Get to Know SPIKE HEELS' Justin Harner

Justin Harner (Assistant Director) recently performed in Walkabout Theater Company's Beach Party at the End of the World.  He has also appeared twice in The One Minute Play Festival at Victory Gardens, A New Brain as assistant musical director with The Brown Paper Box Co., WILD (Jordy) with Kid Brooklyn Productions, Caesura: A Butchery (Casca) with The Plagiarists, and Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls (Martin) with The Brown Paper Box Co.  He is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington and an artistic associate of The Brown Paper Box Co..

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Full name? Justin Harner

Where you were born/raised? Effingham, Illinois

Your position/role within the SPIKE HEELS family? Assistant Director

What does that mean/what do you do? I'm here to observe the process and help troubleshoot with any problems, both onstage and offstage. For this show, I'm also sound designing.

In 5 words, how do you describe SPIKE HEELS? Laughter and embarrassment, we relate. (That sounds like the end of a haiku?)

How would you describe Theresa Rebeck's writing? Her writing forces the actors and the audience to engage with the vocabulary used onstage. I often find myself cringing or nodding my head up-and-down vigorously, depending on whether or not I agree with what is being said. She really nails the art of a concise argument.

What's your favorite kind of shoe? I love a good brogue shoe. Especially in the summer, without socks. ...wait, was I supposed to say SPIKE HEELS?

Who would play you in the Lifetime movie of your life? I feel like Shia LeBoeuf is due to hit the Lifetime level soon. That would be an interesting career choice for him, and a total shoe-in for me. Yep, not gonna miss another opportunity to mention shoes.

Special hidden talent? Not afraid to try new food products.

Something you're REALLY bad at? Being bad at things, in general! I've got a mean self-competitive streak. And an obsession with self-improvement.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood? Uptown. Though I don't know anyone who lives there anymore. Why can't they just pick up Lincoln Square and put it on the lake?

Current local show you've been recommending to friends? Book of Merman at Mary's Attic Jan. 15–Feb. 15. Tickets are going super fast, and I'm playing piano for part of the run!

Most played song on your iPod? "Keep on Lying"—Jessie Ware. It was an angsty fall.

Pop culture guilty pleasure? Is The Comeback considered pop culture? Just caught up on that fantastic series.

Three things you can't live without? A book, a blanket, and pajama pants. It's negative digits out there!

"I'll never understand why…" Google can't make email chains more intuitive. I'm really bad at replying, and often email the wrong people. Can we stick that back up top in the "something you're really bad at" section, so I don't sounds like such a perfectionist?

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SPIKE HEELS runs January 23–February 8, 2015 at THE WEST STAGE AT THE RAVEN THEATRE COMPLEX. Thursdays–Saturdays @ 8 PM and Sundays @ 3:30 PM. Tickets are available at http://spikeheelschi.bpt.me.