Triple Threat is a regular feature in which we interview a musical theatre artist and ask them to recall which musicals left indelible impressions on them. Plus, we’ll throw in a couple of extra questions every interview to see what kind of musicals make their inner theatre geek sing.
Tracy Michailidis is a Toronto based actress, singer and teacher. In addition to shining brightly in two Acting Up Stage shows (Light in the Piazza and Parade), she has been a company member at Stratford and toured with the North American production of Beauty and the Beast. She is gorgeous, a phenomenal singer and an all around lovely human being. Here’s what she had to say about musical theatre:
What musical will you always remember for its choreography/dancing?
Well, I can get weepy pretty easily, but Crazy for You was the first show that made me cry tears of joy. It was like I didn’t have enough space inside of myself to contain the happiness, so I wept. I distinctly remember losing my shit when the gals were grabbed to be stand-up basses for the ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’ Act One finale.
What musical will you always remember for its music?
Well, Les Miserables, no question. It was pivotal for me, like many other folks of my generation, for melding story and song, and classical and contemporary feels. It was like the sky opened up and I thought, ‘Anything is possible!’ Soon after that, I became obsessed with Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park with George. I memorized it all.
What musical will you always remember for its book/virtuosic acting?
I think these are two separate questions, so I’ll answer this as such. One of the best books has got to be Guys and Dolls. It’s got Runyon’s parlance down flat, and the characters are so clear and rich. I just worked on that show right now, and like one of my castmates aptly said, ‘It’s got no meat on it.’ It’s all muscle and sinew and heart.
As for virtuosic acting, Audra Mcdonald, Marin Mazzie, and Brian Stokes Mitchell blew me away with their brilliance in Ragtime. And I really mean brilliance: they blazed so bright and clear, their pictures are imprinted in my mind. I also fell madly in love with British actress Joanna Riding as Julie Jordan in Nicholas Hytner’s Carousel at the National Theatre in 1994. She was exquisite.
What musical is your guiltiest pleasure?
I don’t feel guilty about musicals anymore. I went through a period in my 30’s where I wanted to stop doing them, wanting to be taken seriously as an actor, etcetera. Then I woke up one day and was like, ‘Who am I kidding? I love musicals. I miss singing.’
What movie would you love to see musicalized?
These questions are too impossible to have one answer to. Maybe the beautiful classic The Best Years of Our Lives. Being There. And Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
What is your dream role that you’ll never get to play?
Another tie. It’s between Tony and Chino in West Side Story.
For more information on what Tracy’s up to, check out her website www.tracymichailidis.com As well, Tracy will be holding one of her fabulous musical theatre master classes on Dec 17. Click here for more information!