Latest / The BSB Podcast / Exclusive Interview: Ryan Gigliotti and Tracy Murray of Avon Players' 'The Prince of Egypt'
Transcript
- 0:00Thank you so much Tracy and Ryan for being here today and taking time out of your busy rehearsal schedule.
- 0:04How are you doing?
- 0:06I am doing great.
- 0:07Got the coffee ready to roll today.
- 0:09So yeah, juiced up.
- 0:10We're feeling good.
- 0:11One week out from the show opening.
- 0:13So we're we're we're hyped.
- 0:15It's going great.
- 0:18It is.
- 0:20Yeah, yeah, 100%.
- 0:21But it's it's getting there.
- 0:22I mean, you have moments a month or so in when you think, oh, my God, how are we going to get there?
- 0:27And then all of a sudden, it's like, how do we get here?
- 0:29It's every show.
- 0:29Yeah.
- 0:30But it's it's been great.
- 0:32So we're really excited.
- 0:33I was gonna say, I'm not an actor, but I feel like every week, like I remember marching band and that last week before that big performance was always like, you're just trying to
- 0:41nail it all down and it all comes together in the end and you're just kind of amazed at when it does.
- 0:45Yes, I also did marching band and it was always that of this is this is gonna be horrible and then it's a magical performance at the end of wow we got here.
- 0:54Well yeah and you're and basically you basically just walking on adrenaline alone by that time if you don't you get no sleep like I don't remember how to eat normally and then but
- 1:03it's so exciting it's just it's a blast.
- 1:06Especially with this show because you're doing the Prince of Egypt the musical which is a huge show, you know I've only I've only seen clips and stuff.
- 1:14I've not watched the full pro shot yet.
- 1:15So that's not my to-do list but ah From what I hear from my friend RJ who's in the production.
- 1:21This is a big big production So what is that like to bring this show to stage Tracy?
- 1:28Well, I mean, it's exciting for a couple of reasons.
- 1:31One, because no one's done it around here.
- 1:33So it'll be new uh to the theater scene and not even really just community theater, but I think in the metro Detroit area in general.
- 1:41So that's exciting and uh kind of piggybacking off of, you know, the Wicked movie, which is the same composer for this show, you know, that kind of music.
- 1:52We think audiences will really like that.
- 1:54And it's just huge and epic and
- 1:57sweeping with tons of dance and uh huge numbers and it's just really cool.
- 2:05I don't even know how to say it other than it's just huge.
- 2:08And it's exciting to be a part of that.
- 2:10Yeah, Right's Only just got released, I think, if I recall correctly, towards the end of last year or right around last year.
- 2:17So it's really special for us to be able to do this, you know, some of the first in the time.
- 2:23Yeah.
- 2:24And I think just the show in general.
- 2:26translating the story Moses and everything onto stage when obviously we don't have uh giant walls of water that are moving or seas of blood, but we get to use the power and the
- 2:40magic of theater to make that transform on stage is awesome.
- 2:44It's awesome to see.
- 2:45I think that's one of my favorite things about this show is, I mean, we've all been in shows, uh
- 2:51where there's lots of set pieces and the production scale is huge as far as the set and construction and all that.
- 2:59This is not one of those shows for as big as it is.
- 3:03The story and the moving in and out of scenes and the set is really kind of told by the cast.
- 3:11it's very fluid in that manner.
- 3:13It's really interesting because sometimes they're dancing, sometimes they're part of the palace.
- 3:18It's really interesting.
- 3:21Yeah, I think audiences love it.
- 3:23was going to say the word epic usually comes to mind when you think of Stephen Schwartz who did Wicked and this production.
- 3:29And so this is what you're kind of describing there.
- 3:31It's epic in a different way because it's kind of a minimalistic approach to telling such an epic tale.
- 3:37Right.
- 3:38But the music, like the music itself, I'll tell you, when I first, someone showed the director, when he showed me the video clip of the stage production in London, is it
- 3:49London?
- 3:49Yeah.
- 3:49That opening number, I just, my jaw dropped and I just thought, I have to do this.
- 3:56I have to be a part of this.
- 3:57It was so huge.
- 3:59The music is just huge, but it's, yeah, it's a good thing to be a part of.
