Interview: Blake Price, Monty Navarro in A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Waterbury's Palace Theater, October 20 - 21.

Ever wonder if you might have an unknown rich relative out there sitting on a fortune that could one day be yours? That is exactly what Monty Navarro, the main character in A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER discovers, and the lengths he goes to ensure his inheritance and title is secure, is surprising and shocking, yet absolutely hilarious. Playing Monty when A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER stops in Waterbury at the Palace Theater October 20 - 21 will be Blake Price, who sat down with me to talk about this unconventional, yet entertaining show.

BWW: Blake, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me today. We are really looking forward to A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER in Waterbury!

Blake Price: You're not kidding! I am pumped. We just started tech. It is all coming together and it is a surreal experience.

Can you start by telling us a little bit about how you got started in the theatre?

When I was in High School in Kentwood, Michigan, I was very involved across the board. I played football and did track and field. I also loved doing the one school musical in the spring every year. That started when I was a sophmore with GUYS AND DOLLS, then my junior year I played Wilbur Turnblad in HAIRSPRAY. And then my senior year, I played Sweeney Todd in SWEENEY TODD. It was an incredible experience and to this day it is my favorite musical of all time. It sparked something in me. I auditioned for one program for musical theatre at Western Michigan University, and graduated with a BFA. After I graduated I said, okay, I am going to give this a shot.

This is your National Tour debut, correct?

Yeah, absolutely. When rehearsals started I had just landed the night before at Midnight from a previous contract in Utah, doing the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Ever since, it has been an insane whirlwind for me. To be able to play a role of this magnitude, it's exhilarating, it's terrifying and it's unlike anything I have experienced before. It still hasn't hit me yet what it is we are getting ready to embark on.

What has the experience been like preparing for the tour?

When we first started rehearsals, I noticed that I was doing higher singing and speech than what I had been doing before. It was an adjustment that was taking a little longer than I was used to. I said something to Peggy Hickey our director and Paul Staroba, who is the music director. They both reached out to some of the previous Montys - Kevin Massey (First National Tour), Jeff Kready (Broadway), and Bryce Pinkham (Original Broadway). Bryce and I spoke for 40 minutes and he gave me the rundown. That was the moment it hit me that I was getting ready to do something pretty incredible.

Were you familiar with the show before being cast?

My first introduction was the Tony Award performance. I watched Bryce Pinkham, Lisa O'Hare and Lauren Worsham do "I've Decided to Marry You", and immediately thought that it was one of the most incredible numbers I had ever seen in a contemporary musical. As soon as I saw that I said "I have to be in this show at some point!" I think that was where it first started. I was in school, and so I started learning the music. As soon as the call came out for this tour, I told my agent I wanted to be seen for it. And here I am!

And this is the start of the second national tour, correct? What exactly does that mean?

It depends from show to show. Second national tour is just the second rendition of it. Depending on the show, they sometimes re-use cast, but for this one it means a different cast and a couple different people in the creative team. For example, Peggy Hickey is our director this time around. But we are using almost all of the exact same direction and choreography as the previous tour as well as the same production. We are using almost all of the same stuff from the previous tour, and almost all of the same as the Broadway production. It just gives us the opportunity to go to some places where the first national wouldn't get to go.

And you play Monty, which seems like a really fun role to play. What do you like most about him?

I love the fact that it is one of those roles that really doesn't come in musical theatre very often. One with such size and magnitude, and also one that is such a direct line to the audience. I am excited about the opportunity to make eye contact with the audience and make that connection and give them a wink and be like "We're in this together". That doesn't happen with a lot of roles. This one it calls for it. It is necessary. We had a run a few days ago, Darko (Tresjnak) came in and gave us notes. There is one section of the show where I read a letter. He told me "On this letter, I don't want you to read the letter. This entire time you are introducing yourself to the audience, so speak directly to them." It was his permission to give the audience everything they need.

What are you looking forward to the most?

I am still figuring it all out. Some of the deaths are so juicy, I am so excited to get a response for the little things we have been doing. We will get a couple chuckles in rehearsals here and there, but once you finally have a full house it is different. There is this scene in the second act with Lord Adelbert. James Taylor Odom plays, obviously, the entire D'Ysquith family. His work is incredible. We are cracking up to the point where Peggy is telling us we have to hold it together. That is the scene where I am most excited. It is a little over the top, but I am pumped about that scene in particular.

In the show, your character Monty utilizes a number of hilarious methods for getting rid of his relatives. Which is your favorite?

My favorite death is the first one, The Reverend Lord Ezekiel D'Ysquith. He is the impetus for Monty so, from an actors standpoint, it is the slingshot for him to start his rampage and is so hilarious. I think that is the one. It is my moment to say, yes, I am murderer, and you are going to love every minute of it!

It must be fascinating to observe and play opposite James Taylor Odom as he plays so many roles.

James is such an incredible guy to work with. He does some of the most incredible work. It surprises me when I have the first introduction to each of his characters, how caught off guard I get. He really embodies them fully. From the first day he came in with such a specific idea for each character. He has eight extremely distinct and hilarious takes on these characters. He also brings a whole new flair to it and it is incredible to watch.

So thinking toward the future, do you have a dream role that you would one day like to play?

I would love to do SWEENEY TODD again. There are so many roles. I am a huge Rodgers and Hammerstein fan. I played Billy Bigelow once in CAROUSEL at Texas Shakespeare Festival. I would love to play him again. And Curley in OKLAHOMA would also be great. I am also a huge Sondheim buff. You don't see those shows come around often, so the opportunity to play George in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE would be great. I am drawn to those leading men with flaws who really challenge the audience to decide if they like the things this person does. I like the anti-hero vibe.

Do you have any advice for young performers looking to make it into professional theatre?

You just can't give up. I have friends who are hard workers who give up as soon as the going gets tough. I always say, if you can find anything you love to do other than this, do it. This is a hard business. Really open yourself up to the possibility of more than just one thing. There are incredibly different things to do within this genre that people don't even think about. I have friends who are voice over artists, and fight choreographers. Just try it. You can be anything you want to be. Give your all in trying new things and being open to new things.

Is there anything else you would like readers to know?

I think we could all agree that right now things are a little crazy, in general. Things are a little scary. This show is your chance to take a step back and involve yourself in one specific, hilarious story. Follow the journey of one man in two hours and fifteen minutes and enjoy life. The show will make you laugh harder than you have ever laughed before, and that's an incredible thing. It's such a blast and all I want to do is share it with more people

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER runs at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT October 20-21. Tickets are available at www.palacetheaterct.org, by calling the Box office at 203.346.2000 or in-person at 100 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT

Top Photo: Blake Price

Rehearsal Photos all by Emilio Madrid-Kuser

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