08/19/2024
Dantz DeBusk: Life in the “True West”
L.A. | The Atom
Dantz DeBusk was born in Lubbock. He moved to Plains, Texas as a child and went to high school in Pampa, Texas. When his older brothers Dylan and Dray became involved in theatre, he, too, decided to try it out. His first audition was for “Meet Me in St. Louis” and he’s been at it ever since. His first role was John Shepherd.
After graduation, DeBusk moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He studied acting, dance and vocals and joined a theatre company called Loft Ensemble.
“I was able to do shows constantly,” said DeBusk.
In 2018, he was cast as Brooks Brown in “The Columbine Project.”
“I felt really connected to the character. He reminded me of myself in middle school and high school feeling misunderstood.”
He played the same character again in another production of the show in 2019.
“I got to meet Brooks Brown,” DeBusk said. “I don’t look anything like him. I’ve never gotten to meet somebody I was portraying before.”
Other roles included Benvolio in “Romeo and Juliet” and a character named Anders in an original script by Chris Haas called “To All the Lights in the Windows.”
“We did a lot of original shows there. We had extremely talented writers. Chris Haas gave me a lot of opportunities,” said DeBusk. “His shows are funny and moving. They are very real but also stylized.”
DeBusk was cast as Curly in a one act play by April Morrows called ““Now or Neverland.”
Although he tried to wait it out, it was the pandemic that brought him back to Texas in 2020.
He connected with Horizon School of the Arts, where he landed his first role in Lubbock in a musical called “Descendants.” He went on to be cast in “Shakespeare in Hollywood,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “A Doll’s House,” and “Laredo” with the Wallace, and served as assistant director and set painter for “Rent.”
DeBusk is currently working with his brothers on an independent production called “True West,” in which he and his brother, Dray, will also play characters onstage who are brothers.
“This show deals with family dynamics and family identity,” said DeBusk. “It is also about the idealization of the American Dream. A romanticized west with cowboys like the ones in Clint Eastwood movies and the modern west hustle culture inspire questions about the definition of success. Then once you gain that, is it really what you want?”
“True West” opens this week in the Crickets Theater at Buddy Holly Hall. Performance dates are August 23-24. For tickets and information, go to buddyhollyhall.com.
“If you’re looking for something you can relate to that’s got drama and comedy, we want to share this story with you,” said DeBusk.
