Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) will continue its 20th Anniversary season with THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, a new musical with book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and direction by Bartlett Sher.
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, based on the novella by Elizabeth
Spencer, is set in the summer of 1953 and tells the story
of a mother and daughter traveling through Italy, the daughter’s
romance with a handsome, high-spirited Florentine, and the
mother’s determined efforts to keep the two apart.
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA’s cast of 18 will include Glenn
Seven Allen, Michael Berresse, Sarah Uriarte Berry, David
Bonanno, David Burnham, Victoria Clark, Patti Cohenour,
Beau Gravitte, Laura Griffith, Mark Harelik, Prudence Wright
Holmes, Jennifer Hughes, Felicity LaFortune, Catherine LaValle,
Michel Moinot, Matthew Morrison, Kelli O'Hara and Joseph
Siravo.
Where were you born?
I am an Army Brat. I was born at Ft. Ord Army base in Northern
California.
What was the moment you realized your passion was acting?
I did a children's theater show called "The Herdman's
Go to Camp". (I think that they made it up!) It was
when I was visiting family in Arizona when I was about 10
years old. Anyway, It was just a bunch of kids on stage
singing and dancing and I had the time of my life.
Who is your mentor?
I've had several in my life. In High School there were two
teachers who really paved the way for me and encouraged
me to stick with theater. Their names were David Green and
Ralph Opacic. As of late, I've been fortunate enough to
have mentors in the shows I've done. Dick Latessa, from
Hairspray, was and is still a great mentor to me. And while
working on the film Once Upon a Mattress, Denis O'Hare was
there to offer invaluable advice to me. I think the greatest
thing about these mentors is that they wouldn't call themselves
mentors. They are just amazing human beings who don't even
know that they are inspiring people all around them. I feel
lucky to have been in their presence.
Let's talk about "Hairspray". Tell me what
it is like to work with the one and only Harvey?
Hairspray was the show that put me on the map and I wouldn't
be where I am today without it. I loved every second with
that show and the amazing cast that surrounded it. Harvey
was like a father, and of course, a mother to us all. We
still talk on a regular basis and he is proud of me like
I was his very own son.
Tell me about Rocky Horror. What was it like to work
with Tom Hewitt?
I was a replacement in Rocky, so I didn't get to work with
Tom Hewitt. I got to do the show with Terrance Mann, which
was a little more exciting for me because I've always been
such a big fan of his. Rocky was like a big playground.
I couldn't believe that I was getting paid to go to work
every night.
I heard you like extreme sports. Do you have any other hobbies?
I do love extreme sports like skydiving. I just picked up
boxing not to long ago. Had a bout with my roommate last
November. We both trained for 3 months and then went a couple
rounds. It was really intense. When I'm in a show though,
I take up less strenuous hobbies like reading and taking
in movies!
How did you prepare for Piazza. You go from Teen heartthrob
via Elvis to Opera star. How did you prepare?
Piazza was the hardest thing that I've ever taken on thus
far in my career. I met with friends who spoke fluent Italian,
and even some Italian natives. I just wanted to be enveloped
in the language. Then I had to work really hard on my voice
to get the sound that they wanted for this show. More of
a legit operatic sound with pop under tones. It's nowhere
near perfect yet, but I'm happy to say that I pass for an
Italian!
Tell me about Jerry Mitchell. The dancing in "Hairspray"
is miraculous. Were you exhausted after 8 shows a week?
Jerry Mitchell is a crazy talented individual. I've been
lucky to work on many projects with him and I expect to
collaborate on many more in the future. It's weird, I'm
a lot more exhausted after Piazza than I ever was in Hairspray.
In Piazza, it's vocally and emotionally demanding. Hairspray
was just physically demanding. I have pretty good stamina,
so it wasn't that tiring for me.
The chemistry between you and your leading ladies is
exceptional. Tell me are you and Kelli in love? (Do you
hear the bells)
I really do fall in love with my leading ladies. I think
the offstage relationship is vital to building 'real' chemistry
on stage. I just respect the ladies that I work with so
much. It didn't matter if Marissa and I were fighting or
laughing offstage. We knew what we needed from each other
when we got onto that stage and we respected that. Kelli
is the same way, and it will just get stronger the more
we perform together.
Who do you most admire?
My friends. They are the strongest, most loyal group that
anyone could ask for. They keep me grounded and sane. I
don't know where I would be without them.
What is next?
Nothing that I'm allowed to talk about right now. But I
do have a TV movie called "Once Upon a Mattress"
starring Carol Burnett and Tracey Ullman coming out sometime
in December on ABC.
Any other passions or dreams?
I'm living my dream. If I could do anything else though,
I would want to be a midwife, like my father.
I read that you loved Assassins. Is that still your favorite
show?
Still my favorite show. I love this show more than anything.
Would you like to star in Assassins?
I actually did the show in High School and I played John
Wilkes Booth. I would love to do the show and the part again
someday when I'm age appropriate.
Interview conducted by Corine Cohen
