ROB MCCLURE Spotlight:
Beetlejuice on Broadway
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by Brenda Hillegas photo by Matthew Murphy ou can catch Philadelphia-based actor Rob McClure on Broadway in his current role as Adam Maitland in the new musical version of Beetlejuice, based on Tim Burton’s 1998 comedy-horror film of the same name. McClure has appeared at the Walnut Street Theatre in shows like Amadeus, The Producers and Oliver! and received a 2013 Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his first starring role on Broadway as Charlie
MUSIC
Chaplin in the musical Chaplin. McClure recently played Nick Bottom on Broadway in Something Rotten!, as well as on the national tour (which came to Philly last year). Rob talked to us recently about his role in Beetlejuice - nominated for eight Tony Awards this year, including Best Musical - and his love for the movie.
Q: Are you a new car smell kind of guy? Or old book smell?
a: I’m definitely an “old book smell person.”
Q: Tell us a bit about Beetlejuice the Musical’s road to Broadway. When did you learn you would be playing Adam Maitland and how did you take the news?
a: I was on tour with Something Rotten! when Director Alex Timbers reached out to discuss the possibility. I am a HUGE fan of the movie and have always thought that Tim Burton’s aesthetic would translate beautifully
(l to r) Sophia Ann Caruso (Lydia), Rob McClure (Adam) and Kerry Butler (Barbara).
onstage...and it did! I jumped at the chance to be a part of it.
Q: Why does Beetlejuice work so well as a musical?
a: The movie translates so well
because we had a really smart group of artists doing the translating. Scott Brown, Anthony King and Eddie Perfect figured out EXACTLY what makes that story sing and what gives it an emotional core worthy of a Broadway stage, while fully maintaining the madness that drew us all to it in the first place.
Q: Beetlejuice, the movie, is a classic. What’s your earliest memory of the movie? What did you think?
a: I have home movies of me
doing the “Day-O” dance around my kitchen table at 7 years old. So, yeah. I was into it.
Q: How did you prepare for the role of Adam?
a: I prepared the same way I
do for any role. It starts with the words. I dig into the script and try to figure out exactly who this guy
is. I like to work inside-out. If I can figure him out on the inside, it will start to translate physically.
Q: Has Alec Baldwin [who played Adam Maitland in the movie version] seen your performance of the character yet? Any feedback from him?
a: Alec Baldwin has not seen the show...yet!
Q: What’s your favorite musical number from Beetlejuice?
a: My favorite number is “Say My
Name” because I think our writers found a really cool way to musicalize the cat and mouse game of charades between Lydia and Beetlejuice.
Q: You shared on Instagram that the first musical you saw was CATS at the Winter Garden Theatre (where Beetlejuice now plays). What other theatre memories - shows you’ve been in or seen - stand out for you?
a: Oh, gosh! So many. Sweeney Todd
was hugely formative for me...the idea that musicals don’t all need to smile!
Q: RowHome Magazine interviewed your wife July / August / September 2019
Maggie Lakis, last year, when you were both touring in the cast of Something Rotten. What’s new with the two of you?
a: We have a beautiful sevenmonth-old daughter.
Q: Are you living in South Philly and commuting to NYC?
a: I do commute daily from
Philadelphia! I joke that I have a second home on the Amtrak train.
Q: Who are you more like in real life? Nick Bottom (Something Rotten!) or Adam Maitland?
a: I am definitely more Adam Maitland than Nick Bottom.
Q: What are some of your favorite spots to visit or eat at in Philadelphia?
a: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and then dinner at Marrakesh for their amazing tasting menu.
If you’re wondering why we asked Rob if he likes the old car smell or the new book smell, it’s a reference to the musical...and that means you probably haven’t seen it yet! Rob commutes to NYC every day from Philadelphia, so why don’t you try it for a day and go see Beetlejuice too! For info and tickets to Beetlejuice visit www.beetlejuicebroadway.com.
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