Hometown: Richmond, VA
Education: B.M. in Voice Performance from The Juilliard School & attended Elon University two years prior towards a B.F.A. in Music Theatre.
Select NYC Credits: Off Broadway: The Fantasticks (Matt;The Mute), Sweeney Todd (Swing for Anthony/Tobias/Beadle), and Fidler afn Dakh (Pertshik)
Why theater?: Theatre has always captured my imagination, and has given me an outlet to express and expand my inner truth. This therapeutic search of self discovery has allowed me to access emotions that would have otherwise been suppressed by standard social norms. Having this emotional availability has increased my empathy for all people, and for that I couldn’t be more grateful. Most importantly, theatre has the power to teach, to transform, to entertain, and to challenge the minds and hearts of audiences so that social progress can continue growing.
Who do you play in Fiddler on the Roof?: I play Pertshik, a socialist rebel student from Kiev. He is an outspoken, educated, and passionate leader of men who will take a stand for the justice and fair treatment of all mankind. He is a progressive scholar who’s life purpose is based on changing the world into a just, utopian society. One day, he stumbles upon the small village of Anatevka, and makes a deal with Tevye to teach lessons about the Torah to his daughters in exchange for shelter and food. Of all Tevye’s five daughters, Pertshik is curiously challenged mentally and emotionally by his second eldest daughter, Hodl. Hodl is strong willed, smart, and able to express her beliefs with a conviction that Pertshik hasn’t observed from anyone else in Anatevka. He finds his equal in Hodl, eventually falls in love, and proposes to her. However, he’s caught in a predicament and feels he must leave Hodl and Anatevka in order to fight for the revolutionary cause against the Russian Empire. He is sadly captured in Kiev, and exiled to the wilderness of Siberia.
Tell us about Fiddler on the Roof: Fiddler on the Roof is a musical based on the writings of Sholem Aleichem’s “Tevye the Dairyman and the Railroad Stories,” surrounding Tevye, a Bible-quoting milkman from a Jewish, fictional village called Anatevka. Ultimately, the story follows Tevye’s journey as his religious traditions and customs are challenged one by one through the different suitors that court his beloved daughters. The play is set during the eve of the Russian Revolution of 1905, and danger lurks innocent Anatevka as tensions rise between Socialistic revolts and the Russian Empire.
What is it like being a part of Fiddler on the Roof?: It is a rich, truly one of a kind experience. It is my first Fiddler on the Roof which alone makes it special to me, but to have it told in Yiddish, the language that these characters would have spoken, perfectly captures the essence of the story telling. It radiates in an authentic gesture that I’ve never seen portrayed in any show...it’s as real as it gets. The warmth of family tradition and stability juxtaposed against an inevitably changing world is a theme that anyone can grasp, especially in today’s times. The cast, creative team, and theatre all support the common goal of honestly expressing the beauty of the Jewish people as well as the cruel injustices inflicted on them during this time in the beginning of the 20th century Russian Empire.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I really enjoy all forms of entertainment. There’s a time and a place for it all to exist. Truth and beauty told in an honest dramatic format will always speak to me and to my heart. The value of remembering our humanity through dramatic works is indeed a powerful tool. However, I grew up with a funny bone and I do love being goofy. Nothing is more satisfying than a belly laugh from a ridiculous comedy to remind you that life can and should be taken lightly. It’s a balance of the mysterious and the hilarious that speaks to me. Many different artists, living and dead inspire me. My first idol was Michael Jackson. I listened to all of his albums and still know most lyrics to all of his songs. His singing, dancing, and stage presence is unmatched and inspired me to standout. When it comes to film actors, I have to credit Marlon Brando and Robin Williams. They were titans of their craft and there is so much to be learned by following their examples on screen. Currently, my muse is Seth MacFarlane. He is basically doing what I’ve always wanted: he created a famous cartoon with Family Guy (I also love to draw), he has an incredible sense of humor that he unapologetically exploits, and he can sing like a dream...what a mentsh!
Any roles you’re dying to play?: Yes, a few. I really want to be Quasimodo in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jamie in The Last Five Years, Raul in Phantom of the Opera, Joe in Damn Yankees, Georg in She Loves Me, Bobby in Company, and George in Sunday in the Park with George.
What’s your favorite showtune?: “Soliloquy” from Carousel
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I really want the opportunity to work with either Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, or Stephen Sondheim. That would be a dream come true!
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Andy Samberg in “Where’s my wallet?!”
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The original cast of The Secret Garden.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Fidler afn Dakh! Not because I’m in it, but because it’s truly a beautiful rendition of the classic, and feels completely relevant to our cultural/political climate.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Junk food! It’s a toss up between either Utz Cheese Balls or Slim Jims Original flavor.
What’s up next?: Not exactly sure. Only the universe knows, but I anticipate nothing less than something amazing.
For more on Drew, visit drewseigla.com