- 4:05Yeah.
- 4:05You can see because we're both like,
- 4:07I was gonna say, you're both brimming with excitement.
- 4:09Ryan, what drew you to wanting to audition for this production?
- 4:14Uh, you know, it seems like I'm the only human on the planet who didn't see Prince of Egypt prior to doing the show.
- 4:20you either?
- 4:21All right, cool.
- 4:21One of the same.
- 4:22That's my king for you.
- 4:23That's my king.
- 4:24ah Yeah, I did not see it.
- 4:27Everybody I know uh loves the movie.
- 4:29I was just at a family function.
- 4:31have a couple of cousins that were like, I've watched it.
- 4:33Like, I still watch it as an adult.
- 4:35We watched it a few months ago and I was like, how did I grow up not seeing this?
- 4:38But once I found out that it was
- 4:42Show like this.
- 4:43I had a couple friends that reached out and said hey, I would like to audition Do you know the music I was like I've heard of the movie but whatever once I heard that and then yeah,
- 4:52I watched some pieces from the West End production.
- 4:55It's just It's so cool.
- 4:57And like you said earlier, it is like an epic like the music draws you in so hard and Like you will feel the emotions Stephen Schwartz just it draws you in
- 5:09You feel the emotions, you feel attached to the characters.
- 5:12ah Everything about it, the acting just really pulls you in.
- 5:16And it's a story that we all know.
- 5:19Right.
- 5:19So there's like a sense of familiarity to it, too, that it just it feels fresh, but also familiar that you can really relate to.
- 5:28think the music, too, is this is well, this is one of those shows that you could bring younger people to.
- 5:34mean, I think even.
- 5:35When did the movie come out?
- 5:36the eighties or nineties?
- 5:39So people, know, people probably remember seeing it as a young person themselves, if not, you know, have shown it to their children themselves.
- 5:46But I think there's a lot of music in this show.
- 5:48This is one things I like about it.
- 5:49It's one of those shows where there's, there's a number of songs that, will just get in your head and you'll just be singing them because they're just so beautiful.
- 5:58It means Sweeney Todd was a little different vocally, but uh yeah, I think, I think.
- 6:05it'll just make people smile.
- 6:08So, yeah.
- 6:09speaking to both you both said there, you know, this is one of the first films that really kicked off DreamWorks before Shrek and stuff like that.
- 6:15Like because of the success of this film.
- 6:17uh granted I was seven years old and somehow I missed it too.
- 6:20I still have never seen the animated production, but it really did kind of there's like a nostalgic factor with this.
- 6:25People are kind of growing with the show now and getting to see it locally in front of them is epic.
- 6:31Again, epic is the word that keeps coming to mind.
- 6:34uh
- 6:36I was just going to say too, I think, and again, because we're doing it, one of the first groups to do it and to do it here, ah we're just, hoping obviously that there's a lot of
- 6:45people that live in this area in the Rochester, ah Sterling Heights, Shelby area, all of this area that don't even know that this theater is here.
- 6:52So to bring something this big ah to this community and hopefully it'll spread the word about, you know, the great productions that they do here.
- 7:00It's just, it's just a joy.
- 7:03Absolutely.
- 7:04So for those who maybe aren't familiar with the story, Ryan, what's kind of the story of the Prince of Egypt and who are you playing within the show?
- 7:12Yeah.
- 7:13So it's a story of Moses and Ramses who grow up in ancient Egypt and it's through the rise of freeing of the Hebrews.
- 7:27Moses, um you know, spoiler alert, ah not like it's only been out for a million years, you know, is adopted.
- 7:36I know adopted into the royal family raised in there.
- 7:42and then has a calling through God um to have a destiny of freeing the Hebrew people.
- 7:50And there's some huge themes in there where it's, you know, the fear of accepting God's call and the doubt and really having him having the courage to trust in God's plan.
- 8:05So there's just huge, huge motives in there.
- 8:09And uh
- 8:10It's pretty great to go through it all.
- 8:12And I actually play the father.
- 8:14So I play the Pharaoh before Ramses ends up taking over and his whole internal conflict with Moses, Ramses and Moses.
- 8:24This is my queen.
- 8:28I am Tuya.
- 8:30I am his wife.
- 8:31I am the queen.
