Behind the Scenes: Bob Tobin

Today we welcome Bob Tobin – Episcopal priest, retired educator, OHA’s new Board Chair, and all-around swell guy – to give us insight into his elementary school years, his love for the theater and why his elevator is so very crowded…

1. Where did you grow up?

Austin, Texas.

2. How would your elementary school classmates remember you?

Probably as a semi-nerd. I did better after I got to junior high and high school.

3. Name four fictional characters with whom you’d be okay being stuck in an elevator. Why them?

Zorba the Greek (Zorba the Greek) – He would raise my spirits. He’s a character who fills the room. Very positive and adventuresome.

Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye) – He was sort of a rebel.

Randle McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)– Probably the same reason as Holden. He wanted to defy authority in a strange but positive way.

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan (The Help) – She had courage to face any situation.

Minny Jackson (The Help) – She was another one who defied authority.

Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) – He was steady, smart, committed and compassionate.

4. If you were a cartoon character, what cartoon character would you be?

The Phantom, he’s mysterious.

5. When did you fall in love with theater?

Probably when I was helping backstage at some summer programs in high school out at Barton Springs, in Austin.

Come say hi to Bob at this weekend’s CAB meeting, followed by OHA’s Annual Volunteer Clean Up and Maintenance Day from 1pm to 4pm. For more information, email info@operahousearts.org, call 367-2788, or just stop by the theater in your cleaning or gardening clothes on Saturday May 16.