Arts
www.SanTanSun.com
WWE alum to appear at improvMANIA BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
After 37 years in professional wrestling, longtime Gilbert resident Roy Wayne Farris has a story or two to tell. Otherwise known as the Honky Tonk Man, the 62-year-old Farris will share those tales with fans at improvMANIA, 250 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, on Saturday, March 7. For information about tickets, call (480) 699-4598. He’ll briefly meet with WWE followers, but next time, he’s hoping he’ll hit the stage. “This particular time, it’s just going to be an autograph and meet and greet with fans and people who come over for the evening,” Farris says. He’s no stranger to comedy. He frequently does stand-up comedy, something he’s using to transition away from the ring. “I work particularly off of the Q&Atype stuff, then I mix humor in with it,” Farris says. “Every story I have has some kind of humorous twist to it because the way professional wrestling and entertainment is intertwined. Some stories are believable, some not. “After 37 years in that business, you have a vast amount of stories,” Farris continues. That’s why I like for the audience to get involved. They’re the ones who can come up with the things they want to ask me. It then turns into a story. I didn’t take notes or audiotape anything. It’s all off the cuff.”
Longtime Gilbert resident Farris—who has two children, Megan and Roy, with his wife, Tammy—has lived in Gilbert for 21 years. “I will never leave Arizona,” he says. “When I leave, I told my kids to take the urn out near Apache Junction and, when the Santa Ana winds blow, to toss me up and say, ‘Dad’s gone again.’” Farris spent most of his wrestling career on the road, traveling from city to city for different television and house shows. So much so, that his kids lost track of his travels. To his kids and their friends, he was just dad or Mr. Farris—no Honky Tonk Man alter ego here. “To the kids in the neighborhood, I was just Megan and Roy’s dad,” he says with a laugh. “They were just small children when I was on TV. By the time most of them had reached the age of watching television or wrestling, I was off of television.” Farris’ last TV appearance was three years ago, although the WWE still shows clips of him occasionally. He also appears in the video game “WWE 2K15.” Neither of his children is involved in wrestling. Megan is an ASU student majoring in microbiology with the hopes of being a veterinarian, he says. Roy played golf on scholarship for Mesa Community College and now works at a golf course. “I never pushed my children into anything,” he says. “If they played soccer,
March 7 - March 20, 2015
they had to finish the season— same with tee-ball. If they didn’t like it after the season was over, they didn’t sign up again. “I’m not a Disneyland dad. I don’t want to relive my youth through my children.” No regrets He has few regrets about his nearly four-decade career. If he had any, it was that he didn’t document his career as well as he should have. “I’ve met so many people throughout my career—and still Roy Wayne Farris has lived in Gilbert for 21 years. Submitted photo do,” he says. “I never got any photos of them and things like reports every day. I can read websites and that. If you’re really in the industry, you find out what happens, who got arrested, don’t say, ‘Oh gosh. Can I get a picture who did what, etc.” with you?’ I wish I would have.” For now, he’s focusing on his own As a result, fans probably won’t see an career, which can be followed at www. autobiography by Farris. facebook.com/HonkyTonkManOfficial. “When it comes down to everyone “I want to do the comedy stuff doing autobiographies, it would have when I can,” says Farris. “This event for been much easier to get it all together if I improvMANIA will be a good way to start took notes,” he says. to transition. “Bret Hart, he did that. I didn’t know “I enjoy the meet and greets because he kept notes. He did a book and it was it’s less physical activity. You don’t get a testament to himself. It was 600 pages. hurt too bad shaking hands, unless it’s I don’t know if I’d read 600 pages of one of those fellas who want to show anything.” how manly they are by how hard they can By the same accord, he doesn’t watch squeeze your hand.” “Monday Night Raw,” “Thursday Night Smackdown” or anything else related to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the professional wrestling. executive editor of the SanTan Sun “I don’t like to read 600 pages about News. She can be reached at christina@ something nor do I want to watch a threesantansun.com. hour television show about something I’ve been involved in,” he says with a laugh. “It’s easier for me to read the Internet
Dignity Health Innovatively Enhancing Health Care • Introduction to Hippo-therapy Events • Experience An Alternative to Traditional Therapies • Watch a Demonstration on how Horse Therapy provides Physical and Emotional Therapy • Enjoy a “Cowboy” inspired lunch • Professional Therapists on hand to answer questions.
You’re invited to join us for our next Free Session March 28, 10:30am-1:30pm Hoofbeats with Heart 43491 N. Coyote Rd. • San Tan Valley, AZ
Dignity Health prides itself on offering patients new and innovative ways to enhance health care experience and reap the clinical benefits of healing mind, body and spirit. One unique and effective way of stimulating healing is EquineFacilitated Hippotherapy. This form of therapy has been recognized for more than fifty years for its significant physical and emotional benefits.
April 11, 10:30am-1:30pm TMT New Beginnings 18118 E. Chandler Heights Rd. • Gilbert, AZ April 18, 10:30am-1:30pm Hoofbeats with Heart 43491 N. Coyote Rd. • San Tan Valley, AZ April 22, 10:30am-1:30pm TMT New Beginnings 18118 E. Chandler Heights Rd. • Gilbert AZ May 6, 10:30am-1:30pm Hoofbeats with Heart 43491 N. Coyote Rd. • San Tan Valley, AZ May 9, 10:30am-1:30pm TMT New Beginnings 18118 E. Chandler Heights Rd. • Gilbert, AZ
53
For more information or to sign up please call Rex Albright at 480.728.2036 or email at rex.albright@dignityhealth.org Sessions are supported by a generous donation from Mike Halle, Trustee, Ruth McCormick Tankersley Charitable Trust.