- 8:32I am I actually am the one that finds Moses in floating in the basket in the river.
- 8:39in the Nile and uh bring him into the family, basically adopt him as our own.
- 8:45um So she's a great character because she's very nurturing, um but she also always understands her duty uh as the queen.
- 8:57And even though this one can be tough, as the king, know, she tries, I think she's a good balancer between knowing that she has to be loyal to what he wants
- 9:09what he needs for his people, but also to be a supportive mother to Ramses and Moses, the two boys, and to nurture Moses when he realizes that he's a Hebrew.
- 9:22So it's a great part.
- 9:23It's not a heavy, heavy part, but there's um poignant moments in there, and we're having a great time.
- 9:32So it's good to play opposite Ryan, yeah.
- 9:35gonna say you have, it seems like such a role that you have to balance a lot of different aspects to who she is and who she is in regards to Ryan's character, the Pharaoh.
- 9:46But there's probably a great dynamic between the two of you, you know, getting to play off each other with that.
- 9:49Yeah.
- 9:50Yeah.
- 9:52I actually really like it because after seeing the animated version, the musical stage play really fleshes out the Pharaoh more to where in the animated version, he is very much
- 10:04portrayed as just straight villain.
- 10:06But in this, there are really some great moments to show more of the man behind the Pharaoh, who is a loving father, who loves his wife.
- 10:17and we really have a great chance to explore that relationship.
- 10:21Yeah, I've had no idea who Tracy was before this show.
- 10:23Yeah, we just met.
- 10:24We do so great on stage and we are still finding moments.
- 10:28I think it was literally last rehearsal where I'm like, hey, what about if we try this, try this?
- 10:32So we are literally still growing and what the show still opens in a week.
- 10:37So we have not peaked yet.
- 10:38We are still on our way.
- 10:39Well, that's yeah, that's and that's that's a great thing about where exactly where we are in the process, because these you know, these shows are so
- 10:47huge in that you spend the first month just sitting there learning vocals and then you spend the next couple weeks figuring out where you're supposed to stand and then another
- 10:56week where you try to make it all flow together and then there are a million costumes and jewelry and things that have to go with everything else we're doing.
- 11:07So remember when you have to do quick changes and things like that.
- 11:10But since we're getting so close now, we're kind of at that point where all of that is gelling so that
- 11:16when we have these moments where it was like, it seemed like it would be natural to maybe do this or add that.
- 11:22And they give us a lot of creative freedom to really make our characters the best they can be.
- 11:28So that's been fun.
- 11:29So we keep adding little things.
- 11:30We do.
- 11:31It's been great.
- 11:32Not too much.
- 11:33Not too Yeah.
- 11:35So what is kind of your process then for developing a character such as this Tracy?
- 11:39I mean it sounds like you have, know, there's a lot of technical aspects at the beginning of this and you're kind of still fine-tuning that, but how do you approach a character
- 11:46when you kind of get that script for this role?
- 11:48Well, you know, it's interesting.
- 11:50It's interesting and kind of funny in a way because I'm now at that point in my life where I seem to be getting a lot of the mom roles, not saying I'm old, but you know, it's
- 11:59happening and I don't actually have any of my own children, but I am, you know, a very nurturing kind of person.
- 12:06So it's just, for me, it's trying to, you know, when you have enough life experience as I do to just really try to find, uh
- 12:17just really find what it means uh and feel it, not just saying the lines, but just, but really feeling it.
- 12:22Like how would these two boys, uh how do they need me?
- 12:25How does he need me?
- 12:27Who needs me to be what, when?
- 12:29So I'm really just kind of compartmentalizing when I need to be stoic as the queen, when I need to be supportive for the sons, you know, just, it's like subtle things like that.
- 12:40And it's not a huge role from a lot of lines or things, but the ones that I do have.
- 12:47they can all be told the right way if you're feeling it, if really feeling it too.
- 12:51So I mean, I don't know if that really answered your question, but.
- 12:54Sure, also I've heard I from my drama teacher back in the day that there's no such thing as small roles So just remember that you
- 13:00well, you know what I mean.
- 13:01Like, I don't have to carry the show myself, um but yeah, I just try to think about what this in this particular role, what I need to be for each of these characters at various
- 13:12points in the story and try to tell it the best way I can.
