BWW Interviews: Sarah Smith Talks MAMMA MIA!

MAMMA MIA! The smash hit musical that combines ABBA's greatest hits including "Dancing Queen," "SOS," and "Take A Chance on Me," is at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, June 30-July 5. Tickets are on sale at Blumenthal Performing Arts Box Office: 704-372-1000 and BlumenthalArts.org.

I spoke to Sarah Smith, who plays Rosie, as she was in Florida with the tour of MOMMA MIA!. Charlotte is the last stop of this tour until October.

LAW: Where are you now?

SS: I'm in Tampa, Florida. It's beautiful here today, but it's been very humid and rainy.

LAW: Tell me about MAMMA MIA!

SS: It's an astonishing thing. I used to drive with Abba Gold [CD] as a permanent fixture in my car. That music is in this show. It's fun, gorgeous music. MAMMA MIA! is a simple story. It can relate to anyone... It's a mother/daughter story. Relatable to the gal pals you have in your life.

LAW: Tell me about the character you play, Rosie.

SS: I love Rosie! She's a goodtime gal! She jokes and laughs, she'll do anything to be supportive for her friend,... a true feminist. Some things are out of her control, her love life. She's okay, but wants it on her terms. I love her tenacity. She's a little jaded. She'll take a chance and go for it. I love her humor. We're different but similar. I bring myself to her good time.

LAW: Where did you grow up?

SS: I grew up in Park Forest, Chicago. When I was 13 years-old I was uprooted and we moved to Texas. It was a culture shock.

LAW: What was it like?

SS: I swore to myself that I'd be moving back, but I stayed the next 13 years,... San Antonio, Austin Texas and Abilene, Texas.

LAW: When did you start acting?

SS: I performed in church dramas and in my senior year of high school, I took a theater class and dabbled. I then attended Abilene Christian Academy majoring in Theater.

LAW: How did you get the role?

SS: Oh, man,... kind of two years in the making. I was working in Florida and I got a call. They sent sides. I sent in a video submission. I then went to NY and met for the role. I was put on hold for the show but they gave the part to someone else. The next year, I got a call to come back in and they offered me the part that night. I was shocked. I'm always surprised and I feel very lucky to work. This was my turn, my moment.

LAW: How do you prepare for this role each night?

SS: It varies, for the most part, physical activity is a conflict of interest for me to sing and act. So I do yoga and vocal warm-ups. This character has a lower vocal range. I do vocal warm-ups for a lower range. I like to be at the theater a little early. It helps me focus and clear my head. I tell myself fake memories that Rosie experienced to get her thoughts and feelings.

LAW: What was your most memorable experience in your profession?

SS: There is a little theater in Princeton, Illinois, where I go to hone my craft. The director, a good friend, cast me in the older part of Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret. I fell in love with her. I played her with humor and tragedy. The cast and audience was on a journey together. In the final moment of the show, the lights came up and there was silence as the cast filed in. The audience was so moved. I got goose-bumps to feel that emotion. We accomplished something. It took ten seconds of silence before the audience started to applaud.

LAW: What was the worst experience you've had on the road?

SS: Um... I'm glad I'm having trouble thinking of one. I'm drawing a blank. Well one time the bus broke down in one of those areas that only have car dealerships. They kept telling us that a replacement bus was on its way. After a few hours of standing there, a group of us rented a car and had a fun time. And we've had our fair share of theater spaces that were too small, but we make it work.

LAW: When you're back home, what's your favorite thing to do or place to eat?

SS: I like to go to Big Nick's. It's a pizza joint on 71st and Amsterdam. They have fantastic pizza, sangria and burgers. The same waiter has taken my order for ten years.

LAW: What are you plans after this tour is over?

SS: A vacation for the first time in years. First California and then Lake Tahoe.

LAW: What will the audience take away from this show?

SS: A laugh and a smile I hope. That is the joy of this show. It will squeeze a tear from you too. It's a party with the most fun onstage!

Photo credit: Joan Marcus, 2014

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