Cast Interview: Gary Sullivan

Everyone at VLOC is excited - The Mikado opens in just one month! We're back with our cast interview series, and we have long-time VLOCer Gary Sullivan to kick it off!

What is your role in The Mikado?
Ko-Ko

What made you decide to get involved with Mikado?
I'm a long-time VLOC member, and this is one of my favorite roles in one of my favorite shows. Helen's idea to set the show in 1920's London intrigued me, and I loved the opportunity to help with adjusting the text to fit the setting.

What are you enjoying most about working on Mikado with VLOC?
Not only are we spending a lot of time on getting the music right, but we are spending a lot of time on the dialog scenes as well, which doesn't always happen. Who are these characters? Why do they behave this way? What's driving them? I love that we are taking the time to explore and really make the characters our own.

What is your dream role/job?
I did a lot of Shakespeare when I was younger, and I'd love to find my way back into some of that.

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
Well, I remember the first one I was *in*. In kindergarten (!), we did an adaptation of the "belling the cat" story, and I was given the pivotal role of "Narrator." I had the most lines and I was thrilled! And I just kept auditioning for things, and I kept getting cast.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
For many years, I've been with Marriott International, working on projects related to Learning + Development. The nest is empty, so my wife and I have plenty to time to watch movies and do a little traveling (thanks, Marriott!).

Thank you, Gary! Tickets for The Mikado are on sale now, so get yourself some good seats! The show runs June 9th - 18th. Get your tickets online HERE or by calling the F. Scott Fitzgerald box office at 240-314-8690. 

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