (I’d say philanderer but that has some bad connotations) and delusions of grandeur. I am not like him; at least I hope I’m not. He falls for (or tries to lure) the young Lili, the orphan who’s finding out about human nature and love. This is a wonderful musical about coming of age, love and understanding the complexities of the human spirit. There is great entertainment for the whole family with music, singing, dancing. And of course, Sudden Valley isn’t really that far out there!

Q: What else is fun for you, in your leisure time?’

A: I coach my younger kid’s baseball team and still pursue my musical interests (delusions of grandeur?).

Q: And so, what about your band life?

A: Truly reunited, after a 10-year hiatus, and played at the Azkena Rock Festival in Spain last summer.