Hometown: Gowanda, NY
Education: Studied musical theatre and dance at Point Park University
Select Credits: Silence! The Musical (Dream Hannibal/Dance Captain, Off-Broadway); Lucky Guy (Buckaroo, Off-Broadway); Hairspray (Sketch at Paper Mill Playhouse; IQ at The MUNY; Fender at Pittsburgh CLO… I only have one Nicest Kid left. It’ll happen someday); A Christmas Carol (Pearlie, North Shore Music Theater)
Why theater?: I do theater because I wake up every morning excited about my job. I love performing in front of a live audience. I love that the show changes every night depending on the energy of the audience. And mostly, I love inspiring people who see me perform.
Tell us about Silence! The Musical: “Silence! The Musical is a hilarious parody based on the Academy Award winning film The Silence of the Lambs. Rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling matches wits with the brilliant but insane cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter in order to catch the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Clarice faces her own demons while racing the clock to unlock Lecter’s clues before another innocent girl is killed and skinned by Buffalo Bill. It is a laugh-out-loud naughty satire featuring a singing chorus of floppy eared lambs narrating the action as Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown while kidnapping hapless Catherine Martin. Even Dr. Lecter, scary as ever, sings about the life he’d like to lead someday outside the prison walls.”…I’m not going to lie, I took that right off of the website.
What is it like being a part of Silence! The Musical?: Honestly, I never stop laughing. I work with some of the most talented and hilarious people in the business. We have a very small cast and have become a happy little family. And by happy I mean; weird, loony, dysfunctional, wonderful family. I love every second of it. Silence has become my home away from home. And sometimes it has plain and simply become my home. I spend so much time at the theatre that I often sleep there. Don’t tell anyone that though!
What kind of theater speaks to you?: I think that most theatre speaks to me. Well, concert dance tends to not use a lot of speaking. However, I’ve seen quite a few dance performances that use spoken word. It seems to be becoming more and more popular. Opera doesn’t really speak either because it’s all singing. One could argue that singing is a form of speaking though. Wait, is this what the question was asking. I don’t really understand…
Any roles you’re dying to play?: I recently saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert and would die to play Adam/Felicia, currently played by Nick Adams on Broadway. Of course that would require years upon years of dieting and working out. I’ll start after the holidays! I could never refuse my moms Christmas treats.
What’s your favorite showtune?: “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” from Pal Joey is my jam. Particularly, the 1995 Patti LuPone version. Also, anything sung by Kim in Miss Saigon is pure gold. That is another dream role of mine.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: The first person that comes to my mind is Tupac Shakur. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening anytime soon. I’ll have to go with my second choice: Joe Mantello.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I would obviously have to be played by someone really, ridiculously good looking. Maybe a young Brad Pitt or Jude Law. I think I would call it “The Boy With The Dragon Tattoo”, or possibly “The Starve Yourself Games”.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: GO. SEE. BILLY ELLIOT. Before it closes. I cried. Any show that makes me cry is definitely worth seeing!
What’s up next?: Right now I am just trucking along and having a fantastic time at Silence. I’m very excited for whatever lies ahead though. I’m also in the process of creating my own brand of peanut butter, but we’ll save that discussion for another interview.
For tickets to Silence! the Musical visit http://www.silencethemusicalnyc.com/
