BWW Interviews: Getting to Know SHREK's Reed Sigmund
By: Kristen Hirsch Montag Apr. 29, 2014
BWW: First, the obvious question must be put out of the way: Do you have any qualities that perfectly suited you to play Shrek, and do people hold their noses when you arrive?
RS: Well, the similarities between Shrek and I are nearly endless. As far as a physical resemblance, we both have incredibly round heads, large nostrils and grew up shopping for our clothes in the Husky section. But when it comes to odor, most people hold their noses around me as I'm leaving, not arriving. When I first get to the theatre for a show, I actually smell like a mixture of lilacs, sunshine and maple syrup. However, by the time I leave, I kind of smell like spinach dip.
BWW: You've played a green being before at CTC (as the lead in DR. SUESS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS). How is it being made up in green face paint every day? How long does that take you and your makeup team? And how long does it take to rid yourself of it after a performance?
RS: The best thing about the green makeup is that it makes my teeth look really white. So there's a free beauty tip for the tooth obsessed reader out there. Really, the whole makeup process only takes about 20 minutes to put on, but it'll take a few months to get off. I scrub these big ol' apple cheeks pretty hard, but there's a greenish hue that never really fades until I've been away from the show for a few weeks.
BWW: You've played an impressive list of roles at CTC over the years. Which roles have been the most satisfying for you, and how so?
RS: Oh, there are so many roles that are near and dear to me. The first few that pop into my head are THE GRINCH, Ernie from BERT AND ERNIE, GOODNIGHT!, all my roles in ROBIN HOOD and Dorcas from CINDERELLA. I have to say though, when all is said and done, Shrek will probably be near the top of that list, as well. Nowadays, I'm most satisfied by those characters that are forced into a journey of self-discovery and somehow manage to change their view of the world for the better.
BWW: With such a long string of shows at the same theatre company over 14 seasons, how do you keep your acting fresh and renewed from show to show?
RS: CTC manages to make this much easier than it should be. Peter Brosius, the artistic director, ensures that the variety of work at CTC is so vast, that I find I'm constantly striving to discover and strengthen new acting muscles. I'm incredibly thankful for that. There is no type casting. The past couple of years alone, I've been able to play in the wild, physically comic world of IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, explore the themes and complexities of race relations and economic hardship in LIZZIE WRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY and now dive into the world of SHREK, where I'm riding the emotions of a social outcast who wants to break free of the stereotypes that have been wrongfully forced upon him. When it all comes down to it though, whether I'm playing a greedy rat, a hard partying girl or a flatulent ogre, the best way I can keep my acting fresh is to commit, explore and listen.
BWW: Where did you train/go to school, and have you performed at other companies in Minneapolis or elsewhere over your career?
RS: I received my B.A. in theatre from the U of M here in Minneapolis. Oddly enough, I haven't really spent time at any other theatre companies. In college I was able to work on a show that collaborated with Penumbra Theatre, and that was amazing, but immediately after graduating I was welcomed to CTC and I've been there ever since. The talent CTC has in house is astonishing. I'm always in awe of the work that's created by the other company members and our team of designers. But it's far from an isolated environment. Peter does an amazing job of bringing in actors, designers, choreographers and directors from other theatres here in town and across the globe, so I've really been able to work and create alongside some brilliant artists.
BWW: Which is easier: playing the comedy with Shrek, or revealing the humanity and softer side of this character? How so?
RS: It always feels as though comedy is far more difficult. Maybe that's just because it's so painfully obvious when you're failing at comedy. If I fail to reveal the humanity of Shrek to an audience, I won't be greeted by a long awkward silence that is finally broken by a single cough in the distance. No, that is the greeting which is reserved for the unfunny line delivery. In reality though, the difficulty is not specifically in one aspect of the character or the other. The difficulty is in finding the perfect marriage of the two. Ultimately, the hope is that I can find elements of humor in some of those moments where I reveal Shrek's softer side. Comedy is a great way to help an audience open themselves up to receiving some of the truths which you'd like to present. Shrek's truth really is universal. We've all felt different. We've all felt like outcasts at some time. We've all felt misunderstood. I want each audience member to embrace their inner Shrek and to leave that theatre loving themselves. I also want them to laugh at my farts.
BWW: Your wife plays Princess Fiona and you two have done many productions together over the years. Has she been your character's love interest before this show? Does it make it easier to play that or do you have to work harder to separate your familiarity from the characters?
RS: Yes, my darling wife Autumn played my girlfriend in HONK! THE UGLY DUCKLING MUSICAL many years ago. She also played my wife in THE MAGIC MRS. PIGGLE-WIGGLE. However, we were all double cast in that show, so she also played my mom. That was fun. Also weird and kind of gross. The most odd relationship we've had onstage, is when I played her daughter in CINDERELLA. It may have felt even more odd from her end. I've never found that our familiarity with one another has made the work harder though. I've always felt the exact opposite. Trust is so important onstage. That's why all of us actors spent countless hours in junior high drama class doing that magical trust fall exercise. No, the familiarity is a blessing. Now each day, we get to relive those beautifully awkward, nervous, falling in love moments, while at at the same time celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. What could be better than that?
BWW: What should audiences who come to see the show look for that will be a little insider knowledge about SHREK THE MUSICAL?
RS: One of the cool little subliminal moments in the show comes from the brilliant mind of our ridiculously talented scenic designer, Kate Sutton-Johnson. She has designed these tree units that gorgeously frame the set and move independently to help indicate that we are on a journey. As the story progresses, and Shrek and Fiona begin falling in love, the trees briefly combine to create the subtle, yet very clear image of a heart. Keep an eye out for it.
BWW: Shrek the film was obviously just as fun for adults and it was for children as an animated feature. Is SHREK THE MUSICAL a show that adults should come to see whether or not they have children with them? Are there jokes and things that only the older audience members will appreciate?
RS: I'm gonna sound like a salesman, but the truth is that I cannot imagine anyone, of any age, not having a wonderful time at this show. The director, Peter Rothstein, has taken this story to a whole new level and has crafted a piece that will delight the young and old, the short and tall, the fat and thin, the sweet and salty. Not an easy task, but the man did it. I applaud and thank him.
BWW: What's next for Reed Sigmund after SHREK?
RS: After SHREK, I'm going to watch a lot of baseball, eat gallons of ice cream and chase my two boys, Sawyer and Sullivan, all around the neighborhood. After that, I'll spend the summer teaching at CTC, then PETER PAN.
Tickets: SHREK THE MUSICAL began its run April 22 and has extended the run a week through June 15 due to popularity before the show even opened. Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, Peter Rothstein directs. Recommended for all ages, you'll want to run, run, run as fast as you can and snap up your tickets because they are going fast. For more information visit childrenstheatre.org or call the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400.
Photo: SHREK THE MUSICAL lead Reid Sigmund at the Children's Theatre Company, Photo by Dan Norman.
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