BWW Interviews: Michael McArthur - NJ Native in Paper Mill's CAN-CAN

New Jersey native, Michael McArthur is a member of the ensemble in the upcoming Paper Mill Playhouse production of Can-Can. Directed by David Lee, Can-Can will be on the Millburn stage from October 1st through October 26th. We had an opportunity to interview McArthur prior to the show's opening.

Can-Can tells the story of Pistache, a Parisian cafe owner who decides to feature the scandalous dance, the Can-Can. But will her defiance of the law end her business, and her love life? This great new revival is heading to Broadway so this is a great time to see it.

McArthur is not new to the Paper Mill stage. He was a recipient Paper Mill's prestigious Rising Star Award when he attended Howell High School. He calls the award, the "Tony's of High Schools in New Jersey" McArthur stated, "It was definitely a night I will never forget. It was my senior year in 2004 and I was nominated for my role of Bobby Childs in Crazy for You at Howell High School. Every performance that night was at a caliber greater than you would have expected from a high school. It's such a great program and coming back to Paper Mill as a working professional makes the entire journey worth it.

McArthur also previously performed at Paper Mill Playhouse with Newsies. McArthur spoke about being a part of the Newsies cast "Being a part of Newsies from the beginning was an incredible experience all on its own, but having it at Paper Mill, in my home state, at a place I came to my whole life to see shows, was the cherry on top." His other favorite credits include roles in Smash, Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Hello, Dolly at Cape Playhouse.

We asked McArthur when he first took an interest in the performing arts. "Performing and dancing has always been in my blood. It is the last thing I think about before bed, and the first thing I think about when I wake up. In third grade was when my mother first enrolled me at Gallery of Dance in Freehold, NJ. There, I began to study the basics of tap, jazz, and ballet and first fell in love. Sophomore year of High School I was accepted into the Fine and Performing Arts Center (FPAC) at Howell High School in the dance department. As well as all forms of dance, voice lessons and acting classes were part of my curriculum. Lisa Twamley was my main dance teacher there and she opened my eyes to the realization that I could make a career out of this. From there, I went on to Marymount Manhattan College where I received my B.F.A in Dance under the direction of the incomparable Katie Langan."

When asked about his mentors, McArthur said, "As cliché as it may sound, my personal mentor is without a doubt my Mom. It is from her that I received my work ethic as well as my outlook on life. She showed and taught me that if you want something in life it is only up to you to make it happen."

McArthur also spoke of John Charron who is the Associate Choreographer for Paper Mill's Can-Can. "John was one of the first directors/choreographers I was able to work closely with at the beginning of my career. He has helped me grow as a performer more than anyone else I have worked with and I will forever be grateful. I first met John in 2005 when I worked for Holland America Cruise Line where John pretty much does everything, show direction, choreography, concepts, you name it he does it and he does it brilliantly." He also said, "As a male dancer it is refreshing to have a male role model who has already done what I'm doing and is now doing what I hope to be doing down the road. Everyone who works closely with John comes out a better performer and person, and I hope to have that same effect on people someday."

McArthur has high praise for Paper Mill Playhouse. "Out of all the regional theaters I have worked at, Paper Mill Playhouse is by far the greatest. Everyone who works there are genuinely good people; it must be in the Jersey air. Its close proximity to NYC makes it easy for them to hire the best of the best in terms of both cast and creative. Working on Can-Can so far reminded me again why Paper Mill has the reputation it does."

McArthur is certain that Millburn audiences will be captivated by Can-Can. "This is musical theater in all its glory. There is romance, laughs, a gorgeous set that takes you to another place, beautiful costumes, epic dance numbers, and music you will be humming on your way home. This production will be a full feast for the senses. Individually you have Ann Hould-Wards costumes that will remind you why she's a Tony winner. Patti Colombo, along with John Charron, is delivering exhaustingly spectacular choreography. We started working on the 'can-can supreme' right away in rehearsals and this number alone is worth the ticket price. Our director David Lee knows funny, so it's safe to say you will be sore from laughter as you exit the theater. Then there is the cast; everyone is at the top of their game. It is overwhelming already watching these 8 girls perform the can-can. It is almost impossible to decide who to watch because each one is individually gorgeous and talented. So, add all of that up with a classic Cole Porter score on top, and you can rest assured you are in for an unforgettable night at the theater.

McArthur is currently a resident of New York City but enjoys his close association with his home state. "I love the city but New York City gets cold sometimes, while New Jersey is always warm and welcoming. I always look forward to going home to either, teach, perform or just visit. I'm proud to call myself a product of New Jersey. We do what is being done in 'the greatest city in the world' but with a constant, relaxed smile on our face."

After the close of Can-Can in October, McArthur has more to look forward to in his successful career. He said, "Immediately after Can-Can closes I will be going to do my 7th consecutive year with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. This year, I will be in the Nashville, Tennessee cast. After that however, I have no clue. I could have never predicted what the past 10 years gave me, so I will not start guessing what the next 10 will be like. I take life as it comes, day by day. If I had to pick something, it would be to work on a Feature Film. Also, when my performance career starts to wind down, and my knees start to give out, I plan on getting my masters in dance/choreography. I would love to teach at a collegiate level and pass on everything I have. I am optimistic that I will continue to learn in a long and successful career"

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Paper Mill Playhouse

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