- 13:16How for you, how do you develop a character such as the Pharaoh?
- 13:22I mean, it's piggybacking off what I said earlier.
- 13:26It was exactly that.
- 13:27Like after seeing the animated version, it was hard for me to just imagine that it was just a just a straight villain.
- 13:35um And early on, I would just do line readings over and over.
- 13:39And I would literally go to Tracy and be like, I think we can probably fit in a moment here, here, here, here, here, because I would try and find moments where I'm not just
- 13:49some straight rule, I'm not just chastising, like I wanted to show the love and the depth of me outside of just being a ruler.
- 13:57So you're like, I don't think I should be mean the whole time.
- 14:00Well, yeah, I mean, it was just it's, found really great ways and good moments to where there's like breaks from the chaos to where I can really show the emotion or maybe in, you
- 14:12know, a moment of anger, I can just grab Tracy's hand or something because
- 14:19You know, she grounds him in a way.
- 14:23And it's not just him ruling.
- 14:25Like there is some extra power behind the throne.
- 14:27And I think he gets a lot of his power, charisma and feeling from her as well, keeping him in check.
- 14:35All right, chill, calm yourself down.
- 14:37It's so sweet.
- 14:38It's true.
- 14:39It is true.
- 14:40But yeah, I think really just trying to establish the relationships with everyone else around everyone really helps me shape how I.
- 14:48approach each scene and whatnot.
- 14:50trying to find that humanity in the character.
- 14:53Yeah, 100%.
- 14:54Yes, exactly.
- 14:57So Tracy, you had mentioned earlier that there's quite an interesting way that the ensemble is kind of being used in the scenes with the set.
- 15:05um How do you feel like that helps tell the story visually?
- 15:10Well, I mean, I can't, I don't want to tell too much because I don't want to give it away because there's some really amazing, really amazing things that happen even right from the
- 15:18very beginning.
- 15:20But I mean, I would say this might be a strange answer, but we kind of live in an instant gratification world and, you know, a lot of stimulus, right?
- 15:31With internet and all these kinds of things.
- 15:32I feel like having the ensemble be doing a lot of these fluid moments and telling the story with their dance.
- 15:40um is very, it's just interesting, visually interesting.
- 15:44So I think that hour and half or hour and 20 minutes that the first act is, it's just nonstop.
- 15:50So there really aren't, there really aren't moments as even in the first act where you're just sitting there watching one person walking around singing or talking.
- 15:59So it's just uh constant visual stimulation and along with the beautiful music is amazing.
- 16:06And then you finally get to the second act and there are some, that's when you,
- 16:10you really get in touch with some of the leads in these power ballads.
- 16:13And it's just a neat way to tell the story, having the ensemble, have them do it through dance and uh becoming the set pieces.
- 16:24It's really interesting.
- 16:25Yeah, having them part of the set pieces is pretty great because sometimes they are part of pillars or walls.
- 16:33it's almost like with the hieroglyphics, the scene comes alive more than just the actors on stage.
- 16:40They are part of the living history that's making up like past, present, and like the future stuff to come that's foretold by like, you know, the classic God moments, giving
- 16:50prophecies and stuff.
- 16:51So it's really great thematically.
- 16:54was gonna say, you took the words right out of my mouth.
- 16:55This is kind of making it feel more like a living story.
- 17:00Every book you pick up, it's living as long as you're reading it, and this is kind of carrying that message through.
- 17:05Yeah.
- 17:06That was well said.
- 17:07Yeah.
- 17:07It's good way to put it.
- 17:08Thank you.
- 17:09Yeah.
- 17:10Ryan, how do you feel like this role has challenged you as an actor?
- 17:12I'm
- 17:13Hmm, great question.
- 17:15I don't even know if how I would answer that question.
- 17:18Well, think.
- 17:19Oh, jeez.
- 17:21I think a big thing is like, because I'm like not I'm not a father, so I don't have children in there.
- 17:28But I think in a way, it was good to explore the relationship of having two loves and two duties in that sense to where, like, sure, my family is a priority.
- 17:45But so is Egypt.
- 17:48you know, in every normal day lives, we may have something where we put our kids first, but now there's the added aspect of I am Pharaoh.
