In the Shoes of...Sean MacLaughlin

Ok, folks...I have deleted my Daddy entries on this blog...I just couldn't deal with scrolling down and being saddened by it. He is much better, and awaiting test results at home. That is that. Thanks for the prayers. And now for something completely different. A new interview series...
The first in my men's interview series focuses on my good buddy, Sean MacLaughlin. Signature audiences remember him from Grand Hotel, The Gospel According to Fishman, Follies, The Rink in Concert, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and the original reading of One Red Flower. He has appeared locally at the Kennedy Center, and many other places. He left our fair city for the bright lights of NYC to do Bombay Dreams, The Woman in White, and the soon to open Lestat. I caught up with the man who I consider a very dear friend of mine recently, and here are the spoils...


SGS-Sean...tell the folks at home how we first met, and the story behind it...

SM- So I am this kid right outta college, I haven't even moved from home yet- I am still at the teet - I am on my way from DC to New York for a Signature Theatre audition. Marsha, the beautiful lady from the theatre, told me that 2 other guys from Signature were going to be on my flight. I swear to GOD, the first guy was Simon from American Idol. We talked for a bit- well, he talked and I listened. It was cool, but It was friendly banter.


Next there was this guy who wore safety pins in his shit and pants and had spikey hair- and his svelte boyfriend... Steve. I knew I would like Stephen because he looked as nervous as I was. My nerves came from fear of auditioning and his came from flying. We made a perfect pair. All three of us talked for about 10 minutes and then we boarded the plane. Although we weren't all next to each other in the flight, Steve and I were connected by something greater: Musical Theatre.
While waiting for take off, I put my $2 headphones on and clicked through the channels on the armrest. Once I found the best channel in the plane (that wasn't Yanni, yo-yo Ma, or Joni Mitchell) I turned around and screamed because the music was so loud and I'm a tool, "Steve!! Turn it to channel 13!" I thought he might appreciate it.... even if it was playing the whole CD of Robert Goulet's "Camelot". From that day we were the best of friends. We finished that audition, got to the airport bar- drank, got on the plane, drank, got off the plane and went to Cap City... and Drank more. Those were Good times. I still don't remember how I got home from DC to Petersburg, VA that night...Thanks R. Scott.





SGS-When preparing for your role as Eric, front desk in Grand Hotel, how did you try to get the feeling of a straight man getting hit on by a sinister gay man? {Rhona-played by the very straight Tom Simpson}...I mean...I can't imagine that has ever happened to you before??

SM- I went to alot of Leather bars...






SGS-We were doing Grand Hotel during 9/11. Where were you on 9/11?


SM- R. Scott and I went to New York for an Audition 9/10. We woke up the next morning to the news - and it was a really strange feeling- even though this terror was going on about 90 blocks away, no one in the area of 96th and Lex knew what was going on. Not to mention I couldn't even call family and friends to tell them we were alright, because the phone towers were down.

It is funny when tragedy hits- you think the strangest things... I thought- Oh God -- we're going to miss the show tonight.
Messed up.
The GW Bridge opened that night and we were able to leave at 9pm. Driving out of the city we saw the fires of the towers, driving into Arlington, we saw the smoldering Pentagon. It was one hell of a night.


SGS-Do you remember the talk back we had with the audience on September 12th?


SM- IT was was wonderfully Strange. After the previous day, I was surprised that people would still show up for a show. They came to escape. Randomly, I can't remember, but I think it was set up to be a show talk back. It turned into this roundtable discussion... a forum to vent about anything that just happened. It was extremely cathartic. That cast and show was phenomenal not JUST because it was a brilliant piece of work, but because of that day.



SGS- What was the best part of working on Follies at Signature?
Photo of Will Gartshore, Tracy Olivera, Sean, and A.K. Brink)


SM- Geez, what wasn't. We were packed into that theatre like rats- we loved each other so much- the show was amazing - the loved flowed like wine... wow that sounds so gay.

The love and relationships that were created from that show will last forever... I feel like I have another mom (Flo)... and it is one of the best productions I have ever been a part of...
But, I would have to say the best part was smoking on stage. The show was fantastic and I was lucky to be able to play that part. Young Ben was a FUN role- BUT- I always wanted to smoke on stage and that was a first... until people got sick from the smoke...



SGS- Any special memories from The Rink in concert? I thought you were particularly good in that part...not that you weren't in any others, but, you know.



SM- Favorite memories -Lynn Filusch- she Rocked the house with all her stuff - Eleasha Gamble- Sang- she didn't sing- she sang. But - my special memory is performing that show in that space. It was freeing and God that music is incredible... Being able to sing Not Enough Magic and Blue Crystal out there is a memory I have striven to re-enact. Least Favorite memory- Mosquitoes


SGS-Tell me your memories from the DC Sniper attacks...

SM- I drove a white van with ladder racks. I didn't drive that week because my accelerator pedal broken and I was waiting for a new on to come in the mail. Even if my car wasn't broken- I wouldn't drive that POS around- I don't want the cops yanking me out and putting a gun to my head just to check the van (Yeah-they did that). Since I was Car-less, Steve would take me out to go over to his place- or he would come over to mine and make t-shirt prints and download music...we're geeks. Whenever we left the apartment or house- we would run for cover. You would think that we were in the middle of freekin' dessert storm. We were in the parking lot of Giant and we ran from his car into the store (not in a straight line- you have to zig-zag so the bullet doesn't hit you). People in the stores were laughing at us, but even if we look like ninnys- we weren't getting shot.


