Home improvement show host to speak

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Oct. 11, 2012) Eric Stromer, who built a career by combining his acting and construction skills, will talk to California Lutheran University students and community members from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the Preus-Brandt Forum.

Stromer, who has made the People magazine list of “Sexiest Men Alive,” will speak at the first event in the 2012-2013 “Conversations With …” series. Actor and director Markus Flanagan, who teaches at CLU, will moderate an informal one-hour discussion on the craft of acting followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Stromer’s new show, “Hideous Houses,” debuted July 28 on the A&E Network. In each episode, the actor and general contractor works with his carpenter brother and a designer to renovate eyesores with $20,000 in four days. He is also heard every week on the nationally syndicated radio show “Home Wizards” with Cindy Dole.

His previous television credits include HGTV’s “Over Your Head,” TLC’s “Clean Sweep” and NBC’s “Three Wishes.” He helped create “Home Improvement with Eric Stromer,” a series of web videos and interactive features for AOL’s Living Channel that has been going for five years. He is a spokesman for Olympic Paint and has been a correspondent for syndicated entertainment news magazine “The Insider.” The father of three also wrote a guide for busy parents called “Do-It-Yourself Family.”

Stromer is also a singer and songwriter. He released a country album called “Fix It Man” in 2009. He has written and performed music for film and television including “The Drew Carey Showtime Special” on A&E and the 1995 movie “The Wild Side.”

The Illinois native worked in construction while studying drama at the University of Colorado. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles and began remodeling houses. He started his own business and remodeled homes for celebrities including Dylan McDermott, Elijah Wood and Jasmine Guy.

The “Conversations With …” talks provide theater arts students and other aspiring actors with advice from professionals. They take the approach laid out in Flanagan’s book, “One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor’s Survival Guide,” which explains how to make it in the business of acting while staying sane and focused.

Farm Fresh Clothing Co. is sponsoring the free series. Donations will be accepted. Proceeds will benefit the CLU Theatre Arts Department.

Preus-Brandt Forum is located south of Olsen Road near Mountclef Boulevard on the Thousand Oaks campus. For more information, call 805-493-3415 or email info@westlakeactingstudio.com.