BWW Interviews: Mike McLean from GUYS AND DOLLS Tour Answers Our Silly Questions

Ladies and gentlemen... meet Mike McLean, a Southern California native currently making his national tour debut as Benny Southstreet in the classic stage musical GUYS AND DOLLS, now performing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through April 19.

Before traveling the country in gangster duds, McLean played Wally in the Hollywood, CA production of the doo-wop musical LIFE COULD BE A DREAM and, yes, Benny in a production of GUYS AND DOLLS in Thousand Oaks, CA. As theater major at the University of Southern California, McLean played John Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE and Billy in the classic musical CAROUSEL.

Right before the tour swings its way to Orange County, we thought we'd play 20 (silly) questions with him...

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Subject: Mike McLean
Hometown: Costa Mesa, CA

Hi Mike! We hear you are originally from the O.C.! Where did you grow up and where did you go to high school / college?

I am absolutely from the O.C.! I went to Newport Harbor High School, and I went on to study theater at USC.

Cool! So, I understand this production of GUYS AND DOLLS is your first national tour! What do you miss the most while being on the road? What's tour life like?

This is my first national tour, and I'm having an amazing time. I'm making great friends and memories. But, life on the road can be hard. One thing I miss most are the amazing $1 pizza slices of NYC.

Describe your GUYS AND DOLLS character Benny Southstreet in one phrase, sentence, or hashtag...

Benny Southstreet: #sidekick

No, it's actually a great part. He's a small time gambler with high hopes, but he's not too bright!

Which number do you look forward to performing each night?

I look forward to performing the title song, "Guys and Dolls" every night. But, I look forward to watching "Take Back Your Mink" every night from the wings!

Fun! So, growing up an Orange County kid, did you know early on that you wanted to be a musical theater performer?

In my junior year of high school, I won a pretty big award from the Southern California Educational Theater Association. That gave me a lot of courage to go ahead and continue studying acting and eventually making it my career.

Who were some of your idols that influenced your love of the performing arts?

I've always been a big fan of the guys before my time: Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra. In fact the movie of Guys and Dolls was one of my early influences. But as a product of my own generation, you better believe I was listening to the Backstreet Boys as well!

Cool! Me too! Okay... time for some lightning round questions! Do you have any pre-show rituals that you do before a performance?

I have three different high fives/hand shakes that have to happen right before curtain each night. With Todd Berkich (Nicely Nicely Johnson): double fist bump with explosions. With John Galas (Big Jule): right-handed punch into an elbow lock. And with Dru Serkes (Rusty Charlie/Joey Biltmore): classic "up top" high five while his voice-over starts the show.

Awesome! Which actor would you want to play YOU in the musical of YOUR life?

Hugh Jackman. Next question!

Haha! Okay, do you have a dream role in another musical you'd like to take on someday?

I know it's kinda corny, but I could probably play Curly in OKLAHOMA forever and die a happy man.

Great pick! Alright, what's the song you love belting in the shower or when you're all alone in the car?

"Hotel California." It's also my karaoke go-to!

What do you like to do on your day(s) off?

Work out, cook, adult beverage, Netflix. Goodnight.

What scares you the most?

Spiders.

I can relate. What is your one guilty pleasure?

Watching Swingers at 2:30 a.m.

What irritates you the most?
Bus days.

And what instantly puts a smile on your face?

Bacon. The smell of it, the taste of it, just the knowledge that it exists makes me smile.

Haha! Okay, if you could trade lives with any one person for one day, who would that person be and why?

Justin Timberlake. He just seems like he's always having a good time.

If you weren't a performer, what other career do you see yourself doing?

Professional baseball player. But I think I'm already past my prime.

Well, you can be in DAMN YANKEES! Alright, any advice for our young readers in BroadwayWorld who want to have a career in musical theater just like you?

What's that old saying: how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice.

Have any funny "blooper" moments that's happened to you during GUYS AND DOLLS you care to share with our readers?

I had a slight choreography meltdown at the beginning of "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" during one performance in Portland. Our stage manager and dance captain were laughing at me pretty hard in the wings.

Oops! Alright, lastly, what has been your absolute favorite moment of the tour experience so far?

On New Year's Eve we played a beautiful theater---The Kravis Center---in West Palm Beach, FL and then took over the lobby bar at our Holiday Inn. It was a pretty fun way to bring in the new year.

Awesome! Thanks for playing along, Mike, and welcome back to Orange County!

Follow Contributing Editor Michael L. Quintos on Twitter: @cre8iveMLQ

Photo of Mike McLean from the National Tour of GUYS AND DOLLS by Patrick R. Murphy/PRM Digital Productions.

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Performances of Big League Productions' GUYS AND DOLLS at Segerstrom Center for the Arts continue through Sunday, April 19, 2015. Tickets can be purchased online at www.SCFTA.org, by phone at 714-556-2787 or in person at the SCFTA box office (open daily at 10 am). Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.

For tickets or more information, visit SCFTA.org.

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