Page 16 - STA Studio Sessions Playbill 031121FINAL

WHO’S WHO

Couple of months later he received
a call from Bubbah Thomas asking
Darien would he like to form a group. He
immediately agreed, as Darien put it, to
form the group “Bubbah Thomas, Darien
and The Lightmen.” Demos of Darien’s
contributions were lost in time as he
left the group due to, again, conflicting
interest.

Having spent all of his earnings, Darien
was at his lowest point in the early 80s.
The IRS took everything from him except
his father’s pajamas. It would be then
where he’d pick up learning about the TERESA ZIMMERMANN* (Writer/
wildlife of Houston to “keep his mind Performer) Alley Theatre: Survivors,
active”. He became so well versed with an Alamo Play - Susannah Dickinson
the animals he had his own exhibit at the (Alley All New Workshop Production),
Houston Zoo in 1984 titled “Darien African Amerikin - Michelle, Mr Texas (Early Draft
Forest” which he taught the zoo patrons Preview, Alley All New), A Christmas
about Hogs, Giraffes, Gorillas and Grant’s Carol (2016-2019) - Belle/Mrs. Fred
Zebras (which were also named after him.) Scrooge, Apparition, Belle U/S, Swing,
His contributions to the zoo put him back The Christians (choir). TUTS: Jerome
on his feet where he’d continue to teach Robbins Broadway - Ma/Electra/Golde,
and act in his exhibit until 1990. Pure Country (reading) - Harley; Telluride
Theatre Company: MacGyver the Musical
In the early 90s Darien became obsessed - Cue Card Person (workshop); Stages:
with this new video game company called Great American Trailer Park Musical -
Sega and a blue hedgehog named Sonic. Pickles, Veronica’s Room - Girl; AD Players:
Growing tired of the hype this Maaariiooo Godspell; HGO: Das Barbecü - Brünhilde;
character Nintendont made, he made it Fourth Wall Theatre Co: Who’s Afraid of
one of his hobbies/life missions to collect Virginia Woolf? - Honey; Black Lab Theatre
anything and everything that featured that Co: Really Really - Leigh. Queensbury
hedgehog. His collection was so massive Theatre: Violet (Violet), Sideshow (Violet);
that Tom Kalinske, the CEO of Sega of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: Jewel,
America at the time, approached him with Navigator of the Seas; Danny Ray and the
a once in a lifetime opportunity to run Acoustic Production - vocalist. Love to Will,
SegaWorld Africa, the Sega based theme Bennie, Kolache, the fram & the fam.
park built in Cape Town. He would spend
most of his time here running the park and
help coordinating event until the parks
closure in 2000.

These days Darien is living a lavish and
retired life on his private estate in Houston
with his wife Karien and his son Nei’Red.
He seldomly preforms these days but when
he does it’s a sight to see.