The day after the sniper was caught- I fixed my van, drove to Stephen's old place and scared a bunch of people in the neighborhood with my white van with ladder racks... I think I saw somebody running in a zig-zag pattern into the woods.



SGS-We could discuss A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum...but...should we?



SM- ...Wasn't Floyd Brilliant...



SGS-And where were you on the morning of December 5th, 2003?


SM- Wow, It really was that long ago. Asleep on the pleather couch in your old house. The night before we were prepping for Buddah's B-day and after all the prep I crashed furiously in the living room. I had a dream about Mattie burning newspapers and the woke up to the sound of Steven Yelling my name. I could go into details, but 3 things I will always remember the most from that morning- 1) The tone def girl on the TODAY show waking you up. 2) you screaming at howler Monkey levels "HURRY (pause) MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE!" While I am on the phone with 911. 3)Me trying to fill a cracked up holey trashcan with water. We still have to talk to the today show and get that girls # for saving our lives and call 911 for a recording.

You know as terrible as that day was, so many wonderful things came out of it.




SGS-We have been through SO MANY tragedies together, yet so many fantastic times. Yet you've still never made a pass at me. Explain this in detail...{just kidding, Matt}-Umm...Go on, Sean...

SM- Whenever I stay over (which is alot) I go downstairs and watch you sleep... it's better that way...



SGS- Can you tell me of your greatest role of all, starring alongside Tracy Olivera, myself, R. Scott Thompson, Matt Conner, and Ryan Dean in the motion pictures, Snuff Film, and Crazy from the Heat...


SM- It was a hard nights work. Murder- my poor drunken improv skills - Mystery - and skin...Ito. I would say my finest work- but- out shone by Tracy's Devo moment.


SGS- So then you were a punk and moved to NYC, and have done like..what 3 Broadway shows already? And what were they...Carrie the Musical, PrettyBelle the musical, and By Jeeves? Was that it?

SM- Nice. Yes- 2 Webber's 1 John -sounds like a porn. BUT Lestat is going to be Awesome. We had a run through today and I got chills- not just because of the piece, but because I thought- wow- I am in a show that has LOTS of Potential and is FANTASTIC!.



SGS- I'm totally kidding, and you know that...I am so proud of you for having the courage to go up there and take things by the balls. You big Tool. What music have you been listening to...(besides Lestat)..

SM- Mostly James Blunt, Gavin Degraw, John Legend, Kanye West, and Skid Row... Yeah I said it.



SGS-What geeky and nerdy place did we go to a few years back where your brother was seriously considering banging a woman old enough to be his Mother?

(Photo of Sean's brother,Matthew, me and Sean with the 3 ladies of the film The Evil Dead)
SM- We went to the Horror Find Weekend Horror Convention. I am damn proud of that and I am pissed I missed the passed 2 years. Matthew (my bro) goes every year and still wants Barbara{Judith O'Dea from "Night of the Living Dead"} - just for bragging rights. The Year we all went- Tracy Lords was there. "When I tell people I went to the horror convention and Tracy Lords was there" - they think I am saying - "I went to the Whore convention and Tracy Lords was there." It makes sense though. What the hell was she doing there anyway?

SGS-OK..here is the faggoty James Lipton-esque section of the interview...Favorite musicals?


SM- A New Brain, Sweeney Todd, The Last 5 Years, Nevermore, Side Show, Jesus Christ Superstar, One Red Flower, The Full Monty
SGS-Dream roles?

SM- Cannibal King in Side Show, Gordo in New Brain, Jamie in Last 5 Years, Jesus or Judas, Roger in Rent, Tommy, The Father in Full Monty
SGS-Favorite role you have done...

SM-Cain/Japheth in Children of Eden SGS- What makes you happy?

SM- Being with my friends and family and watching them all get along- knowing that I brought people together

SGS-What makes you angry?

SM- Bad Drivers- I am a nice guy- until I am behind the wheel.
(Photo of Sean, Buddha and Leslie, Sean's Girlfriend)


SGS- What makes you horny?

SM- Ci Ci's Pizza

SGS-Favorite movies(top 5)-

SM- Swingers, Old School, Stewie the untold Story, The Great Escape, GodFather 2

SGS-Advice to those just starting in the business?

SM- First- don't get in this if it is for the recognition. Do it for the art and know that you are not the best ever- you always have room to learn. Second - Don't rush into some big move to New York until you are ready. Move with contacts, move with a job- but don't move alone and with out a union. And finally--If you aren't in DC already, move to DC. The best thing that ever happened to me was living in DC for 3 years. Not only did I make the best friends anyone could ever have, I got the best training anyone could ever get. I learned from the best... (ie: Signature, Sherri Edelen, etc) The theatres in DC are amazing and you won't find anywhere else that has better taste or selection... I am where I am because of the arts community in DC and Virginia. I miss everyone and everything there and I hope to one day soon get back home and perform.

SGS-Alright, knuckle head. Go memorize..Love and miss you much. To see a clip of the Lestat rehearsal process, click here. You'll see ol' tooley MacLaughlin singing and drinking coffee. Funny stuff.
Lestat- Opening Previews: March 25th; Opening: March 25th at the Palace Theatre. Click here for tickets.