Turn of your phone at meals and always wear SPF 30 or higher: Lawrence Keller's rules for life, theater and sunscreen.

What is the most memorable moment from your 18th year?

Probably the night I came out to the first person.  I still remember telling my best friend at the time. I said something like “I don’t like girls.” She was loving, accepting and said all the right things. We’re great friends to this day.

When did you feel like you became an adult?

I skipped adulthood and jumped right into old age when my eyesight required me to wear progressive lenses. Seriously though, it’s probably the first time I voted. I remember going into the voting booth with my mom when I was young. That always struck me as an immensely cool thing. I couldn’t wait to do it myself.  I now have zero patience for people who don’t vote.

What is most important rule you follow?

Sunscreen: SPF 30 or higher.

What is the worst rule you’ve broken?

The worst that I’ll admit to in writing? That would be 2nd acting shows when I lived in New York.  I had next to no money for theatre. I’d get standing room tickets to what I could. And I’d volunteer usher for loads Off-Broadway (do people still do that?) But if I loved a show or I couldn’t get in any other way, I’d sneak in during intermission. I’m very familiar with the 2nd halves of Nine and Into the Woods. 

 What rule would you love to break, but haven’t?

Again, the worst that I’ll admit to in writing: I’d love to be able to boo really bad theatre.  Decorum (and karma) tells us not to. 

Who’s the biggest rule-breaker you know?

Most of my closest friends (like me) are pretty square. Is that even a term in 2018?  But my friend Dee would play a game called “Fall.” Essentially the idea was that you would loudly fall down in public and make it appear that the person you were with was the cause. It was stupid, juvenile and utterly hysterical when she did it.

What rule do you wish more people would follow?

Turn off your phones at meals. We know (or at least most of us know) to turn them off in theatre and movies. But meals are sacred.  Breakfast, lunch at work, and especially dinner with friends and family are times I treasure. No meal has ever been made better with a cell phone. (And believe me, I’ve posted my share of food porn).