ACTOR SPOTLIGHT! Today we honor actor Kevin Murphy, currently featured as SHREK in Rivertown Theaters production of “SHREK! The Musical”! Here is Kevin’s Actor Spotlight Q&A: When did you know you wanted to pursue theatre as a hobby or profession? Kevin: “I still get embarrassed telling this story. I was 16. It was my birthday. My parents took me to see a production of Cats because I saw a commercial on the television. We were sitting in the nose bleeds and as soon as the actors made their appearance I thought to myself. This....this is what I want to do. So...thanks Sir Webber.” What was the first role you ever played? Kevin: “My senior year I auditioned for the school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was cast as Pharoh. So...again...Thanks Sir Webber.” What was your proudest moment in theater? Kevin: “It happened off stage. It was the moment I could tell my parents that I could support myself financially by doing what I loved.” What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you on stage? Kevin: “Im sure there are better horror stories in existence but I am a creature of habit and whenever anything is different I forget my pattern. That being said, I was doing Romeo and Juliet at a theater in Memphis. It should also be noted that Im not the strongest classical actor. Anyway, we had done the show maybe 10 times or so before we had a student matinee. In order to get the kids back to school on time we had to cut lines from the show. I was in the middle of my Dont give up, heres the plan speech between myself (Friar Laurence) and Juliet. The speech had been chopped with no real rehearsal...so I blanked. I kept repeating random parts of all of my lines while Juliet just stared at me, trying to guide me back on track with her face. What should have been 30 seconds, felt like an eternity.” Who do you owe the biggest thanks to and what advice did they give you? Kevin: “Well, of course there are people like my parents who have always been there for me & my partner, Matt, who has been a constant at my side for 8 years. My voice teacher Amy Pfrimmer and the myriad of friends that put up with my absence from their life do to my being a part of theater. Folks like Gary Rucker, Brian Enzman (Prather Entertainment Group) and Dave Landis (Playhouse on the Square) that have given me a shot not knowing me from Adam. But I think the biggest thanks would go to those that choose to come see theater, and make theater a part of their life. We live in a world inundated with distractions and entertainment of every shape, size and variety yet, I think it speaks volumes that there is a population out there that chooses to come spend a night with a bunch of crazy actors. Without the people who come see us do what we do, we couldnt exist, so my biggest thanks is to them. The best advice I ever got was actually recent and wasnt really even directed at me. There is a cartoon called adventure time, in an episode one of the characters (Jake the Dog) states. Sucking at something, is the first step to being sort of good at something. Which is a motto I live by now. I might not be the greatest at what I do, but Im certainly gonna try...I might eventually get it right and past that...eventually might be good at it.” What show would you like to see Rivertown Theaters do one day? Kevin: “Adams Family...I want to battle Gary for Gomez. (The gauntlet has been thrown down) or Frog and Toad (So I can perform with Gary)” What role do you hope to play one day? Kevin: “Well up until recently I had always said Shrek. So...I think I would like to play Sweeny eventually.” Thanks so much for being a part of our ACTOR SPOTLIGHT Kevin! To see Kevin Murphy as SHREK in our production of “SHREK, The Musical”, call the box office or visit our website, tickets are on sale NOW! “SHREK, The Musical” runs this weekend, 9/25/ - 9/27 Thursday – Saturday at 8:00 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. performance on Saturday 9/27 and Sunday 9/28 as well! Seating is limited so CALL NOW! rivertowntheaters/504-461-9475
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:54:06 +0000
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