BWW Interviews: Michael Tucker in THE M SPOT at NJ Rep

Michael Tucker has written The M Spot, a racy and clever new play. It will be onstage at New Jersey Repertory (NJ Rep) from February 26th through March 29th. This World Premiere is directed by Evan Bergman and also stars Michael Tucker and his real-life wife, Jill Eikenberry.

Michael Tucker is an actor and writer well known to audiences for his portrayal of Stuart Markowitz in the television series L.A. Law. He has worked on stage, TV and in films. Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Tucker about his career and The M Spot.

We asked Tucker about some of his earliest interests in theater and the performing arts.

"My career started when I lip-synched to old Al Jolson records for anyone who would listen. This was around the age of four or five, I'd say. Then I was a Lost Boy in a local Baltimore production of Peter Pan. After that I never looked back."

Tucker told us about some of the performances that inspired his career. "I took a 12 hour bus trip from Pittsburgh to New York to see Alec Guinness in DYLAN. That was a major inspiration. A few years later I saw Olivier at the National Theater in London, which showed me how far I had yet to go."

Tucker has an impressive career as an author. He has written three non-fiction books, I Never Forget a Meal, Living in a Foreign Language, Family Meals and a fiction novel, After Annie. The M Spot is Tucker's first play and he told us a little about his inspiration for the piece. "It started as a novel that I wanted to write in the first person. It became an extended rant. Then, after Jerry (the main character) started talking about his wife I thought I should give her a chance to speak and the novel became a play. It's drawn from both personal experiences and my overactive imagination."

Tucker has worked with his real-life wife, Jill Eikenberry often. He spoke about doing The M Spot together. "Jill and I have worked together a lot. Although not at all for the first fifteen years of our relationship. We kept our careers completely separate until a guest shot together on HILL STREET BLUES, which led to our roles on L.A. Law. These days we like to work together because we don't want to be apart for any length of time any more. I love to work with her. She makes it easy."

Tucker expressed his admiration for NJ Rep. "We're really just beginning our experience at New Jersey Rep, but we already find ourselves completely simpatico with SuzAnne and Gabor and we love working with Evan Bergman, our director -- so, so far, so good."

The M Spot has a clever and provocative story line. We asked Tucker what NJ audiences can expect. "I don't want to prepare them for anything -- except to say it deals with adult situations -- so don't bring the kids. It's not Mary Poppins."

We asked Tucker if there was anything else he wanted Broadwayworld.com readers to know. "Just that we're incredibly excited to be doing The M Spot at this wonderful theater. It's my first play and it means a great deal to me."

Sneak preview performances to this limited engagement of The M Spot begin Thursday, February 26 with opening night Saturday, February 28 at New Jersey Repertory Company (179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ), and will run through Sunday, March 29. Tickets may be purchased by calling 732-229-3166 or online at www.njrep.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Rep