Islander George Lee is a published and produced playwright inducted into the Texas Playwriting Hall of Fame. He’s the voice of the Electric Theatre Radio Hour and the only Galveston tour guide featured in a History Channel documentary. He’s the current artist in residence at the G. Lee Gallery in the island’s downtown and lead singer of the Noise Poets-RetroMetro Rock and Roll.
What is your greatest achievement? To have my first play produced — “Frankenstein – The Monster Musical” — and watch the audience respond as if on cue, and after, to own a live stage theater and produce original plays. Teaching children to act, paint and perform music, and to watch their self-esteem develop, and social skills and grades improve, continues to be a truly rewarding experience.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Hypocrisy is my biggest pet peeve. Why can’t people be courageous in their beliefs, informed in their opinions, say what they mean and live their principles?

If you were reborn, what would you like to come back as? If I were reborn, I would like to come back as a purebred Pomeranian in the care of someone like me, who appreciates their unique, wonderful qualities and innocent trust.

With what historic person would you love to have a dinner conversation? It would be Robert E. Lee. I am a first cousin, 12 generations removed. Lee opposed slavery and secession, but loved his homeland, Virginia, thus turned down command of the Union Army in favor of the Confederates. He possessed true military talent but ended the fighting, against orders, when enough was enough. I consider him a role model in values, duty and principle.
If you ruled the world, you would …? My first effort would be to control irresponsible population growth. I would encourage self-confidence and self-reliance, and return to the values of years past in education, behavior, manners and work ethic.