Holy 1960s Batman, Batman! debuts tomorrow (Saturdays at 8pm). Every show features a guest villain, and the very first guest is Shannon McCormick, the head honcho of Gnap! Theater Projects.
So let’s talk to Shannon!
Roy: Shannon, no offense, but you’re a no-brainer when it comes to picking someone to play a villain. Off the top of your head, what villains have you played in the past?
Shannon: Thanks, man. I’ll take that as a complement! No offense taken.
Yeah, it’s weird, most of my ‘career’ outside of improv has involved playing villains. I was Mysterion for many years in the Salvage Vanguard production of The Intergalactic Nemesis. I’m not involved with the show any longer, but the graphic novel that was based on the show includes a bald Mysterion that the artist Tim Doyle based on me.
Back when Austin had the late, lamentedly gone ADV Studios, I did the voice over dubbing for Kuroudo Akabane in the anime series The Get Backers. I liked to describe Akabane as equal parts The Crow, Jack Skellington, and Audrey Hepburn. At least that’s how I played him, and people seemed to like it.
Currently, I’m doing voice over work for DC Universe Online, which has been a total blast. I’m the voice of The Riddler, which is quite an honor considering that The Joker is played by Mark Hamill. I also do the voice for Arkillo, one of the Sinestro Corps, the evil counter parts to the Green Lanterns.
And I’ve played tons of villains over the years in various improv shows, and often get to do the voices of the baddies when I play with Foleyvision at the Alamo Drafthouse, which saldy doesn’t happen all that often anymore.
I don’t know what it is–maybe I’m kind of an evil person at heart? But something about playing villains really speaks to me, and people seem to recognize that. You can just indulge in all kinds of impulses you couldn’t get away with otherwise. Plus, I do a pretty killer imitation of the Emperor from Star Wars.
Roy: Be sure and whip out that impression the next time you’re standing behind Mark Hammill. Which I’m sure happens constantly. That’s awesome that you play The Riddler. Going back and watching the show, I’ve acquired a newfound respect for him. I just like the fact that whatever The Riddler is trying to accomplish is unimportant… it’s all about the thrill of the game. Do you have a personal favorite villain from the TV show or otherwise?
Shannon: The thing about the old Batman show is it was completely ridonkulously packed with amazing character actors as the villains. A proverbial murder’s row of old school Hollywood talent. Cesar Romero, and Frank Gorsham, and Ertha Kitt. Just amazing. But I’d say for various reasons, my fave was Burgess Meredith as The Penguin. Such a ridiculous villain and such a great performance. I like to think of him as Republican’s fever dream of FDR.
As far as all time villains, it’s hard to beat Darth Vader. Or Master Asia from Swordsman II, but not many people have seen that. Suffice to say, she/he is the most amazing androgynous kung fu villain ever.
Roy: So speaking of obscure villains, last night in rehearsal you wound up playing a villain called The Bell Ringer, whose best attribute was his surprisingly resilient beard. The audience will be coming up with your villain’s name on Saturday, but do you have any thoughts on what you would pick for your villain’s name if given the chance?
Shannon: Oh man, I’m open to anything, really. I guess my predilections are drawn more toward villains whose signature is their wicked smarts as opposed to some brute power or animal similarity or things like that. So maybe something like Egghead, although I think that’s a D-list Marvel villain already.
Roy: Not only does Egghead, “The World’s Smartest Criminal”, exist, but he was created for the Batman TV series, and he was played by none other than Vincent Price. The words “egg-cellent” and “egg-sactly” are heard a lot in those episodes.
Thanks, Shannon! See you tomorrow!
Buy your tickets to Holy 1960s Batman, Batman! right now. It runs every Saturday at 8pm in May and June.
P.S.: I found that composite image at the top of this post while searching for pictures of Shannon online, which proves my point that he’s the perfect choice for a villain.