Interview: A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER - Adrienne Eller

Adrienne Eller plays Phoebe D'Ysquith in the first national tour of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER. She is recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama under the New Studio on Broadway.

Tour is great. We just just started previews in Schenectady, and the audience is loving it so far. What I didn't expect was becoming a family and best friends with the cast. I can't wait to get out and see the rest of the country.

How did you get involved with the show?

I auditioned for the show while I was a senior in college-it was something I wanted to do. I saw the show before it won all of the Tony awards. I loved the show, and the female characters were so powerful and awesome. When I saw the audition notice I knew it was something that I wanted to do.

There is some intricate choreography in the show, and a dance where you are mirroring the actress on the other side of the door. Was it difficult to learn the "door" choreography?

The choreography is very specific and detailed, but that's what makes it good. Learning the number was hard, we had to learn a little bit at a time and continuously run it. Now the choreography is in my body--I walk on stage and just go for it--there really isn't any time to think or second guess myself. There is a lot of fast-paced movement in the choreography--it's fun!

You have to have a lot of classical chops for this show. How long have you been training classically?

I've been training for ten years with a voice teacher. The writers have written a brilliant compilation of traditional musical theatre for a contemporary audience. It's really beautiful music--it's romantic, it's upbeat, it's sexy, it's funny...it's all of the above.

How did you start your career in musical theatre?

I started performing when I was 8-years-old. My mom put me in theatre camp at Children's Musical Theater San Jose, and I was very reluctant to go...but then I loved it and continued to go back every summer. That's where I learned about musical theatre and continued my passion in high school shows. When it got time to go to college, I applied to a lot of theatre programs and was accepted into NYU.

What came first for you? Singing, dancing, acting.

I think it was all three. I fell in love with it all at once.

Who were your musical influences?

I grew up loving Sutton Foster and Audra McDonald. They were my favorite ladies.

Now, you have been performing since you were young. Do you have any advice for actors who are entering the business?

Never give up. If you love it, then give it your all. Put your heart in it.

Do you have a dream role?

Phoebe was one of my dream roles...and now I'm playing Phoebe, so that's cool! Probably, Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, would be my other dream role.

Do you have anything else that you would like to include about the show?

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER is truly an amazing show. The show is absolutely hilarious and a big musical comedy experience-the audience laughs out loud the entire show. I highly encourage everyone to come see it!

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A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER runs September 29-October 11 at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.agentlemansguidebroadway.com.