Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kevin Finney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kevin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Drunken Owl Theatre was hatched in 2017 when a tavern owner said, “I’ve wanted to bring theatre to this stage.” What started as the reading of two one-act plays has evolved over time to a variety show that has a loyal following.
I’ve always felt that our show was portable, and I’ve looked for opportunities to take it on the road.

That opportunity is coming up in May. After we perform our 8th full production at the Jules Maes Saloon over Memorial Day weekend, we’ll pack up our company members, sets and costumes and head up I-5 to Concrete, WA to perform in the historic Concrete Theatre on 5/31. Community members there are eager to join in the fun. Between renting a U-Haul and paying the company and booking hotel rooms, I fear that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, but fundraising efforts have been paying off. May 31, 2025 could become Drunken Owl’s finest day.

Kevin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I majored in Theatre in college and came to Seattle to attend the prestigious Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington. After two quarters, the director cut me, saying, “Kid, you got no talent. Find a different way to make a living.” It took a few years of striving and starving before I gave in to his advice. I had careers in hospitality, shipping and education, married and raised a family.

When our children were teenagers, I returned to the theatre, landing roles at ArtsWest and Burien Actors Theatre (BAT). I handed a promo card from a BAT production to a tavern owner while we listened to a live band play on his small stage, and he invited me to produce a show.

My initial thought was, “If no one else wants to hire me, I’ll make theatre on my own.” I’ve produced, directed, emceed and acted. As we evolved to include music and poetry, I was amazed at the number of playwrights, poets and actors who came to our shows, asking to be included. I heard expressions of gratitude: “Thanks for building this community.” “These are my people.”

Drunken Owl Theatre has consistently brought original work by local playwrights, poets and musicians to life on a monthly basis at the Jules Maes Saloon. At a time of national division, we come together to celebrate the performing arts. As we grow I’ve recruited other directors and emcees. As we’re poised to take our show on the road, I am proudest of the fact that I’ve found a format for a variety show that can morph, adapt and travel.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Drunken Owl Theatre’s first home was the Parliament Tavern in West Seattle. There were owls throughout the tavern, and I chose a name that was related but could stand alone. our first show was on my birthday in January 2018, and for over a year and a half, we experimented with length and type of material we read.

In October of 2019, before COVID was a household word, the tavern owner pulled the plug. Our audience wasn’t drinking enough. My wife and I invited all DOT participants and audience to a party in November of 2019. We read some plays and poems and had a jam session and it was the BEST party I ever threw or attended. As he left our home, Jorj Savage, an octogenarian playwright, told us, “Just keep bringing the people together. You’ll be back.”

For the next party in January 2020, a friend drew a picture of an owl/phoenix, rising from the flames. We read more plays, played more music, and generally agreed that this must continue.

Then the pandemic hit, and the arts were especially affected.

We all had a lot of time to think during that period, and I began to plan the return of Drunken Owl. I assembled a board of advisors from among our friends and supporters. As the nation crawled out from under the pandemic, we sought a bar/tavern that had a room dedicated to performance and a broad dinner menu. We found that in the Jules Maes Saloon in Georgetown. In January, 2022 on my 60th birthday, Drunken Owl Theatre returned to the stage and has been going strong ever since.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Tennessee Williams wrote in a forward to a collection of his plays about watching children play. One little girl put on a funny hat and called to her friends, “Look at me! Lookout me!” Williams saw this as the essence of every artist’s ambition, and I agree. There’s special sense of fulfillment if my artistic choices affect my audience. If my joke gets a laugh or my acting choice draws a gasp or that high note earns applause, I go home happy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drunkenowltheatre/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552920254579

Image Credits

Pamela Hobart Carter
Kevin Finney