Whether he's acting at the Market House Theatre, performing in the Charity League Follies or singing and playing bass with his band, FatHand, Chris Schnarr, 29, delivers an amazing performance to go along with his sexy and sultry good looks. Tall, athletic, handsome — Chris is ready for an adventure wherever he can find one!
Chris Schnarr, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! And you're the star of the stage! How did you get involved in Market House Theatre productions?
I accidentally stumbled across an audition advertisement for Annie Get Your Gun in the spring of 2006. I was fairly new to the area at the time and thought it would be a good opportunity to meet people with similar interests. I really didn't know much, if anything, about the Market House. I randomly showed up at the audition, and I got cast as Charlie Davenport.
After that, I tried out for Beauty and the Beast and got in the chorus. Anything Goes was my third show, so I guess you can say I am hooked.
I also participated in the 2008 Paducah Charity League Follies Have a Nice Day show last December. The show had a fun '70s theme.
With all those gorgeous Charity League women! Did you just love that?
I was in the ensemble, which was a 12-person featured chorus. We were all individually mic'd on stage (kind of scary at first), and then supported in song/choreography by all of lovely ladies of the Charity League.
They must have just made a huge fuss over you.
Well, I’m not so sure about that…. Not much to do in a room full of happily married women.
Well, Chris, you are awfully cute. I'm sure you had some gals in a tizzy! So where are you from?
I am originally from Jasper, Ind. I graduated from Purdue with a chemical engineering degree and then went to work for Air Products in Allentown, Penn. After about two years there at the headquarters, I was asked to take an assignment at the plant in Calvert City. It was a good opportunity to move back a little closer to home.
What do you do there?
I'm a production engineer. At our plant, we are called reactor champions, which sounds a little more exciting.
Oh yeah, reactor champion sounds totally hot.I'm responsible for three reactor trains. We make glue…to be more technical (for the chemistry nuts) vinyl acetate/ethylene-based dispersions. I won't bore you with more details than that!
Hum, yeah, stick to that reactor champion bit. That works! So you reactor champion by day, and then act in your free time?
Yeah, it's difficult to balance everything between work, rehearsals, etc., and not go crazy. I am very thankful that the people I work with have been so understanding and have let me "get away" a bit to pursue this hobby of mine.
What do you love about acting?
Well, aside from all of the backstage shenanigans, I enjoy the music the most. I am a singer first I guess — the acting is still a work in progress. Otherwise, the best part of acting is simply performing for the enjoyment of an audience.
It is hard to describe the feeling you get when you're in front of a live audience. The energy transfers back and forth between the performers and the audience. You definitely feel a high or rush when the audience is laughing and having a good time.
The Market House gives people from the community who enjoy performing an outlet for that passion. Not professionals — just everyday people from all over getting together to put on a show because it is something we enjoy doing.
There is lot of power in that enthusiasm, and I think that it shows through in the quality of show the Market House produces. We're very fortunate to have the Market House Theatre.
Absolutely! And you've been acting since high school?
Yes. Our choir put on a musical every year. I could sing, and I didn't mind being a goofball on stage, so I got cast. I've been learning on the fly ever since.
And Chris, you’re a rock star! Tell us about FatHand!It's a local band. We have two members from Paducah, and two from Murray. The group has sort of evolved. But it started as a Sunday afternoon hobby just goofing around with some people I knew from work. Members changed as people left the area, or moved on to other things in life. We've played at Fat Moe's, Jeremiah’s, 45 Down Under, Downtown After Dinner, etc. I play bass guitar and sing, although that has taken a bit of a backseat to other artistic interests in recent weeks.
How long have you been together?
Two years.
And the name?
The creation of the name is actually kind of a gross, almost tragic, story. We had been doing open mic nights at the old Moss Rose, and people were asking us the name of our group. We didn't have a name. So we all decided at our rehearsal the next week, everyone was supposed to bring a list of suggestions for names.
A week goes by and it's rehearsal time. Our drummer shows up with an IV in his arm and a swollen hand. He'd been bitten by a bug, and his arm was infected. It was so bad that the emergency room doctor said that if he had waited another 24 hours before having it looked at, he would have lost his arm, a lá the dummer from Def Leppard.
I loved Def Leppard!
Oh, wow, really?
Totally. I listened to Pyromania in my Walkman cassette player for months.
Well, since we weren't an '80s hair tribute band, he chose several days of IVs and steroids and got it cleared up.
Regardless, he was at practice, with a hand so swollen he could barely hold his sticks. Thus the name FatHand was born. We rolled out with the name...people sort of dug it...so we kept it.
And he kept his arm?
Yes, he kept his arm.
So as a leading actor and rock star, do women throw their undies up on the stage to you? Follow you from gig to gig?Hah, no. Those usually go to our drummer. The bass player never gets any love.
We do have a group of friends who have been very kind as to keep coming to see us play. At our last gig, there were lots of friends from the 20/30 Group who showed up in support. I am pretty sure everyone had a pretty good time. Those folks are all a lot of fun. It has been great getting a chance to meet all of them at the regularly scheduled social events.
What kind of gal are you looking for?
Well, I can't say that I have a "kind" or type per se. A sense of humor is a must, though. I can be a bit of a wiseass, so some thick skin and a little sass to throw back doesn't hurt either.
Sass is sexy! What else?
I have an eclectic set of leisure time hobbies, so I am looking for someone who is easy going and can have fun doing whatever. I am looking for an outgoing person who can push me through my shyer moments, someone who is easy to talk with and is confident in herself and her situation. A cute face with a pretty smile is nice too….
That is too cute! I know lots of great gals like that! Describe your perfect date.Well, in order for it to be an official date, it has to involve a good meal. I love to eat. So that could be an early morning hike followed up by a picnic lunch by the lake to soak up some sun or a nice dinner Downtown followed by a Broadway show at the Carson Center and a stroll along the riverfront.
Excellent! Speaking of hikes, aren't you headed to Alaska?
Yes, I'm getting ready for an extended backpacking trip in the Kenai Fiords and Katmi regions of Alaska. So I have been spending a lot of time pounding out the miles in Land Between the Lakes. I hope I don't get eaten by a bear.
Oh yeah, no, that would be bad. You are just too cute to lose to some bear! What do you most look forward to every day?
Besides the end of the workday? I guess it is just waking up to hopefully another happy healthy day. Unfortunately, we don't get an unlimited supply of those, so I thankfully try to the enjoy the ones I have been given.
