Edible Voices

Rusty DeWees

The Logger Lives On
By / Photography By | August 10, 2019
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Rusty DeWees is a local actor and creator of The Logger from Stowe, Vermont.

A pair of broke-down work boots waits at the door of Rusty DeWees’s house atop Worcester Mountain, high above Stowe. These aren’t stage props. Later that evening, DeWees will amble onto the stage of a tiny town hall somewhere in Vermont, wearing those busted-up kickers, tank top and ripped jeans, and a flat brim trucker cap. If the audience is lucky, he’ll have his acoustic guitar with him.

For the past 22 years, DeWees has played The Logger, a blue collar, rough around the edges, playfully contrary woodchuck. I spent some time with DeWees in late winter, and it became clear: Rusty may play the part, but in real life, he’s not “The” Logger. Here’s the eclectic story of his route from Stowe to Manhattan and back home to Stowe.

So you’re a Stowe boy.

My family moved here from Philadelphia when I was in third grade. Stowe’s a great place to live. Everyone knows each other and you feel loved by all.

How did you get where you are today?

Well, it’s funny. I actually became an actor without knowing a damn thing. I honestly wanted to be a trucker or a Greyhound bus driver. After high school, I drove dump trucks, coached JV basketball and taught Sunday school. When I was 22, I earned a basketball scholarship to Champlain College. I decided I liked Burlington enough to stick around. I had always loved theater and performed in school plays since I played Peter Pan at age seven. During the days, I was a gas jockey on Shelburne Road and started doing some chorus work with the Lyric Theater group in Burlington.

In my mid-20s, I landed a real job as a UPS driver and had to make a choice between sticking with that job, which paid well, or pursue the theater. I opted for the Vermont Repertory Theater under the director Robert Ringer. Every rehearsal was an acting class. David Budbill’s Judevine came along, which is kind of like Our Town for Vermont. I got to play a bunch of different characters and ended up performing in the play four times over six years.

Describe your path to the stage.

I was never a goal-guy. I’m naturally curious and just took opportunities that seemed interesting. I moved to New York when I was 29 and got a job making scenery for Saturday Night Live and fashion shows. A friend from Stowe put me in contact with William Doyle Galleries, a top-level auction house. I became Bill’s right-hand man. We drove all around looking for antiques and artworks. I went from pumping gas on Shelburne Road to having lunch with Gloria Vanderbilt at ‘21’ Club.

Bill gave me the summers off so, I would come back to Vermont to do landscaping and summer-stock theater. Then, lightning struck in a bottle. I was stacking wood with a friend who introduced me to an actor who ultimately connected me with his New York agent. Three months later, I was flying first class to L.A. with my Screen Actors Guild card. My first job was playing a Maine lobsterman in a Kellogg’s commercial. I still knew nothing about the business other than to make the cold calls and follow up on leads. That led to dozens of national commercials, plenty of network shows, and major movies including Black Dog, The Devil’s Own and Pieces of April. I was also in Jay Craven’s productions of Where the Rivers Flow North, Stranger in the Kingdom and Disappearances.

What prompted you to come home?

I was missing Vermont. I drove home most weekends from New York, and during those road trips, I developed The Logger. I would create and run through lines till they stuck in my head.

I made the first Logger videotape—and it was actual videotape—in 1998. Vermont Public Television aired it during their December pledge drive. It played one snowy night when pretty much all of Vermont was stuck inside with just three channels. I ended up selling 12,000 of those tapes by Christmas! I approached The Logger as a business and started producing myself all around the state.

How did you conceive of the Tiny Town Hall Tours?

The Tiny Town Hall Tour is a chance to utilize the small halls and granges that locals have worked to preserve. Th at intimate-size space allows my show to become more conversational with the audience, which pushes me to grow as a performer and writer.

Who’s your core audience?

Working class folks. I’ve always been attracted to this population because I come from it. I sometimes advertise: “Show up on a lawn or farm tractor, get in free, two per tractor.” Th is spring, I had five folks show up in North Hero on farm tractors, and four lawn tractors drove up in Milton. A grandfather and two of his grandkids each had their own tractor! And that eight-year-old fella could really wheel it.

