“Santa Claus”.
See, this guy has this big-long resume of impressiveness all earned in the real world – educator, editor, writer, marketer, storyteller – but then there’s this one part-time gig near the rear of the list.
“Santa Claus”.
The jolly one. Ole Saint Nick. Kris Kringle. The one and only. And it takes a special person to portray “Father Christmas” because of all of the emotions that surround the holiday season. The child, after all, is as honest as humans come, and they tend to share their happiness and glee just as easily as their tears and their fears.
Peter Fernbaugh, a resident of Weirton and a substitute teacher for Hancock County Schools, readily admits he works a lot so he can act a lot. He discovered the trade as a teenager and expanded his interest while attending West Liberty University, and these days he accepts roles with local theatres, for TV commercials, and he even portrayed “Robert Burns” during the Scottish Rite Cathedral’s “Robert Burns Dinner” in January.
Fernbaugh also leads a troupe that performs the monthly Cloak & Dagger On the Air, a live production that specializes in the art of “radio drama” and offers fully produced stories—both old and new—from all genres, complete with sound effects and music. His wife, Bethany, is also an actress and is involved with the Cloak & Dagger productions, and so are local thespians Bob Gaudio, John Reilly, and several others.
The role of “Santa Claus,” though, is one of those parts Fernbaugh allows to infiltrate his soul because there is no script, no predictability, and no audience other than the tiny tot telling no lies.
And it takes an extraordinary human to listen and to affect effectively.
What is it about acting?
By playing other characters, I’ve learned a great deal about myself.
For example, several years ago, I played Gomez Addams in The Addams Family musical. I was raised to be polite and unobtrusive. Gomez was a window into the part of my soul that loves to be the life of the party, who doesn’t take the world (or himself) too seriously. Playing Gomez unleashed a spirit of freedom I had never felt before.
On the other hand, I then played Dave Bukatinsky in The Full Monty musical, a character who struggles with his weight and self-esteem. All my life, I’ve been ashamed of my body and appearance, and this role required me to bare all…literally.
The first few weeks of rehearsal, I fought being Dave because I was Dave.
I’m an actor, though. “Be the character” is kinda my job.
I had to let go of the shame I felt about me. I had to learn to love and accept Dave, and to do that, I had to learn to love and accept me. I still struggle with both, but being Dave was a huge step forward in the process.
(I also had a bizarre experience during rehearsals when I heard the late Jackie Gleason audibly coach me on how to play the character. “Just do me, kid,” he said. You do know actors are nuts, right?)
For me, acting is a gateway to not just learning more about myself, but to becoming more myself.
Have you created a character for yourself? Tell us about him.
Back when I was a kid, I loved to draw characters from my favorite TV show. One day, my Dad walked by and said, “Those are really good, but why don’t you create your own characters?”
His simple question was a spark. I love creating characters not only for others, but also for myself.
The one I’m focused on right now, as both writer and actor, is Matthew Thomas, the protagonist in a series I call The Wayfaring Stranger.
It reflects my deep interest in core principles of faith: grace, mercy, forgiveness, redemption, and empowerment.
Matthew is someone who has taken a wrecking ball to his life through the “slow fade” of success, addiction, ego, and trauma.
One night, he picks his family up from his sons’ baseball practice. His wife can tell that he’s been drinking, but he won’t hear of not driving, repeatedly telling her “I’m fine!” He gets physical with her, forces her into the car, and takes the wheel.
For the first time in his life, his actions have irreversible consequences. His family is dead. The other driver is dead. His family’s business, which he ran, employed thousands and is shuttered. Suddenly, this pillar of the community is unmasked for all to see.
Justice puts him away; fifteen years later, mercy releases him, much to the justifiable anger of his many victims. Why? Why would a man who deserves to die be given a second chance? Why should we care about him, about his soul? He’s scum. Let him rot.
These are the questions Matthew asks himself and the themes I want to explore as the character and series evolve.
What do you do for a living?
My calling is to be an actor and storyteller. But I also hate debt.
To facilitate these dueling ambitions, I work … a lot.
During the school year, I’m a substitute teacher for Hancock County Schools; I’m currently finishing a semester at Oak Glen High School teaching remedial students in Math and English.
During the summer, I work as a Standardized Patient for the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Medical Education and as a Standardized Client for their School of Social Work.
I’m an independent contractor for the Marketing Department at Trinity Health System, where I assist them with compiling press releases, editing the internal newsletter, posting to their blog and social media, coordinating earned media opportunities, and co-hosting their new podcast, Trinity Talk.
I also help with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s weekly newsletter, In The Know.
From September to November, I’m jolly and old for Foster Fine Art Portraits’ The Santa Claus Experience. I love interacting with families and learning about their stories. They tell the guy I play everything, and more than once, he’s shed a tear or two. It’s one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had.
Eight months out of the year, I write and produce the theatrical series, Cloak & Dagger On the Air, with my theatre troupe, The Wayward Saints.
I’m grateful that my wife, Bethany, “gets” me. Her schedule is just as complicated, and she’s also an actor, which is why we complement each other so well. I’m a blessed man.
What impact do you believe AI will have on the world?
Humanity is unique among species; we’re chronically interested in replacing ourselves.
AI is a tool. Period. Of course, the guys and gals with big bucks see it as a trade-off for costly humans, including (especially?) artists.
I’m a prisoner of hope, though. Most of the AI-made art will come and go, like your average streaming show or movie. No doubt, at first, curiosity and fascination will lead to huge profit margins, viral TikToks, and lots of consumers.
But I also think our thirst as a species for authenticity will drive us to more localized iterations of art and entertainment, where we know actual human beings are behind the stories in which we’re investing our time.
Those with big bucks don’t care about our time; they care about our consumption. Those of us who don’t have big bucks are always concerned with giving audiences a reason for investing their time in our art. Instantly, that’s a more immediate creator-consumer connection than soulless AI-driven creations will ever have. Humans crave connection.
Because of this, I believe we’re about to enter a golden age for independent, local artists. Therefore, we must maintain our artistic integrity.
AI is a tool, not a trade-off. It’s amazing what it can do, but we’re amazing in what we can do. I mean, we discovered AI!
Personally, my philosophy about all breakthroughs and fads reflects what Alexander Pope wrote: “Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.”
What one actor do you wish to meet and what one question would you ask them?
Most of my favorite performers have slipped past this mortal coil, so apologies in advance, but here are two “what-ifs”:
- Michael Landon. When I was 10, I watched a TV movie called Us about a wrongfully imprisoned man, played by Landon. When the injustice is discovered, he processes the news by typing over and over again, “I am free.” Even as a young boy, I was stirred by the scene’s emotional honesty. I knew I wanted to do that: write and perform material that transcended the screen/page/stage. Landon had a way of connecting with diverse audiences. Contrary to what critics and casual viewers may think, he wasn’t writing “nice,” hackneyed shows with fortune-cookie morals. His stories were humane; they tackled the complexities of life in ways that weren’t grotesque or exploitative. I would’ve loved to have had him as my mentor.
- Jimmy Stewart. I’ve always been drawn to anti-heroes, and Jimmy Stewart, my favorite actor bar none, was the best at playing that archetype. Because of his World War II service, in which he lost men and killed men, many film historians believe he suffered from PTSD; this trauma informed his incredible string of postwar performances, starting with It’s a Wonderful Life. He was a taciturn fellow, but still waters run deep, as do those postwar performances. To get him to open up and reflect on the war and how it changed him and his worldview would be enlightening (and inspiring) to me as a fan.
