I got a call from my friend Craig last week that went something like this:

C: You’re in an ad for The Guthrie?! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!

Me: What are you talking about? – I’m not in an ad for the Guthrie.

C: Yes you are – it’s plainly you. You’re telling me you didn’t know about this?

Me: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!

C: You haven’t seen this week’s Vita.MN?

Me: No, I haven’t.

C: Open it up–first page–an ad for The Guthrie Learning Center. You’re blurry and you’re looking at some guy holding a beer.

Me: What? Do you have a copy there? Can you send me a picture?

C: Yeah, here:

(click on images for larger views)

So yeah, I’m in an ad for the Guthrie.

I remember when it was taken, too - I attended a small brainstorming session for Minnesota Public Radio’s In the Loop several months back (that happened to be in a Guthrie lounge space) and remember a photographer there, but thought the photographer was an MPR staffer, not a Guthrie dude. The guy holding the beer is Jeff Horwich, host of In the Loop.

So the first question is this: even though the Guthrie’s Marketing & PR department has no idea who I am, and I’m not a model, and I was on the premises for a completely different reason, could I still theoretically put this on my acting resume as a print-credit for the prestigious Guthrie Theater?

Further questions are these: Do you think the Guthrie would actually want to know that it’s Jeff and me in the photo, just for their files? Is it weird that Jeff and I are both professional performers and that we didn’t get credited or compensated for this photo, or even get asked to sign a release? On a broader scale, is being on the premises of an organization automatic consent for that organization to use your image for advertising?

Frankly, I’m flattered. Intrigued by all of the big-brother-esque social issues this raises, but flattered nonetheless.