Profile of the Month: Andy Mientus plus In Town Press, E. Lansing

Profile of the Month: Andy Mientus

1. Have you ever gotten sick of performing the same show night after night?

This is a show I could never be sick of. It is such an intense piece with music that I connect to so personally. Of course, there are the nights when I'm really pumped up and can't wait for each new scene, and then the quieter nights where I just feel very lucky to be part of something so beautiful, but truly I am still on the honeymoon.

2. Who/what do you miss the most while away on tour?

I miss my mom a lot and all of my friends back home and at Michigan. My old life, really. On the nights when I get emotional in Left Behind, it's from thinking about all of those things that I had to leave behind for now.

3. What is it like when an understudy goes on in a role? Does it make the performance more difficult? Does it change your character?

Our company is pretty healthy on the whole, so understudies going on is still a relatively rare thing. For example, I've never done the Vineyard with anyone other than Ben, except for in rehearsal. When it does happen, we're all just so thrilled to see the understudy get to shine and to see what new discoveries they make in the role. Hanschen doesn't really interact with anyone other than Ernst, so I think I stay pretty constant despite who's on, though there have been times when I've forgotten to sing in Touch Me because I was listening to a Georg cover's riffs!

4. How do you deal with critique? Do you ever work outsiders' suggestions into your performance or do you prefer to perform completely by your own ideas/previous direction?

It is my job to perform my role as directed, so I just try my hardest to do that and not listen to any outside critique. As with all art, no two people will see my performance the same way, and I certainly can't please everyone, but as long as my bosses and my scene parter are happy, I'm happy. The rest is really none of my business.

5. After being so active with "I Believe..." on Facebook, what is it like to be on the other side and actually IN the show? Most fans say things and have opinions about what goes on with cast members and in the show. Do you ahve anything you once said or thought when you were a fan that has completely changed when actually living the life you used to talk about?

Transitioning from a fan to a cast member was beyond surreal and I still pinch myself occasionally. I feel very lucky to have been a fan first, because I think I could never become jaded about the show, no matter how many performances or rehearsals we reach. It could never just be a job for me, given my history. Also, I totally understand what it's like to be on the other side of the stagedoor line. I hope everyone out there knows that if ever a cast member doesn't come out, can't stay long, or seems distant or unfriendly, it is for some bizarre reason that has nothing to do with the fans. We all really do enjoy meeting fans at the stagedoor, because often it is their stories that inspire us to perform to our fullest the next time. But sometimes, you eat a bad burrito and just can't make it out, you know?

Being on the "inside" now, I can say it is really funny how much some fans think they know about the show, the future of the show, our personal lives, etc. So often, people will come up to us after the show and say something like, "So I know so and so is leaving on X date and will be replaced by blank. Is that going to be weird considering what happened with such and such?" and we just have to laugh. It's always like, well, that's news to me!

6. What has been your best/most memorable moment on the tour so far?

There have been so many incredible, hilarious, moving, and surprising moments on tour so far. A short list would include:
-Doing the show on Election Night and finding out the results right before Touch Me
-Kate Fugeli (our original Adult Women u/s) throwing us a party in LA with In and Out and Superbad
-Bowing a record 4th curtain call at our official opening in San Fran
-The rowdy student show at 10am in LA
-Our last rehearsal in New York, doing the whole show on the O'Neill stage for the Broadway cast, old and new
-Sending Kate off the same night that the Broadway production closed

7. What do you think you would want to do if you weren't an actor?

I always enjoyed English and creative writing classes in High School and college. Though my brother was an English major, so I couldn't copy him. When I was little, I really wanted to be a backup singer, like you see on SNL or Letterman. You know how there's always like two girls and one guy and they're usually in black turtlenecks? Or at least they were in the 90s. Like that!

8. At this point in the tour, how many times do you think you've had to bleach the roots of your hair? Is it a pain or do you prefer your hair blond?

Oh my gosh, dozens. We do it every two weeks. Half the time we do just the roots, and the other half we do the full bleach, which is much more involved and painful. It is a total pain in the ass, but I couldn't imagine my character without the shocking blonde hair, so it's all worth it! Our hair guy, Kevin, is a total genius too, and I owe the fact that I have any hair left after so many processes to him.

9. What was your first stage kiss like...or was Ben your first?

Ben was my first boy kiss (we were called back together, way back when!) and he's a dreamboat, so I can't complain, but my first stage kiss was in my 8th grade production of The Music Man. There was music, and there were wonderful roses (they tell me).

10. What's it like seeing throngs of people lined up each night and are there any particularly memorable moments that have stuck with you?

