Interview: Kyle Dean Massey Headlines The COPA Palm Springs with Songs He Never Gets to Sing

Pippin and Next To Normal's Kyle Dean Massey headlines The Copa Palm Springs for one very special performance, October 9, at 8 pm in an intimate Cabaret that features "songs he loves but he's never had the opportunity to sing". Massey first joined the North American touring production of Wicked in 2007, as part of the ensemble and understudy for the lead role of Fiyero, before joining the Broadway production. He played Thalia in Broadway's Xanadu and Matthew in Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz as well as the role of Gabe in the Broadway musical Next to Normal, staying with the show until it closed in January 2011. He then returned to Broadway's Wicked in the leading role of Fiyero and assumed the title role in the Broadway revival of Pippin.He was also featured in a recurring role as openly gay country star Kevin Bicks in the ABC television series Nashville. I had the chance to chat with Kyle as he was preparing for his Copa Concert, Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

DG: So, for those who may not be as familiar with you, let's start with your background. Where are you from and how did your life lead you into professional theatre?

KM: Well, I grew up in Arkansas, in a smaller town called Jonesborough, Arkansas about sixty miles outside of Memphis, Tennessee and I didn't really find theatre until I was in high school. I took piano lessons and I took dance lessons and things like that - in tenth grade I did my first musical. And that was kind of how I was introduced to musical theatre. And then a couple years later I decided I wanted to major in musical theatre in college, which I did, and that gave me the training that I needed and then I moved to New York. And I've been in New York for about thirteen years or so now. So that was kind of my progression into the business, I suppose.

DG: What was that first musical and what did you play?

KM: The musical that I did was Shenandoah, the musical, and I played "Prisoner Number Three". (He laughs) A huge role. But that was the first show that I did. It was a very small role. I had done the school play that fall, so that was like my first time to be in a show. But Shenandoah was my first musical. Which is a really beautiful show that never seems to be produced.

DG: Where did you go to college and how do you think that education prepared you for a professional career?

KM: Well, I went to a school that is now called Missouri State University and, you know, I think I had the love and the passion for the theatre, but I did not have the tools. And so, for me, going to school gave me those tools and the skills that I really needed. I had great teachers in Arkansas - a great voice teacher and a great dance teacher - but they did not come together.. at all. So that's where I learned to do it - in college. It was definitely college that set me on the path to working professionally. I got on a national tour a couple of days after I graduated, so it was like the perfect - college was the perfect launching pad for me.

DG: What was your first Broadway show?

KM: My first Broadway show was Xanadu. It was just a really fun, quirky show and I had a lot of fun doing it.

DG: When you first landed "on Broadway" - what surprised you or was different than your expectations of being on Broadway?

KM: Umm, I can't say I was surprised because it too me a little bit longer to get there. Every job that I had out of college just got a little bit better and a little bit better and little bit better and so ending up on Broadway - there weren't a lot of vast differences. I had done a big production tour of Wicked just before that and so it felt pretty normal. If anything felt different it was that your scene partners were Tony Winners. (he laughs) That was about the only difference.

DG: What do you think is the most challenging role you've had to date?

KM: That's a really good question. I'd have to say it's probably a toss up between Gabe in Next To Normal and Pippin in Pippin. Gabe was challenging because it was such a vocally demanding role and an emotionally draining show - and I did that show on Broadway for two years, so, to kind of keep up the stamina and the energy and the emotional stability - to continually do that show every night was difficult. For Pippin, physically and vocally as well - I never really left the stage with Pippin. I had to go to circus school for that to learn to do back flips, and singing high C's throughout the entire show - that one was very difficult too. So, I don't know. One or the other,

DG: You have so much ahead of you, but looking back, what would you say is your proudest career accomplishment to date?

KM: Whew. You know ... I would probably say Next To Normal. Umm, that was such a ... when I look back on that .. that was such a rare experience that I got to be in a show like that. A show that changed Musical Theatre, in a lot of ways. I've been proud of every job I've ever had, but I really just felt that that was a special and unique experience with an incredible group of people. And for that show to be able to run on Broadway for as long as it did was a pretty fantastic and amazing opportunity and experience.

DG: With all of the wonderful revivals on Broadway these days - what role would you like the to "revive" for you?

KM: Ah, man, I would love to play Bobby in Company. It's a great role and I love that show - one of my favorite Sondheim shows. That show takes place on Bobby's 35th birthday, and I turn 35 next year, and sometimes I just walk through life and sing music from that show. I think I would love to do that show.

DG: So, let's talk about Palm Springs and your show this weekend at The Copa. Is there a theme running through it? What can audiences expect?

KM: You know, there's not really a theme. If there's anything going on with it it's would be songs that, for some reason or another, I haven't gotten to sing. Songs with a story. Songs that have been a part of my life and songs that I would like to share with an audience. That's about the only theme I can give you. I'm singing a lot of sings that I've never had the chance to sing before.

DG: So, how did you choose the music for the show? How do you know when a song speaks to you and you need to sing it?

KM: I think that's a hard question to answer. For me, the songs I want to sing are when I connect to a lyric - songs that when I listen to them make me feel more alive. And that's the kind of music that I want to sing. And that kind of music isn't always appropriate for auditions - not always sings form musicals - and this is the kind of format where you get to sing that stuff.

DG: Can you give me a couple of songs that you'll be including in your show this weekend?

KM: Ahh, I think I can. I am going to sing a song from Shenandoah - a song that I didn't get to sing but that I love. I won't give away what song that is. And, another song I'm going to sing - I'm going to sing a song from Dick Tracy, as well.

DG: Final question. What advice would you give to aspiring Broadway performers that you wish you would have received, or want to pass on.

KM: Well, I get to work with High school students quite a bit - and they feel like their time is running out to be successful - at seventeen years old - and my advice is that you've got a lot of time. And to continue to get as much training and experience as you can. And don't be afraid to start small, because small things lead to bigger things and as long as you're doing something that you love you have success right there.

Kyle Dean Massey appears at The Copa Palm Springs October 9 at 8 pm. For tickets for more information visit www.copapalmsprings.com