Interview: SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s Coming to Nebraska with Nebraska Natives!

SOMETHING ROTTEN!'s heading to Omaha and someone local along with it. Actually, there are two "local" actors in this wonderfully silly, delightful Tony-nominated hit. One is Daniel Beeman from Bellevue, Nebraska. Daniel is a 2011 graduate of Bellevue West High School and is traveling in his national touring debut as chorus member and understudy for the character of Shakespeare, played by Broadway favorite Adam Pascal. I called Daniel and questioned him a bit about his new career and the show.

You graduated from Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Nebraska. Did you do show choir? Since I am from Papillion, which is right down the road, I know that they have a really good music program.

Yes, absolutely. I did varsity choir and show choir all four years. We always competed at a big competition that we did up at Omaha North.

Oh yeah, the Viking Cup?

Yeah, and we competed a lot against Papillion South's Titanium.

There is such an extensive theater community in the area. Did you ever do any local community theatre while you were still in Omaha?

The only theatre I did in Omaha was a theatre camp as a kid. And I was an extra in one of Bellevue West's production when I was maybe in fourth grade. Other than that, I sang with the Nebraska Choral Arts Society.

I see you got a BA in Journalism and Communication at University of Missouri in Kansas City. Why the switch to musical theatre from writing?

I grew up doing show choir and choir, and theatre itself never really clicked. For whatever reason it wasn't something I ever thought I could pursue professionally. Then, in college down in Kansas City, my roommate pushed me to audition because he knew that I sang, for this community theatre production. So I did that, and then I kind of rediscovered performing and rediscovered theatre. I always knew that I enjoyed writing. I went to state for journalism my senior year and it was just something I always enjoyed and something I wanted to do, but then I found theatre and here I am!

Maybe someday you'll put that together and start writing musicals of your own.

Yeah, you know that thought has occurred to me. This business is just so vast in all its opportunity. It's kinda cool having both.

I was surprised to see that you are a competitive Irish dancer who competed at the World Championships of Irish Dance in Belfast in 2012. How did you pick that up?

My mom had the Lord of the Dance and River Dance tapes and I remember I would always watch them on repeat. I asked my parents if there was a way that I could do it, which led to us finding a local studio, the Craoi na Tire Studio of Irish Dance. I danced with them for ten years, and competed all around the world. It was an incredible experience and I am still very close with that studio.

You indicated that you are interested in offering Master Classes? How does that work?

Yeah, it's kind of cool. Sometimes with the organizing theatre in each town we will teach classes to high schoolers, or maybe audition technique classes at local colleges. When we're in each city, we have most of our days free to see the sights and attractions, but it's cool to actually meet people and work with them. It's just a cool way to connect with the community.

What prompted you to make the big move to New York City?

While I was in college in Kansas City, I was doing shows on top of school and work. As I became more and more heavily involved in the theatre, it felt like the next step. Once I graduated, I stayed and worked in Kansas City for almost a year performing and then made the move about a year and a half ago.

It seems to be working out really well for you.

Yes, it definitely worked out in my favor!

I would think that singing the part of Shakespeare would be the most vocally challenging of all the roles.

Yeah, the style of music that Shakespeare sings is a cool mix of Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, and Freddie Mercury so it's a lot of high-energy rock music. It's so fun to do! Once you just get into the groove of the songs, it's just such a blast to do so it doesn't feel "hard," you know?

You probably have a lot of friends and family coming to the show?

I sure do! I'm always texting my family and my mom is telling me every other day that "these people are coming" and "oh, this person is coming, too." Every night I'm going to see a lot of people I haven't seen in years so it will be fun.

What do you tell your parents about the show? Have they seen it already?

Yes, when we were in St. Louis, and then again to Florida when I went on the first time as Shakespeare. So they've seen me as both the ensemble and as Shakespeare!

I remember when I saw the show for the first time in New York, I laughed through the entire thing. With that, I just encourage everyone to come see it. SOMETHING ROTTEN! is a big, huge, splashy Broadway show with elaborate costumes, amazing dance numbers and lots of humor. It's a great way to introduce Broadway to someone new to theatre and charm musical theatre and Shakespearean aficionados alike.

Local performer Daniel Beeman is just one more reason why SOMETHING ROTTEN! is going to be something great!

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