You pour tremendous energy into your stage performances. How do you prepare for a show?

I don’t write out my material word for word, but I’m constantly rehearsing in my head. I’m pretty disciplined and need to be razor sharp. Most of my ideas come to me while I’m driving: car, tractor or lawn mower.

Most challenging part?

It’s not hard to perform, but I work hard at performing. Staying healthy is vital. I have control over that, to a degree. At 58, I eat and rest in a way that works with my body. I manage my schedule to maximize my health.

Advice to aspiring performers?

Whatever you choose—acting, singing, writing—do it as much as you can. Go all in. And once you’ve established yourself, rely on yourself to fi nd jobs and get paid. Get jobs because you want them; you’ll find ways to make it happen.

Rusty DeWees is a local actor and creator of The Logger from Stowe, Vermont.

Now let’s talk about exercise and diet. What are Rusty DeWees rules?

I seriously injured my back about 15 years ago. I opted for intense physical therapy and no drugs. I basically walked and hiked myself back to health. As my back healed, I started running in the hills up near my house. It took about a decade to fully recover. But I’m still totally focused on exercise and proper eating. If I’m properly fueled, I can make it through 16-hour days, and I ain’t been exhausted in a long time.

I’ve learned what my body needs. I do weights, balance and cardio at the gym. I run up the Gondolier at fairly high intensity. I do two hard workouts a week and dropped about 30 pounds in three years. I’d rather stay light and agile like a deer, right?

Unlike The Logger, you’re a proponent of raw food, clean eating and healthy living.

I’ve been given this one machine and intend to take care of it. I eat mostly raw food because I like it. That being said, I will happily and appreciatively eat whatever a host prepares when I am invited for dinner. In fact, I’ll probably eat twice my usual amount, and love every golbite.

Any treats?

I don’t snack between meals. Though I’m not opposed to a bit of dark chocolate from Laughing Moon or Lake Champlain Chocolates.

How about drinks?

I’ve never been a drinker. A good cigar? Yes.

Favorite kitchen tool?

My knife, chopping board and a big salad bowl.

Describe a typical day in Rusty Dewees’ life.

I’m up by 7. Feed the cat, drink some water, stretch. Do some house projects. Head to the gym in Stowe. Breakfast with my guys at Green Goddess Café. I’ll have a chopped salad, no dressing. Then to Artisan Coffee for a maple latte. After that, life errands. I grocery shop daily. Come back home early afternoon and do office work from 12:30 to 6. Or if that’s squared away, I’ll do outside chores and field work. I keep my guitar parked next to my desk so I can always pick that up for some distraction.

Dinner around 6, usually salmon and some green veggies, Cabot cheese and Castleton Crackers. I eat smallish portions. Then I have my creative time. I go out for a walk or a run, and I’ll run lines in my head. I’ll have a snack around 8, a bowl of yogurt, granola and fruit. In bed by 10:30 at the latest.

Any interest that might surprise your audience?

I love classical music. I’m a big fan of baroque and orchestral music. I also love jazz, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. And of course, Merle Haggard and old flat-picking guitar and fi ddle tunes.

How about a motto?

Honesty at all times. Never underestimate the power of a sincere thank you note. And respect your elders—they’ll give you a free education.

FIVE RAPID FIRE

Breakfast today?

Chopped salad, no dressing

Favorite childhood meal?

Spaghetti and Mom’s meat sauce, with green peppers and onions.

Cake, pie or cookies?

If I ate them? Chocolate chip cookies.

Guilty pleasure?

An occasional excellent cigar.

Late-night snack?

My evening dessert of granola or cereal and whole milk with a little maple, maybe some fruit.

The Logger
The Tiny Town Hall Tour
Laughing Moon Chocolates | @laughingmoonvt
Lake Champlain Chocolates | @lcchocolates
Green Goddess Café | @greengoddesscafestowe
Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Company
Cabot Creamery | @cabotcheese
Castleton Crackers | @whitneyscastletoncrackers

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