Community Corner
Actor Duffy Hudson Brings One-Man Show to South Pasadena
Duffy Hudson will perform as George Burns and Edgar Allan Poe at the Carnegie Stage at the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room Jan. 16 and 19.
Finding the right characters to impersonate for Duffy Hudson seem to fall into his lap. He’s been perfecting his George Burns impression since he got what felt like an invitation from the Hollywood legend himself.
He was researching different personalities including Charlie Chaplin, Ronald Reagan and Groucho Marx, but for some reason George Burns kept popping up on his radar. Whether it was online or flipping through channels on T.V.
“Performing as George always feels so effortless for me,” said Hudson. “I go out there and sing some songs, tell some stories. It’s such a blast.”
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He’s spent 14 years working in New York on and off Broadway, directed films and worked alongside big names, but what he enjoys most these days are one-man shows.
Hudson will be performing as Burns Jan. 16 at the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room at 7 p.m., following a brief, annual Friends of The Library annual meeting.
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“There’s a lot less stress when you’re working alone,” said Hudson. “I just show up, get in costume and do my thing. I do find live theatre to be more fun. It’s like Sinatra once said, ‘There ain’t nothin’ like live baby.’”
Playing Burns is just one of many of Hudson’s hats. His one-man performances extend to Albert Einstein, Dr. Seuss and a full rendition of a Christmas Carol. He’ll also be performing at the Community Room Jan. 19 as Edgar Allan Poe in celebration of Poe’s 205th birthday. Magician Micah Cover will perform a straight jacket escape while reciting The Raven and performer Eric Sharp will emcee the event.
Performing for Hudson was always more than just an activity for him. It’s an art form. It gave him an appreciation for humanities and kept him leveled out when he was in high school. He sums it up in three words: Touch, move and inspire.
“If I can touch someone then I’ve shaken something within them,” said Hudson. “Or I’ve moved them to change a way of thinking or inspire them to be more than what they are. Transformation is what theatre is all about.”