It is always great to see lots of fans afterward- I think it shows that we connected with them so much that night that they'd like to meet us personally. Just the other night I had some fan's mother mess my hair, like REALLY hard as soon as I walked out of the door. I was thinking, "Lady, I know you totally just watched me jerk off and all, but do you always touch strangers so aggressively?!"

11. What's your favorite...

a) City on the tour?

Seattle and Minneapolis are tied. Both had such amazing culture and REALLY great audiences. If actors didn't have to live in New York or LA, I would totally live in one of those places.

b) Broadway show?

Rent was my favorite Broadway show, and Hedwig is my favorite Off-Broadway show.

c) Movie?

Probably Superbad. I swear, someone had me on hidden camera my whole High School experience. I relate to that movie in a big way!

d) TV show?

Gossip Girl is my guilty pleasure (Wouldn't Ed Westwick make a SICK Hanschen?!) and Summer Heights High is my current favorite.

e) snack?

Something healthy, like nuts or cheese

f) Fraggle from Fraggle Rock?

I'm not THAT old, dude! I can't even remember when that was on.

g) Viral YouTube video?

Until they took it down, there was this AMAZING video called "Joe's Models for WEB." I hope some of you out there were lucky enough to see it. I can always watch "Washington"- let me lay it on the line, he had two on the vine.

12. How does the cast pick rooms with each other in the hotels? Do you get assigned people or do you just choose who you want to room with?

We can room with whoever we want, or alone. If you room with someone, you save money. I try to switch it up, but I've lived the most with Lucas.

13. Has the hectic tour life stifled your creativity? Are you still able to write/compose/be inspired between the constant changing of cities and climates and hotel rooms?

It totally jolted my creative life, actually. True, I don't have so much free time to write, but I probably have just as much as I did at school and travel is the BEST inspiration possible.

14. Write your memoir in six words. Use six words - exactly six words - to tell who you are, where you've been, what you're thinking, etc.

I believe all will be forgiven.

15. What made you want to do theatre for a living?

It is honestly just what I have always done, and I'm actually pretty skill-less otherwise. I mean, there was a summer a few years back when I couldn't even get a job at H&M! I tried a lot of things growing up- academics, sports, music- but theater was the one thing that stuck and I ever seemed to get any positive feedback in. More than anything, I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else.

16. What is your favorite thing to do when you have the day off?

Usually, I explore whatever city we're in my friends and eat some comfort food. Sleep in, call my Mom, read. Basically, the things I would always do on my days off, at any point in my life.

Announcements:

Cleveland natives: We need suggestions for things the cast should do and video blog about while in Cleveland, OH. Include off the beaten path things that can't be found anywhere else. Is there a food item that is specific to Cleveland? Your favorite restaurant? Post them as a comment below. Deadline: Feb 26th.

We need Guilty Ones Street Team Members in Philadelphia! Email your full name to phillyguiltyones@gmail.com. We will contact you with more information as soon as possible. Our 1st meeting is on March 8th at 6pm in Center City, Philadelphia. Details will be posted on our Facebook Fan Page! JOIN THE FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.tinyurl.com/SAPGO/

PRESS ALERT FOR FANS IN E. LANSING!

Tue 2/24: TV Interview with Kyle Riabko WXMI Fox Evening News

Wed 2/25: Radio Interviews with Chase Davidson and Lucas Wells (a Michigan native!)

7:20 am LIVE In-studio Radio Interview – WQTX 92.1 FM

Live radio interview with Tim Barron of the “Tim Barron in the Morning” show. WQTX is an oldies station.

8:00 am LIVE In-studio Radio Interview – WFMK 99.1 FM

Live radio interview with Danny Stewart and Monica Harris on the “Danny and Monica in the Morning” show. WFMK is an adult contemporary station.

8:15 am LIVE In-studio Radio Interview – WJIM-AM 1240

Live radio interview with Michael Patrick Sheils on his morning show. WJIM is a state-wide public radio station.

8:35 am LIVE In-studio Radio Interview – WMMQ 94.9 FM

Live radio interview with Rich Michaels and Debra Hart on their morning show. WMMQ is a classic rock station.

9:25 am LIVE In-studio Radio Interview – WLNZ 89.7 FM (with TV taping)

Live radio interview with Jack Robbins for his morning show. WLNZ is a talk radio station. TV cameras for LCC-TV (their affiliate TV station) will also be taping the interview for later airing.

More YouTube Videos! Lastly, we've just released four more videos that were found in camera footage. These are from San Francisco:

# 1 San Francisco Fan Gift Bags


#2 Last Day in San Francisco Stage Door Fans # 1


#3 Stage Door Fans # 2


#4 Stage Door Fans # 3 What's Your Favorite Part of the Show?