BWW Interviews: ANYTHING GOES Sails Into The McCallum Theatre; Meet Reno Sweeney, Emma Stratton!

Winner of three 2011 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival, ANYTHING GOES sails into the McCallum just in time for the holiday weekend, November 28 through 30. Cole Porter's most popular musical comedy features one of Broadway's most memorable scores including such classics as "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "Friendship", "It's De-Lovely" and the title song, "Anything Goes". The successful 2011 revival was produced by Roundabout Theatre, directed by Kathleen Marshall, and also garnered a Tony Award for lead actress Sutton Foster in the role of Reno Sweeney, originated in 1934 by Ethel Merman and played over the years by the likes of Patti LuPone and Elaine Paige. I had the opportunity to speak with the current Reno Sweeney, Emma Stratton, as she was winging her way to the Southern California for the West Coast leg of the national tour. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

DG: Let's start with you giving me a brief history of "Emma".

ES: Yeah, okay. So, I started doing theatre - community theatre - in San Diego when I was eight, and just continued to do that. I went to Canyon Crest Academy, which is not technically an arts school but it emphasizes theatre and all the arts. So, I just did community theatre all growing up and then I auditioned for Penn State University for their musical theatre program, which is one of the top five in the country, and I got in -- and I just actually graduated in May - I got my BFA in Musical Theatre. I did several University productions and then, by the grace of God, on the last day of classes I got the call that I got the job in Anything Goes. Amazing!

DG: You're playing such an iconic role, played by some of the greatest ladies in Musical Theatre over the years -- 1) what does it feel like stepping into those shoes, and 2) what do you think you bring to the role that's different?

ES: Ummm, it feels incredible. I love that every woman that has played her is so different - Ethel Merman and Patti Lupone are obviously so different - and, of course, Sutton Foster - and, I think that I bring - I kind of have taken from all of the women that have done it before, without meaning to copy them in any way -- just growing up listening to the musical and seeing them in other productions and stuff --- and, I think that I just bring ... Obviously I'm younger, I'm just twenty two. I'm younger than anyone that has ever played her - that makes a difference. I think I just bring a new generation into seeing the show and gaining an appreciation for Cole Porter's music and the history of the entire piece. It's kind of insane that a musical can last this long.

DG: What is your favorite thing about touring?

ES: I think my favorite thing is being so collaborative. We tour with the band, so it's the cast and the band that goes on the bus together - the crew takes other busses and they set everything up ahead of us - but, ummm, every day we're all together and working on the same piece and I love that. Also, in the show, as far as my character goes, I love that Reno has such strong relationships with men -- in 1934, being such an independent woman and having these strong relationships with Billy and Moonface and, eventually, Evelyn - loving all of them and being strong and so independent while still looking for love --- I love that. That's one of my favorite things about the entire show and about Reno, in general.

DG: So, on the converse - not about the show necessarily - but what's your least favorite part about touring?

ES: My least favorite thing ... ummm ... gosh ... you know, we have a lot of one- nighters on this first leg and I think not being able to see the cities that we're in is hard, because all of us really love to travel and we don't really get to explore the cities at all.

DG: What new have you learned about yourself from this tour or this production?

ES: Well, I think I was most nervous about - one of the things I was most nervous about was not being able to do it every night, especially with all the one-nighters because it's so hard on our bodies - we sleep a lot of the time in the mornings on the bus - and that can be so hard on our bodies when we're having to dance every night, and sing --- and being in new climates. I think it taught me that you are able to take care of your body even in these crazy circumstances and kind of push through it. Which is great. Because, when you're doing eight shows a week on the road or whatever, and not being able to eat exactly what you'd like to be eating, and being in all these crazy circumstances its nice to know that you can rise above it, and that's amazing.

DG: What other roles do you aspire to play?

ES: Oh gosh. Oh my gosh. Any Sondheim character EVER! I love Charlotte in "A Little Night Music". I love The Baker's Wife in "Into The Woods" - umm, eventually, years and years and years, I love Mama Rose in "Gypsy" --- but, right now - yeah, I love any Sondheim character. He's my favorite composer of all time.

DG: What kind of advice would you offer to other young performers who might aspire to do what you are doing?

ES: I would tell them to not only be interested in the musical theatre that is happening right now - maybe on Broadway - there's so many - "On The Town" is being revived - just knowing the history of musicals, as well as all the old musicals, and current ones - knowing everything, because you never really know what revival is going to be on Broadway or in a regional house or anything, and I think ... I know a lot of people who only focus on one era or just focus on contemporary musicals and I think knowing everything is insanely important. Again, I mean I'm in a 1934 world (Anything Goes) and we're in 2014 right now. Knowing everything you can about the business is very, very helpful.

DG: What do you think makes this particular touring production of ANYTHING GOES so special?

ES: I think that Kathleen Marshall - her choreography and direction - is amazing, She won the Tony Award on Broadway for it for "Best Revival", and she definitely added songs and changed it up - I mean, Anything Goes has been changed a lot over the years - and, I think this version of it really shows real, real people - and not only real people, but the circumstance are something that anyone at any age can relate to - falling in love, falling out of love - all of that that everyone loves, but with real characters and real relationships. I think that sometimes old musicals - not necessarily Anything Goes, but old musicals -can sometimes get too focused on the music or the dancing, and we absolutely do that, but we bring realness into this production, which makes it really, really special.

ANYTHING GOES plays the McCallum Theatre on 28 at 8:00 pm, November 29 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and November 30 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. For tickets or further information visit www.mccallumtheatre.com