An Interview with Michael Cavanaugh

Singer/songwriter Michael Cavanaugh is coming to Mohegan Sun's Cabaret Theater for a five-night run, beginning November 22. It will be the public debut of his solo act. Cavanaugh was nominated for a Tony for his performance in the Billy Joel / Twyla Tharp musical, Movin' Out. He was part of the production, early on and sang lead vocals during the show's Broadway run and tour.

The debut coincides with his release of his new EP Miles Away.  He recently spoke with BroadwayWorld.com about his career, new show and new recordings.

Randy Rice:  Tell me about the show that you are debuting at Mohegan Sun.

Michael Cavanaugh:  Well...it is more of a concert that a cabaret act.  I'll have my band with me and we will be doing stuff from Movin' Out and a few of the songs that I didn't get to sing in Movin' Out.  We will be doing some classic rock; some Beatles, I am thinking we'll be doing "Pinball Wizard".  We will do all of that and some of my own music.

RR: Will you be playing songs from your new EP?

MC:  Definitely.  I am releasing "Miles Away" and I will have copies there with me.  "Miles Away" is only five tracks.  It is, kind of, sampler size.  I worked with Tommy Byrnes on it and I am really proud of it.

RR:  So this is your own, new, music?

MC: Yes.  It is my music.

RR:  Let's talk about your career.  Movin' Out took you from playing the New York, New York piano bar in Las Vegas, to Broadway.  I have been to that piano bar a few times.  It looks like a fun gig; but a world away from Broadway.

MC:  I loved playing at New York, New York.  I like the interaction with the audience.  [I like] the reaching out, the give and take.  Movin' Out was an incredible experience.  Working with Billy [Joel] and Twyla [Tharp] and that cast and crew, from the beginning, was incredible.  I made some great friends during that show, and I loved every minute of it.

RR:  You are talking about Movin' Out in the past tense.  Is your association with the show over?  Are you no longer touring with the show?

MC:  It is over, for now.  A few months ago the lead vocalist / piano player for the touring company got sick, and they called me.  I have such a great relationship with that group of people.  I said "O.K., where are you?" and they said "Omaha, Nebraska".  So I went to Omaha. I would never say that I won't go back to the show.  If the right circumstances came along, I would consider it.  Right now, I am pursuing my own thing.  My show combines my Movin' Out experience with my piano bar experience and my song writing.  No two nights are exactly the same.  I have five guys playing behind me and they are ready for anything that happens. They will go with me, on stage, wherever I go. We'll be on stage for an hour and twenty minutes to an hour and a half.  I am guessing more like an hour and a half.  That is what is great about doing a show like this.  If the show is going well and the audience is into it, we can keep going for a bit.  Doing a scripted show doesn't give that flexibility.

RR:  Movin' Out continues to be such a huge success.  It was a huge success on Broadway and it is a huge success touring.  Yesterday, it was announced that the Twyla Tharp / Bob Dylan musical, The Times They Are A-Changin', will be closing on November 19, after only 28 regular performances.  They are similar projects.  Why do you think one has been so successful and one not?

MC:  I have gotten so many emails from my friends about the closing of that show. If anyone can make anything work, it is Twyla [Tharp].  It is interesting. We (Movin' Out) got very mixed reviews before our opening, while we were touring, out of town.  Then we opened to, generally, good reviews and good business.  [The Times They Are A-Changin'] had really good reviews out of town, but the reviews in town were a disaster.  The big difference is, of course, Billy [Joel's] music.  It is great to perform and great for the audience.  I really regret that I will not be able to see The Times They Are A-Changin'.  I get to New York two or three times a month, and I wanted to see the show, but I won't be able to.  If anyone can make a show work, it is Twyla [Tharp].  She works so hard and is so good.  

RR:  Living in Vegas, would you like to get your own showroom and play Vegas, steady?

MC:  My wife and kids are out here; so being able to stay in one place for a while would be nice.  Not that I am complaining about where I have been.  Over the past year I have been doing a lot of corporate gigs, working on the show that I am debuting, publicly, at Mohegan Sun. I have had discussions with some of the casinos out here about getting my own room.  I would really like to arrange it so I could work here for a few months at a time and then go tour for a while and come back.  I think that would work well.  I am pretty certain that an arrangement like that would work.  At thirty-four, I am still a young guy in the singer-songwriter / piano player genre.  If I were just a recording artist I would be almost at the end of my arc, but I am still at the beginning.  

RR:  Your career track is interesting.  I am not discounting your talent and mean no offense, but you are, kind of, an accidental Broadway star.

MC:  You are not wrong.  When I was thirteen, my aunt took me to see some Broadway shows.  It was a big deal. A really big deal.  We came from Ohio and saw Yul Brynner in The King and I.  We saw 42nd Street.  My aunt says, and I don't remember saying it, but, my aunt says that I told her that I would be on the Broadway stage.  I told her that I would be up there. The desire to perform has always been there. As far as "acting" goes, I have been offered some stuff, voice work, a children's show, but I am not ready to become a "Wiggle".  Though, if they needed a stand-in I could do it.  My daughter loves the "Wiggles"  I know the songs like the back of my hand.

RR:  With the movement of Broadway shows to Las Vegas, if Movin' Out played Vegas would you be interested?

MC:  If Movin' Out played Vegas, that would be fun.  I think it would do great out here.  I might be interested in playing it at the beginning to get it started, like Harvey [Fierstein] did with Hairspray...which didn't do well, but I don't know why. Hairspray is great fun and big and over-the-top and a natural for Vegas. I would love to work with Billy [Joel] and Twyla [Tharp] and Jimmy Nederlander again.  It was a great experience, and they are good friends.

RR:  They must be.  I don't think I have ever heard anyone call James Nederlander, "Jimmy" before.

MC:  Really?  Yeah.  Jimmy is this really great, powerful, talented guy.  But when you hang out with him he is not "James Nederlander" he is "Jimmy".

RR:  Michael, thanks for talking to me and I will see you in a couple weeks at Mohegan Sun.

MC:  Thanks, see you there.