Dr. Kenneth Bacon gets his favorite medicine on stage. He pursues his passion for acting whenever his busy schedule allows. The Northern California veterinarian has appeared in a numerous plays in Marin County, Calif. and just landed a regular gig on television's Animal Planet.
The Marin County veterinarian, husband and father of three somehow found time to play two roles this summer as producer and the main character in "Humble Boy," the award-winning English import by Charlotte Jones. The seriocomedy, presented by Marin Actors' Workshop, runs Aug. 6 to Aug. 22 at the Novato Theater Company Playhouse, located at Pacheco Plaza in Novato. There will be a "Pay What You Will" preview performance at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5.
After a long day of tending to the health and welfare of cats and a variety of exotic animals, the 6' 4" veterinarian and owner of Central Marin Cat & Exotic Hospital in San Rafael, Calif. heads straight to rehearsal for "Humble Boy." He's playing the lead role of Felix, a troubled Cambridge astrophysicist who returns to the English countryside home where his complicated past and domineering mother unveil circumstances that are less than ideal.
Ken Bacon fostered two passions while growing up in Hendersonville, North Carolina - animals and theater. While attending North Carolina State University Bacon participated in the drama department and performed in several productions. After graduating, he elected go on to study veterinary medicine.
After graduating with honors from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987, Bacon and his wife Ann Marie relocated to Marin County, Calif. and settled in Novato. In 1995, Bacon established his own veterinary clinic in San Rafael, specializing in wellness and treatment in feline care, exotic animal medicine and dentistry.
By 2002, Bacon realized he needed acting back in his life and decided at the last minute to an audition for a Marin production of "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs." He cold read for the role of Rubin Flood and landed the role. In the last eight years, Bacon has played a spectrum of roles in comedies, dramas and classics while becoming a respected and beloved member of Marin County's theater community.
Earlier this year Bacon appeared on television as a veterinarian commentator on the Animal Plant series "Weird, True and Freaky." Bacon was featured on the "Swallowed" episode about the weird things animals swallow.
"Last year, I received a telephone call. It was completely out of the blue. Michael Hoff Productions in Emeryville, Calif. called and said they were working on the production of an Animal Planet television series called 'Weird, True, and Freaky,' " said Bacon. "They were looking for veterinarians with expertise with unusual animals. Since our clinic treats a high number of non-traditional pets, they called us first."
"They were working on an episode in which many different animals had swallowed things they shouldn't have. The episode featured a snake that swallowed golf balls, a boxer that swallowed a mop handle, an iguana that swallowed some coins and a lab that had swallowed a butcher knife. After completing an interview lasting more than two hours in front of a green screen, the folks at Hoff Productions bid me adieu and informed me of the series schedule," said Bacon.
"I was pleased to see that one of my clips (all ten seconds of it) made it into the broadcast," said Bacon. "They recently they called me back to appear in two more episodes for the coming season," said Bacon.
In the meantime, Bacon is spending the rest of summer swallowing his on stage medicine and liking it.
The show is at the Novato Theater Company Playhouse, at the Pacheco Plaza Shopping Center, on 484 Ignacio Blvd., Novato, California. Tickets cost $20-$22. For tickets or more information about "Humble Boy," call 415-883-4498 or visit
www.novatotheatercompany.org
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