- 17:58If I put my kids first, do I doom an entire nation?
- 18:02Because in that instance, like the nation probably has to come first.
- 18:07And I think that's a huge thing that plays into the story is that when it comes to Ramses, he is
- 18:15the future ruler, so he is way harder on him and less fatherly-like because he knows of the future responsibilities his son is going to have.
- 18:25So it's really trying to find the balance of, yes, I do love my family, but I want to set them up for it.
- 18:33So I feel like need to be extra hard, but I need to be the ruler too.
- 18:39So it's been good trying to find that fatherly balance, but also the ruler of a nation.
- 18:45I mean, I think my answer would pretty much be the same thing because it's how do you let the audience see uh these characters uh when they're in their royal duty and then when
- 19:03they're trying to be supportive for their kids and sometimes it has to switch fast.
- 19:08And how do the people, how do they view them?
- 19:12I mean, it's just...
- 19:13It's, they're interesting characters because they have to play both sides, but they have to let everyone has to know that they are in control and that they have a duty, but
- 19:24they're not heartless, you know?
- 19:26So it is challenging in that way.
- 19:29I was going say that dichotomy that exists in a ruling class of people has to be hard because you still are humans at one point with families, but you have a legion of people
- 19:39that you have to lead as well.
- 19:40Well, even to that point too, we've spent some time, basically spent some time practicing being royal.
- 19:47So I mean, everything from the way you carry yourself and the way you walk, your subtle looks, the way they would or would not react in situations like a normal person would
- 19:59maybe be spastic about something, they always have to be very reserved and um just trying to figure out how to wear that royal.
- 20:08You know, it's interesting.
- 20:11It's challenging.
- 20:13But we got it.
- 20:14you do, you do, you have this.
- 20:16So switching to the music, we had kind of talked that this is, know, the Stephen Schwartz musical, that there's very sweeping numbers.
- 20:22ah Tracy, what is our favorite number to perform, but maybe also what is our favorite number to hear that just every night you can't wait to look forward to it?
- 20:30Good question.
- 20:30Oh my gosh.
- 20:33See, Ryan's going to say it better be my song.
- 20:35Absolutely.
- 20:38You know, I think probably one of my favorite ones to perform is the opening number because that literally, it deliver us is what it's called, but that literally, just, uh
- 20:52it's a long sweeping number that has a bunch of phases to it that end up
- 21:00you know, resulting in Moses coming down the river.
- 21:03But the music is unbelievable.
- 21:07I love that number.
- 21:08It's just one of those ones where you get through the first number and you think, if we don't have the audience by now, the show is over and we're going to have them because that
- 21:18opening number is amazing.
- 21:19But there are a ton of those in this show.
- 21:21um I think to listen to, was, Moses has a solo in the second act.
- 21:29is one where I literally am crying.
- 21:32There's a combo of solos.
- 21:34I'm not going to give it away.
- 21:36Moses and Queen Nefertari have solos that I'm crying.
- 21:39I'm not the only one crying backstage.
- 21:41They're so beautiful.
- 21:43Yeah, it's good.
- 21:44It's a good cry.
- 21:46is.
- 21:47Yes.
- 21:51Thank you.
- 21:51Tag me and Coach, I was ready.
- 21:55I think also Deliver Us as well.
- 21:58um
- 22:00because that is something I get to be on stage for prior to being the Pharaoh.
- 22:05um But it is, it's very, very powerful, really sets up the show.
- 22:10um And vocally, I sing like tenor, so it fits very well in the range too, which is also fun.
- 22:17So it's a lot of energy for that one.
- 22:19um And I think my favorite song is what you were referring to, is Moses's For the Rest of My Life.
- 22:26Yes.
- 22:26um Yeah.
- 22:29It really has just some great themes going back and forth of, you know, accepting, um you know, God's plan and everything else and moving forward.
- 22:40But really, the line that catches me ah is at the, towards the end of the number.
- 22:46um For the rest of my life, how will I get through?
- 22:52And uh that just really catches my heart every time because I feel like
- 22:57I know, we all can relate to certain things of like trying to accept something or get through something.
- 23:03And, you know, we always think of like, how can I go on after this happened?
