Hi everyone! Welcome to the Mentees series. Throughout the week, we’ll be introducing our amazing Fringe mentees in this 60-second blog post series. We’ll also feature them on our social media platforms, so keep an eye out. Now, let’s get started with our first mentee, An Te!
Tickets for ‘The Last Cowboy (Hat Salesman) are on sale now, taking place at Studio 16 from Sept 10 – 20. Book your spot today for just $18 per person!
Hi, I’m An Te. I’m a high school science teacher. I’m from Burnaby, and I did not grow up as a theatre kid; I was more into science. It wasn’t until university that I saw my first stand-up show, and I was really surprised we had this stuff in Vancouver.
From there, I began doing stand-up and some improv at the University of British Columbia. I even volunteered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which introduced me to this world.
What is the plot of your show?
It’s about a guy whose family runs a cowboy hat store. He takes over and tries to adapt as best he can. While this is happening, he realizes he may never achieve his dream of being a cowboy, as they have disappeared. Throughout the story, he discovers who he can be and whether he can still make his dream come true.
What inspired you to create this show?
For my show, I really wanted to create something silly. I chose the cowboy hat and a silly character as the starting point, then built plot points around it and thought, “Let’s make a show about this.” I’m the kind of person who starts with an object or bit, then creates the story.
What are you hoping audiences will experience or take away from your show?
I’m hoping that, because of the silliness of the show, audiences will go out and find more silly shows in Vancouver. We need more fun and silliness in theatre.
I also hope audiences think about the old dreams they had when they were around six and see that those dreams are still a part of our lives. We just interpret them a bit differently as we change. We haven’t fundamentally changed who we are, only the label has changed.
How did the Fringe Mentorship Program help you create your show and shape your Fringe experience?
My mentor, Blair Moro, has been really amazing with marketing my Fringe show. They are so experienced and have definitely helped calm my nerves. They have also been amazing emotional support, helping me figure out things like whether I can use a song and even letting me attach my poster to their marketing.
Since this is my first Fringe show, it has been such a positive experience, and Blair has made it feel less daunting and really welcoming to the Fringe community.
Why should people come see your show?
It’s a silly and fun show that is needed in this stressful time. This show is not meant to be serious. So, if you want to get silly, laugh, and be a little bit crazy, I promise this will be a fun time, and I will be doing something even dumber. Plus, there is a lot of audience participation.
Theatre edition: what is a hill you’re willing to die on?
I really love the Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies. I think it was over hated. It’s a fun, really good, and entertaining show, and I’d rather we spend a billion dollars on silly shows like this than on war.
