Get To Know SPIKE HEELS' Richie Schiraldi

Richie Schiraldi (Stage Manager) is excited to make his Stage Management debut in Chicago with The Brown Paper Box Co.! Richie recently graduated from Coastal Carolina University with BFA in Physical Theatre. He studied traditional European circus arts and clown at Accademia dell'arte in Italy. When he is not clowning around, he loves to spend his spare time behind the scenes. Recent tech credits include Anything Goes (SM), Music Man (ASM), and Will Rogers Follies (ASM).

---

---

Full name? Richard Carl Schiraldi Jr.

Where you were born/raised? I was born in Washingtonville, New York. I was raised all over. I lived in New York for 8 years; Maryland for 8; Myrtle Beach, SC for 6; Italy for 1; and Chicago for almost 3 months. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still being raised.

Your position within the SPIKE HEELS family? Stage Manager

What does that mean/what do you do? Short answer? That means that... I manage the stage. Once the show opens, the designers and directors essentially hand it over to me.
I'm basically responsible for anything and everything that goes right or wrong.

In 5 words, how do you describe SPIKE HEELS? It's not anything like anything.

How would you describe Theresa Rebecks's writing? I originally wrote a solid two-sentence response, but it sounded much more intelligent in my head than it did on digital paper. So I will say this: Upon first reading the play, it just feels like everyone is just yelling at each other for 90 pages. However, after a second, third, and forth read, and hearing and watching it in person, this piece is 100% a comedy. There is a lot of awkward humor, and some dark humor, all the while teaching you a few deep life lessons.

What's your favorite kind of shoe? Depends on the weather. I like no shoe. If I need to wear one (or two), I have a solid pair of brown leather boots that have seen half of the world with me - literally.

Who would play you in the Lifetime movie of your life? Kenneth Branagh

Special hidden talent? I've got a BFA in Physical Theatre. Special talents include, but are not limited to: Juggling, Clowning, Stage Combat, Balloon Animals, Carpentry, and I was a knight at Medieval Times in Myrtle Beach.

Something you're REALLY bad at? Talking to new people, and surfing.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood? Since I only moved here two months ago, the neighborhood I know the most is Andersonville.

Current local show you've been recommending to friends? Spike Heels. Duh. Trick Question?

Most played song on your iPod? What's an iPod? I've still got an MP3 player. "Monkey Wrench" - Foo Fighters.

Pop culture guilty pleasure? Sometimes I listen to Taylor Swift when I'm alone. Don't judge.  I've confided this information in you.

Three things you can't live without? A notebook (pencil included), juggling balls (they literally have bought me a train ticket and a room for a night while I was stranded in Europe), and ... water.

"I'll never understand why…" That's a loaded half sentence. I'll never understand why people do what they do. That's broad enough for you to contemplate a lot of things.

---

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.