- 23:08And, ah you know, and this it's spoken through such a huge major piece with Moses.
- 23:14So it's very relatable.
- 23:16And yeah, it gets me every time.
- 23:18We also I also like when you believe obviously a lot of people know that that song is one of the famous songs from the movie.
- 23:25ah
- 23:26and the recording, that's the one that...
- 23:29Houston, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston did it.
- 23:31But that song is amazing too.
- 23:35So that's one that, you know, people will, most people might recognize it.
- 23:39If you didn't, you'll be singing it when you walk out of the theater because ah it's just beautiful.
- 23:44Yeah.
- 23:45Yeah.
- 23:45that's one of the ones that won the Tony Awards, I'm pretty sure.
- 23:48Yes.
- 23:49Yeah.
- 23:50It's amazing.
- 23:51It's amazing.
- 23:52I'm sorry.
- 23:54Yeah, because I think it was best original song.
- 23:57Because I think you touched on it earlier, because I think that was the first ah one outside of Disney and Pixar to actually win um that award.
- 24:06Yeah.
- 24:07Yeah.
- 24:08Yeah.
- 24:09I also want to know Ryan if you how you know my questions before you even ask them because next the next question was going to be about what themes resonate with you the most and
- 24:16you were already talking about themes and I was like I was like is he mind reading over there?
- 24:21wicked smart, this one is.
- 24:23I do have mind powers, so I mean, it is true.
- 24:26That's hilarious.
- 24:27Well.
- 24:28So what themes from this show speak to you?
- 24:31And Ryan, you already answered, but if you have other themes that speak to you as well, feel free to throw them in here.
- 24:36If not, Tracy, I'm gonna let you take the floor.
- 24:38Go ahead, Tracy.
- 24:39Oh, okay.
- 24:41right.
- 24:41If I think of anything bonus, I'll throw it in there.
- 24:45I think I think one of the themes that that that I like is that figuring out who you want to be and choosing your path.
- 24:55And like you use the word courage and not being afraid of what other people think.
- 25:02And just going after what you feel you need to do, you know, regardless.
- 25:08Regardless, just think, I think that's just like a um you know, a life lesson that everybody can take out of this is that you gotta trust your own heart and not be afraid to
- 25:20make hard choices.
- 25:21And I like that theme.
- 25:25And just the, you know, the battle with the battle between the boys even with, you know, duty versus what's in their heart.
- 25:36um
- 25:39you know, trying to, it's hard to please everyone.
- 25:42You have to please yourself first.
- 25:43So I think there's a lot of that in this and the characters trying to be true to themselves in the story.
- 25:49So good lessons.
- 25:51Yeah.
- 25:51feel like we, I feel like we see that too often in society.
- 25:55And I feel like I have friends too that we care so much about what everybody else thinks what will happen.
- 26:03And it does, it takes courage to take.
- 26:07big steps and big choices, but once you finally give in, you know, and you accept yourself and, you know, your courage to move forward, you really just have such a payoff at the
- 26:19end.
- 26:21I just, yeah, belief is such a huge, huge theme in this that I feel like everybody can relate Yeah, and hope.
- 26:28mean, hope and miracles and belief and, you know, just, I mean, those are great lessons.
- 26:33Yeah, there's a lot of that in this.
- 26:35Yeah, 100%.
- 26:37And there's a lot of beauty to that story that hopefully audiences will take away and have just a wonderful time with the Prince of Egypt.
- 26:44Yeah.
- 26:44It's gonna be amazing.
- 26:45Buy your tickets.
- 26:47Thank you Tracy and Ryan so much for being here with me today.
- 26:50I won't keep it any longer.
- 26:51I know you guys gotta get ready for rehearsal, but we are very appreciative to have you here and we are looking forward to the show.
- 26:57Thank very much for having us.
- 26:58It's been good.
- 26:59Great.
- 27:00Yep.
- 27:00For anybody that doesn't have the info, avonplayers.org and there's still time to get season tickets for a discount for the year, but come see us.
- 27:08It's going to be amazing.
- 27:09the Prince of Egypt, the musical arrives at Avon Players on September 12th and runs through the 27th.
- 27:14So get your tickets now and we'll see you at the show.
- 27:17Thank you.
- 27:17Thank you.