Interview: Maggie Lakis of SOMETHING ROTTEN! at The Bushnell

It is rare these days to have the chance to see an all new, original musical comedy. But audiences in Hartford will have the chance to do just that when SOMETHING ROTTEN!, the Tony nominated Broadway musical plays the Bushnell Theatre in Hartford January 30 - February 1. Playing Bea, eager and enthusiastic wife of Nick Bottom, will be Maggie Lakis, who sat down with me to talk about this hilarious and entertaining show.

BWW: Maggie, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me today. We are really looking forward to SOMETHING ROTTEN! in Hartford!

Maggie: Thanks. We are excited too!

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

My parents were into movie musicals like OKLAHOMA, CAROUSEL, and WEST SIDE STORY. I was raised with that in the background, so I always loved musicals. In school I did chorus and then started to audition for musicals. I remember during my junior year we did OKLAHOMA and I played Laurey and it was the first time people started saying "Hey, you are good!" who weren't my family members. So I thought, " Maybe I can do this!" I went to school for theatre at Temple University, and just started auditioning. It has been a gradual process from there.

SOMETHING ROTTEN is a new show for many people. How would you describe it to someone who is not familiar?

It is important to say it is new. It is not an adaptation or a revival, so people don't always know what they are getting when they show up to the theatre. The most important thing to know is it is funny. It is the story of two brothers who are contemporaries of Shakespeare. One brother goes to a soothsayer to find out what the next thing in theater will be and is told it will be musicals. So he sets out to write the first musical. He also tries to find out what Shakespeare's biggest hit will be too, so he is trying to write a musical and get ahead of Shakespeare as well. The soothsayer sees some visions that the audience will find quite familiar, even though Nick doesn't know what he is talking about.

It is interesting to point out that SOMETHING ROTTEN! is a completely new musical, which is rare these days.

I get that there is a risk in that because people like to know what they are getting but it is also so fun for us, because there are some surprises in the show that we know the audience has no idea is coming. It is really fun to hear genuine laughter, which is so wonderful, especially at this time when the news is so serious, I feel like people are eager to sit back and laugh. It is rare to be working on a new piece, but is very exciting to bring it across the country.

And you play Bea, which seems like a really fun role to play.

It is so much fun! I get a great song right off the bat and get to be silly and she gets to wear these disguises in the show, so I get to play her playing different characters and her getting to have some power because she disguises herself as a man a few times. It is so fun. We say that Bea is the first feminist, not in a political way, but she wants to be her husband's partner. She wants to help and wants him to let her help him.

What do you look forward to the most before you step out on stage each night?

Every show you have certain markers where you check in on the audience. There are a couple of those. The musical number "Musical" is certainly one where you can definitely hear how the audience is experiencing the show. It is different for each audience to see what they will like the best, either the physical humor or the musical numbers, etc. Sometimes it is the humor of Bea and Nick's relationship and the things that we are still dealing with even now.

And what is really interesting is you get to perform with your husband, Rob McClure, and not only that, you get to play his wife. What has that been like?

It is awesome! This is our fifth time working together, though our first time playing husband and wife. We met playing Doody and Frenchie in GREASE so we were coupled off in that and we have performed together as Kate and Princeton in AVENUE Q, but never have we been a married couple. It is just great. There is an ease about working with the person you know better than anyone else. My role is so fun that I get to come and go and exacerbate him a bit, but he hardly ever leaves the stage, so it is nice to come out and check on him a little then leave and come back later. Rob is such a dynamic performer and he gives so much of himself, especially when it comes to comedy. He is just so fearless, so it is wonderfull to get to be with him on stage and have some fun with him out there.

And it must make touring a bit more bearable being together?

Absolutely. Normally touring takes you away from your family, so it cuts the homesickness in half because you have your partner with you. You get to go to these cities together and go exploring and sightseeing. We have been driving a lot on this tour so we also get to see all the stops in between too. We even rented an RV a few times and have seen so much more of the country by doing that. We also have our cat with us. This is his second tour with us. He is an easygoing and calm guy and he makes every hotel room feel like home.

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

There are so many! We recently drove from Salt Lake City to Fort Worth and we listened to musicals since it is a great way to keep your brain active. One of the ones we listened to was PARADE which would be a great show to do together. We also both have done LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, but never together which would be fun. I would love to do SWEENEY TODD one day, I would love to play Mrs. Lovett. I have a little time for that one but I have something to look forward to!

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

I would say see as much theatre as you can see and audition as often as you can, and take as many classes as you can. All of these things will give you more references and more at your fingertips to bring forward when you start working. It helps you as an artist to see more things. The other thing I would say is to take care of yourself. It is a hard business in terms of morale and being physically demanding. Being healthy and finding ways to take care of yourself is important. Anything that makes you happy, whether it is eating healthy, or taking care of your voice, your body, or your mind, is very important.

Is there anything else you would like readers to know?

I think the most important thing is if they come to see SOMETHING ROTTEN! they are going to laugh. They are going to see everything they want to see in a big musical theatre comedy - beautiful costumes, great dancing and great songs, and a lot of laughter.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! runs at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, CT January 30 - February 4. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $22.50. Tickets are available online at bushnell.org, by phone at 860-987- 5900, or at The Bushnell box office, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford.

Top Photo: Maggie Lakis and Rob McClure. © Jeremy Daniel

Middle Photo: Cast of the Something Rotten! National Tour. © Jeremy Daniel

Bottom Photo: Adam Pascal and the cast of the Something Rotten! National Tour. © Jeremy Daniel

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