Aaron Stall

Tell us about your journey into acting and improv, and how theater shaped the way you perform today.

I started out being a socially paralyzed youngster, living in my head, going home after school days replaying the good and bad interactions over and over trying to get them right. With the help of directorial encouragement and someone else’s lines, theater helped me speak, sing, and exist in front of others.

What inspired you to co-found Shakespeare on Horseback Theater Company, and what makes that experience unique compared to traditional theater?

My inspiration was one of mutual partnerships, the adventure of working on a horse ranch, and the nerdy appreciation for Shakespeare. I got involved in an actors’ meetup, freely teaching each other the craft so we could avoid having to pay for classes. We needed a space and found a theater person who co-owned a horse ranch who gave us that space in exchange for our help around the ranch, eventually partnering up into creating Equine Dell Arte, a commedia dell’arte Shakespeare company with humans, horses, and a few other sometimes adorably upstagey ranch animals.  It was great fun.

You once made headlines as Los Angeles’s most stylish Uber and Lyft driver. How did that unexpected moment impact your career or personal brand?

It got me onto Good Morning America and General Hospital. It also gave me more opportunities, auditions, and selling points. Certainly inner pride.

You’ve worked on projects ranging from Nickelodeon’s Victorious to national commercials like Wonderful Pistachios. How do you adapt your performance style across such different formats?

Knowing who the target audience is, the voice of the character, and what the director wants helps inform my decisions as actor in my role.

What was it like working alongside experienced actors like Paul Guilfoyle, and what did you take away from those collaborations?

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with some highly experienced actors like Paul Guilfoyle. Something I took away from my time with him and with others more experienced was repetition and recognizing you and what you bring are enough.

Improv seems to be a big part of your skill set. How has improv influenced your approach to scripted roles?

I find improv has greatly influenced my social charm, etiquette, and helps to keep my performance abilities lubricated, expanded, and warm.

You’ve been a host at the Magic Castle entertaining both magic fans and celebrities. What makes that environment special for you as a performer?

The Magic Castle is the greatest place in the world for magic performers, magic lovers, and its guests. It’s the one place every magician and aspiring magician I’ve spoken to on the subject has indicated they would love to perform in at least once. For me I wanted to work in a place that was highly regarded as a place others wanted to be. I had already amassed several tux shirts, jackets, and bow ties from prior jobs. And the strict formal dress code added to the allure of the place.

Some things unexpected are how well the members treated me, the guests appreciated my efforts, and the friendships made that have outlasted my time there. Throw on top getting to perform a little stand up routine 3 to 10 times a night plus finding the fun in helping others maximize their joy between the 11 venues for magic made it all worthwhile. And yes,  celebrities frequenting the club, either as members or guests was a neat perk.

Not every job is the kind you’d want to take your friends and family to either. I loved the people, the community, the traditions, and the history all housed in the mansion. It has always been a deep a joy of mine to make others happy

The Magic Castle gave me the privilege of allowing my guests entry. They felt special and were grateful. I am grateful for my time there.

Beyond acting, you’re passionate about environmental protection and helping animals. Where does that motivation come from?

I grew up struggling to feel mentally and physically confident. I found myself easily saddened by my perceived mistreatment and feelings of being misunderstood. I sought comfort in the animals I grew up with. I would ruminate over the mistreatment and indifference towards animals. I wanted to better understand myself, I read books about animals like Franz De Waal’s Our Inner Ape. Watched documentaries like Planet Earth, and wished I could read the minds of my pets and the outdoor animals I’d encounter, some scared of me, some asking for food. I’d imagine how hard and dangerous it must be for them. It saddened me, still does.

I now choose Flexitarianism, eating animal flesh only on rare occasions because I’m sure they don’t want to be eaten, I sure wouldn’t like it, and pretending like we’re supposed to eat them, dominate them, or that they don’t have thoughts and feelings like us is a choice I refuse to make.

When you’re not working, you enjoy singing, working out, and practicing magic. Do these hobbies influence your creative expression as an artist?

I find the hobbies you listed, which I do thoroughly enjoy, have practical uses in my life. I have and may use them artistically.

Performing magic is a great way to fill time. Working out has been great for being able to stay and look strong for my performances as Spiderman and other kids birthday party superheroes. If nothing makes sense, keeping in shape has a positive impact on my mental and physical health and wellbeing.

I wish everyone would take voice lessons. Singing in a “good voice” is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I grew up singing and love it still, even if I’m not doing it professionally as much anymore.

Looking ahead, what kind of roles or projects would you love to explore that you haven’t had the chance to do yet?

I’d love to book a sitcom or comedic tv show.  Something like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or The Good Place, a show that’s either wholesome, absurd, or funny, even better if all 3. I grew up watching the scifi channel and have had the chance to play Pavel Checkov in a Star Trek play. Getting to do something akin to that again on a bigger or smaller medium is another dream.