For a freelance actor-writer, being hired for the new resident company at Dallas Theater Center is like being called up from the minors to the big leagues. And for all-around utility player Lee Trull, it also means being the first Dallas actor to be named to the nine-member troupe.
DTC today appointed Trull, 28, to the newly created position of Associate Artist. He’ll play three positions: local casting director for DTC productions; literary manager; and member of the new acting company, putting him onstage in at least two main stage shows each season. Before we jump for more, first, this is Trull in a trailer for the indie horror film Night Crawlers.
“Lee is an outstanding Dallas theater artist,” said DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. “Earlier this season I had the opportunity to see him act in productions of Rum and Vodka at WaterTower Theatre’s Out of the Loop Festival and at DTC in 365 Plays/365 Days and A Christmas Carol. In each of these he greatly impressed me with his immense versatility as an actor. Additionally, Lee is a promising playwright whose work has been produced at several local theaters, and he is a valuable member of the Dallas theater community. He is an outstanding example of a talented local artist whose work we hope to support and develop in the coming years.”
Trull has been acting professionally in Dallas since 2003. He currently is a member of the artistic company of Kitchen Dog Theater, a position he will keep while working at DTC. At Kitchen Dog, he’s had starring roles in End Times, Hazard County, Fat Pig, Debbie Does Dallas the Musical and The Juniper Tree.
As a playwright, Lee has received commissions from the now-defunct Classical Acting Company and Stage West to write adaptations of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn and O Henry’s Gift of the Magi. (He also wrote a retelling of Pinocchio called Puppet Boy, which is best forgotten.)
Trull’s voice can be heard grunting, screaming, laughing and delivering one-liners on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim in Grapler Baki, Dragon Ball Z and Case Closed. He was also half of the local comedy duo The Chicken ’n’ Pickle Guys. In 2003, Trull traveled with a documentary crew the entire length of Route 66 and served as writer for the subsequent 14-part television series, Route 66: The Marathon Tour.
He’s a 1998 grad of Arlington’s Martin High School. He earned a degree in musical theater in 2002 from Sam Houston State.
We suspect Trull suddenly will be very popular with the local acting community (he already has 455 friends on MySpace). The other eight members of DTC’s acting company will be identified through auditions held in May. Anyone interested in auditioning can e-mail or call 214-252-3911.
And kissing up to Trull probably won’t hurt. --Elaine Liner
