Interview: ELF's Kevyn Morrow

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with BroadwayWorld in Omaha!

Thank you!

First off, can you tell me a little bit about yourself and when you decided that you wanted to be a performer?

Sure! Well, I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. When I was in probably around 5th grade, I saw my older brother in a junior theatre production of Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp. He was one of thousands of kids in this production at Tech High School, and I remember seeing that and saying, "Ooh! I want to do that! I want to do that!" I waited a couple years until I was old enough to audition. They were doing Prince and the Pauper, and I didn't get in, and that just really upset me. It was then I started watching the movie musicals and seeing productions at the Omaha Community Playhouse, and I was bitten by the bug. I think initially it was because I was trying to prove I was as good as my brother, but at the same time I wanted to be like him. That's really when, in terms of performing, I realized this is what I wanted to do.

Since leaving Omaha, you've been performing professionally around the country, as well as overseas, for a few years now. Do you remember your first professional audition experience, and what that was like for you?

Yes. It was for A Chorus Line. During the summer between my first and second year of college, I had won the position of All American College Band Dancer for Walt Disney World. They hired one boy and one girl for Florida, and one boy and one girl for LA. We auditioned in LA, and I don't remember how many people actually auditioned, but I felt very blessed to have been chosen to go to Florida for the summer. While I was there, the girl that had the female position the year before, Lauren Tom, came to see the show. She was playing Connie Wong in a production of A Chorus Line, which was in town at that time. She said, "You know. I think they are looking for a new Ritchie, and I think you may have just missed the auditions that they had here. Let me see if I can arrange something for you." I thought, "Ok sure. Like that's going to happen." But she did! They called me in to audition all by myself with the dance captain of that production, whose name was Alex McCay, and he said, "I don't have the power to hire you, but you really need to be seen. Where will you be in the fall?" I told him I went to college in LA, and he told me that the company would be performing out in LA at that time and that they would call me, which they did. That September they called me in to audition with about 400 other men, and I was fortunate enough to be the only one that was hired on the spot that day. Then I got to call my parents and say, "Guess what? Umm... I'm kind of leaving college." We finally came to the agreement that I would continue to study on the road so I could still get my degree, which I did. So yeah, that was my first professional audition experience.

For those students and young adults who are looking to make the jump out of Omaha to pursue performing as a career, much like you did, do you have any advice?

Wow. Ummm... I want to say, honestly, if you do not have a passion for this, then it is not for you. It has to be almost the only thing you could ever see yourself doing. With that being said, you do need to have something to fall back on in terms of a livelihood in the event that it doesn't happen for you, as well as in the event that you need to supplement your income until it does. It's tough, but don't give up your dream. You will experience more rejection than success. You need that thick skin because you can't let that dissuade you from your dream. And really, if you have the passion, it won't. I've been very fortunate in my career so far. Am I a star? No. Is my name known within this industry? Yes. Do I keep working? Yes. Have I always been doing something that I wanted to be doing? No. It's nowhere near as glamorous as television would make it appear. It's a lot of hard work. I try not to sugarcoat things. I've had many successes, and I've had plenty of disappointments. But if you have that passion for performing, go for it. Just be ready to work.

Since that first audition, your performances have taken you all over the world with theatre productions (including our very own Omaha Community Playhouse, where you earned rave reviews for your performance as Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime), but you also have been very active in film and television. Is there a big difference between Live Theatre and film/television? Do you prefer one over the other?

I will always love the stage. I know it's cliché to say, but there really is something about having that live audience and feeling that response from them, and feeling yourself take them on this emotional journey. It's something very tangible that I do love. In terms of television, which I have been fortune enough in the past year or so to have had many guest spots on different shows, it moves much quicker, which can be challenging initially. But once you figure out the rhythm, it's exhilarating. Many of the directors and producers I've been blessed to work with seem to greatly appreciate stage actors because they are able to recreate that feeling, that emotion the scene requires, repeatedly and accurately, because they are used to doing it and making it fresh eight times a week. Television needs that in terms of continuity. They seem to love that, which is wonderful. Also, with television, since it moves so quickly, it does afford me time to do other projects, whether it be on stage or another television show. Just this past year I was fortunate enough to do guest spots on Law and Order, Elementary, The Good Wife, Hostages, and Person of Interest, which I do have a recurring role on that I am very excited about.

Speaking of filming, as many people know, the musical Elf is based on the popular movie of the same name, and has become a household name in many places. Is the stage production pretty loyal to the story created on the screen? Or are there many differences between the two productions?

I will say that it's pretty loyal. The musical itself includes many of the favorite moments from the film, and have simply been adapted for the stage and music has been added. In many ways, I prefer the stage production to the film because of the musical aspect of it. But many of the scenes are still there, such as the revolving door, as well as the spaghetti with the maple syrup. Those classic scenes from the film are transferred to the stage with the addition of musical numbers and dance numbers. It adds even more of a kind of holiday feeling to it for me. We even have snow!

In the show, you play the store manager. While already memorable in the film, do we get to know him a little more in the stage version?

Well, I named him Gus. He is Gus Tyrell, the store manager. *laughs* You do get to know him a little bit more. You know, it's a cameo role, and I love it! It's nice to sit back and not have to carry a show. I must tell you, I'm really enjoying it. The young man playing Buddy and I have become good friends and I keep looking at him and he's exhausted. He's working so hard and is really wonderful, so it's nice to be able to sit back and watch a bit.

What brought you to audition for this production?

You know, I realized a couple years ago while I was in a production of It's a Wonderful Life during the holiday season that usually around Christmastime I'd been doing a lot of dark plays and heavy pieces. I thought that it would be nice to do something light, like Elf, which has been so fun! Last year around this time, my father was very ill and we lost him just before Christmas. I wanted to make a pact with myself to be a part of a holiday show, if possible, to help not having that weighing on my mind. I also promised myself that I would fly my mom out to wherever that show is. This year we will be in DC, so I am flying her out to see the show and spend Christmas together out there so we can start some new holiday memories. Large role or small role, that's my goal for the holiday season, and Elf has been an absolutely wonderful way to do it. It's happy and joyous.

Is there a part of the show that you most look forward to every night?

There are actually two, I would say. One, which I think is a favorite of everyone, is when Buddy extols what Christmas really is, and it begins to snow onstage. The first time I saw that scene in rehearsals my eyes started to water. I looked over at the girl next to me, who plays the secretary, and she was sobbing. They got us! I do love that moment. The second part is actually the very last part of the show, in the finale. I don't want to spoil the surprise for people who haven't seen the show yet, but who knew I would enjoy what is happening there so much?

What have the audience reactions been like for Elf so far?

They've been terrific! Absolutely incredible! We've seen everything you would expect from the Christmas season. There have been kids on grandpas or dads shoulders and clapping along, and people on their feet at curtain call. It's a very savvy show for adults, and kids get everything out of it that they should get from a holiday show.

Any last thoughts for our Omaha readers?

Be ready to have a happy, joyous, holiday and Christmassy time. It's just plain fun! For me growing up, my favorite Christmas special was Charlie Brown Christmas. I travel with that DVD and pop it in for a good 22 minutes of joy every holiday season. For some people, it was A Christmas Story. For others it was Miracle on 34th St or A Christmas Carol. It seems like the new generation holiday classic happens to be Elf. We have such a fun and joyous holiday show to share with the audiences. Come see us! You won't be disappointed!

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