Lorenzo (De Volkskrant, 6 February 1993). "Please doctor, put me out of my misery!" "I'm sorry, the church forbids it..." "Good luck..." "Forgive him, Father, for he doesn't know what he does..."
Rick "Lorenzo" Dros is a Dutch writer and director for stage shows and musicals, as well as a comedian, drama coach and cartoonist. Up until 1993, he was known for making cartoon features and comic strips starring his alter ego 'Lorenzo', published in the newspapers like De Volkskrant and Haarlems Dagblad, and some special interest magazines.
Cartoonist
Born in 1959 in the Zaan region, Rick Dros broke off his studies in English literature to pursue a career in cartooning. His cartoons and comic strips appeared in the regional newspaper Haarlems Dagblad, the magazine of the Association for Conscripted Soldiers (VVDM) and the weekly news journal on Dutch school television ('School-tv Weekjournaal'). He also made artwork for the AbvaKabo trade union and VU Magazine, a publication of the VU University Amsterdam. Between 7 November 1992 and 17 December 1994, Dros had his own 'Lorenzo' comic strip in the national newspaper De Volkskrant, appearing weekly in the Saturday supplement Vervolg. In four panels, he gave cynical and unscrupulous commentary and political satire based on current affairs.
Lorenzo (De Volkskrant, 6 December 1992).
Dutch cabaret
As the house cartoonist of Dutch School-tv, Dros was asked to write songs for the broadcasts, marking the launch of his writing career. Starting as a writer for other performers and then working behind the scenes of the Camaretten cabaret festival, he eventually wanted to climb the stage himself. In 1993, Dros won the public award at the Amsterdam Kleinkunstfestival with his first performance in the Dutch cabaret tradition: a mix of comedy, social engagement and songs. It resulted in his first solo stage show, 'Bloe Moen' (1993), followed by 'Doondoe' (1995) and ''Soplattaswat' (1997). Calling his own style "cartoon cabaret", Dros often brought elements from his cartoons to the stage. In his tragicomical sketches, he used cartoony attributes and situations, while appearing as 'Lorenzo' and other characters from his comic strips.
Comic strip by Rick Dros for an anthology of new cabaret talent ('Cabarestafette te boek', 1995).
Scriptwriter, director and coach
With actress Majanka Fröhlich, Dros performed his next shows, 'Wij zijn de Everly Brothers niet!' (1998) and 'Romeo en Hoe-heet-ze-ook-al-weer' (2000). In 2001, he released the musical album 'Tzal Wel Weer Feest Zijn' on his own. With Annette Botterman, he hosted the show 'Wat?!' on the local radio station Zaanradio. As a scriptwriter and director, Rick Dros has been involved in over sixty theater productions, including many primary school musicals produced by Rep-en-roer. Associated with the MBO Theaterschool Haarlem, Nova College and the improvisation theater group Het Speelt!, Rick Dros also gives masterclasses in acting, directing and scriptwriting for stage shows. Since 2007, he has organized performances in theaters and on location under the banner Theaterhuis Rick Dros.
