A & E

Since 2002, Jeffrey Carpenter has been creating quirky, interesting contemporary theater pieces as the artistic director of Bricolage Production Company.

Bricolage, which the company defines as "making artful use of what's at hand," creates live stage events that strive to involve its audiences in an intimate theater space located in a Cultural District storefront building on Liberty Avenue.

Once a month from March through August, Bricolage showcases a play with a staged reading that uses musicians and directors combined with minimal lighting, sound and set elements. Each production has two performances with free admission. At the end of the reading series, audience vote determines which of the six plays will receive a completely staged production.

Recently, Bricolage introduced a series of late-night performances called "Midnight Radio," which feature classic radio dramas and comedy sketches performed with music, live foley sound effects and an audience.

"The best thing about being artistic director is that you get to do what you want," Carpenter says. "The worst thing is you have to do it all."

Also an actor, Carpenter makes frequent appearances with other area theater companies. His next role will be as Tilden in Sam Shepard's "Buried Child," a production of The Rep, Point Park University's professional theatre company, that plays Feb. 5 through 21 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland.

The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:

Mickey Rourke -- which is not very realistic, but this is my movie

Childhood hero and why:

Nolan Ryan, because I thought I'd be a major league pitcher

Pick one:

A. Jack Bauer of "24"

B. Angus MacGyver of "MacGyver"

C. James West of "Wild, Wild West"

D. Sydney Bristow of "Alias"

C: James West: Always got the gadgets, the gold, the bad guy and the girl ... and that tricked-out train!!!

In five years, I'd like to:

Take a year and travel around the world

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh:

History, sports (excluding the Pirates, of course), people, topography -- but right now, I'd have to say my wife!

If the TV is on at 2 a.m., I'm watching:

Science, Discovery or National Geographic channel

Star I'd like to dance with on "Dancing With the Stars":

Toni Collette, 'cause she's awesome and hilarious

Three people I'd love to have dinner with:

Barak Obama, Bill Moyers and Holger Bech Nielsen, creator of superstring theory

My quirkiest inherited trait:

My air laugh

My favorite sandwich, plus fixings:

Tessaro's Cheeseburger -- medium rare with sauteed mushrooms, onions, peppers, mayo ... yeah!

One word your mother would use to describe you:

Talented

Celebrity crush:

Naomi Watts

The oldest thing in my refrigerator:

Kohlrabi from our garden -- yuk!

My required snack in a movie theater:

Popcorn, large Coke

When I was 10, I wanted to be:

A major league pitcher

Musical instrument I wish I could play:

Piano

My favorite comfort food:

Thai spicy basil noodles with chicken and broccoli

Exercise I hate most:

Lifting weights

Vegetable I won't eat:

Whole eggplant

I'm deathly afraid of:

Clowns

If I were auditioning for "American Idol," my song would be:

"Whole Lotta Love"

The first band I saw in concert (when and where):

Bon Jovi at Hershey Park

TV marathon you could watch all day and why:

"The Biggest Loser" -- the radical change is phenomenal from beginning to end!

Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:

Carrie Furnace in the old Duquesne Steel Works.

Saturday mornings, you'll find me:

In bed, in the garden, or in Raccoon Creek State Park on a long walk with my dog

Best new gadget I've tried recently:

Wii Sports Resort

The person I'm most often mistaken for:

I get Bill Hurt, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jeff Bridges and my friend Daphne's cousin

Pick one:

A. Perry Mason

B. Denny Crane

C. Arnie Becker

D. Ally McBeal

A. "Perry Mason": Raymond Burr, William Hopper, Barbara Hale!

The worst advice I ever received:

Give it five years and get out!

In high school, I was:

All-state choir second-chair baritone

The most famous person I ever became friends with:

Phil Hoffman, with whom I attended New York University

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