Social - January 2004

Willis takes the show on the road

By SARAH GRANO, Staff Writer

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If people driving late at night glanced over at the man in the propane truck beside them, they might see a funny sight.

Tony Willis, actor by evening, truck driver by night, often spends his hours on the road practicing his lines.

“People look up and say, ‘Look at that skinny fellow driving that big old truck,’” said Willis. “If people could see me in the dark, they would think I was crazy.”

The 39-year-old father of three has lived in West Lincoln all his life. He rehearses his lines while driving 125 miles a night with 2,100 gallons of propane behind him.

Before he goes off to work at 11 p.m., Willis often has rehearsal at the Lincoln Cultural Center for his new play “B-I-N-G-O Spells Murder.”

The recent icy roads canceled several of his rehearsals, but he still had to drive his propane truck on Tuesday.

“It’s very tricky. You just have to take it slow,” Willis said. “Let off the gas and let it straighten itself up.”

Willis, who hasn’t had a speeding ticket since the age of 16, feels most concerned about other drivers and invisible gas leaks when he’s on the road.

“The times when other people don’t pay attention is when it gets scary,” Willis said.

Willis’ friends know him as a trucker and volunteer firefighter. Many of them were surprised to hear about his new hobby.

“They think I’m just an old country boy that works constantly,” Willis said. “They never thought they’d see me on stage.”

Willis has played two comedic roles at the Lincoln Theater Guild.

In “Dracula” he spent his time in a white suit chasing after a loony. In “B-I-N-G-O Spells Murder,” he plays the yuppie husband of a domineering woman.

“I play Claude, the little wimpy guy who has no backbone,” said Willis who wouldn’t reveal anything more about his character. “I’m not giving it away. It’s a murder mystery.”

His director and assistant director knew immediately that Willis was right for the role.

“After the audition was over, we just looked at each other and said ‘We have our Claude. We don’t have to look further,’” said Cecil Smith, the play’s director.

Many of Willis’ castmates worked with him on “Dracula,” and they were delighted to find out he had received a part.

“He has a natural talent. He takes direction very well,” said cast member Lawrence Welch. “Next year when he’s a big star, I’ll talk dirty about him.”

After rehearsal, the cast tells Willis to be careful during his seven hours of driving. Willis knows he’ll spend the time preparing for opening night.

“I’m not acting for publicity or notoriety,” Willis said. “I like acting because it’s fun, and it keeps my mind stimulated.”

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Staff Writer Sarah Grano can be reached at 704-735-3031 or sgrano@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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