SMASH : Andy Mientus as Kyle, Krysta Rodrigues as Ana (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)
THE LADIES OF
I agree completely. Yeah, there are little winks in the first episode
about Kyle joking with Karen about Jimmy being his boyfriend, maybe. That’s the only inkling where they really get into that. You’ll see him being lucky in love this year and he gets a boyfriend at some point, without giving too much away. You will see him be- ing gay on the show but it’s never in a negative way, it’s really light. One major difference between live theatre and television is the intimacy of the camera. What has it been like acting on location or on set? I really thought going in to this, that there was
going to be a major learning curve and I was really going to freak out about how my performance was translating. It’s a whole new vocabulary in terms of learning your way around the set and the window of it all was a little overwhelming. But, everyone is super supportive on set in a non-condescending way and really helpful teaching me the ropes as quickly as possible. In terms of all the acting, it really is the same for me.
I like to not get too bogged down in any “method” of acting; as soon as the acting is aware of itself… it’s not real. I just try to live in that person. I have been really enjoying the opportunity that the camera affords, but it’s a little scary that it’s permanent and so close. I think of it as a challenge and something that I need to figure out. Your character Kyle seems to be the voice of reason for the character of Jimmy, as his friend and in Jimmy’s blossoming relationship with Karen played by Katherine McPhee. It seems like you are the level-headed one so far. Yeah, absolutely. Jeremy [Jordan] and I talk a lot
about how Kyle and Jimmy’s relationship is so symbi- otic, because Kyle is the voice of reason and sort of his “Jiminy Cricket” in a way. You’ll see more of this as the season progresses. Not only does Kyle keep Jimmy on track, in terms of their writing and career but he keeps him on track in other ways too, more personal ways. Meanwhile, Kyle really needs Jimmy for his artistic genius, Kyle will be going through a lot of self-
26 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2013
doubt as to his contribution to the musical. Jimmy’s music is so celebrated so quickly, it takes Kyle a little longer to find his place. It’s really Jimmy’s talent that gets them off the ground and then Kyle’s knowhow and reason to sustain it. They really need each other to make a show happen. One can’t exist without the other. What are some of the characteristics of Kyle that match you or are similar? I have a lot in common with Kyle. He is the book
writer for this musical and I actually have been working on a musical of my own. I’ve been working on it with some friends and this band called Teen Commandments for the past couple of years. We’re writing a musical called Manhattan Kids and this has been my passion project way before I got cast in this role. Also as an actor over the last couple of years, I’ve made an effort to get into the “new musical theatre” writing scene of workshops, readings and concerts downtown, of writers and material—to be around that world and be involved with those new projects. I’ve made a lot of friends with these guys who are do- ing this right now. So, I feel really glad to be represent- ing them on national television and bring awareness to what they are doing. Now, I understand you have a great voice—any chance of you singing it onSMASH? I can reveal that I do sing on the show, thankfully,
but I don’t play a singer. Kyle’s not a performer at all, but they found a device to have me sing a couple of times. But you’ll notice in the show, the original songs [by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman] only come when people are performing, whenever they are do- ing a number from one of the shows within the show. Anytime people are singing in a dream sequence or something… that’s always a pop cover. They’ve basically been really consistent with that device. So, I think it’s doubtful that I’ll be singing one of those great original songs, sadly. I’m still glad you get to sing and that we get to hear you. Thank you, Andy. Great. Thanks so much.
One aspect of SMASH that is spot-on, is the realistic rendering of the process of putting togethera new show and presenting beauti- fully the personalities in the mix. I dropped some cast names and Andy Mientus shared his first thoughts on each performer:
SMASH
ANJELICA HUSTON: “She is a sage, I would say. She is the most wonder- ful, warm bundle of experience and calm. She’s like, the calm in the storm with
Zen positive energy around set. I still idolize her, you know? I really feel like you’re in the room with a legend.”
KATHARINE MCPHEE: “The class clown. People don’t really know this about her, but she’s super goofy. She’s the one who keeps us laughing really late at
night on set.”
DEBRA MESSING: “Focused. She’s so de- voted to the show and wonderful to work with, she loves the ‘work’ of it.”
MEGAN HILTY: “I think she’s a total star. Her big number in the second half of the pre- miere is some of the best
television I’ve ever seen.”
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