Interview: Lyndie Moe of RENT at Bass Performance Hall

For most young actors, it takes many years of pounding the hot New York City pavement to catch their big break after college. And for many, that big break may never come. But just one year into her pursuit of a Bachelors of Fine Arts at Rider University, spunky songstress Lyndie Moe landed the dream of a lifetime: playing the iconic role of Maureen Johnson in the national tour of RENT. I caught up with Lyndie in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after only a few weeks on her journey with RENT, and although the professional credits on her resume may be few (for now), her dreams and dedication are clear!

Name: Lyndie Moe

Hometown: "I was born in Colorado and I grew up in Kansas, but I would say my hometown is Wilmington, Delaware. I've moved around a lot!"

Current Role: Maureen in the national tour of RENT

Kyle Christopher West: Congratulations on your role on the RENT tour. I believe you just began performances in September, is that correct?

Lyndie Moe: Yes! Thank you. This is [currently] our third city that we are performing it.

Kyle: You've also just completed your freshman year of college, so I imagine this is your professional theatre debut.

Lyndie: I did a professional show when I was in 4th Grade, but I would say this is my actual professional debut [laughs].

Kyle: Tell me what was going through your head during your first performance on tour.

Lyndie: Oh my god! It was the first preview that we had an audience. I was backstage literally jumping up and down. I was freaking out. It was incredible!

Kyle: I'd love to hear about how you landed the role, and your experience joining the tour.

Lyndie: Well, my friends were going into the city for this open call for RENT and they asked if anyone else wanted to join, and I said, "Of course! I love RENT. I want to go!" I had never been to an open call before, so I wanted the experience. We got up at 3am and we go wait in line...the whole shebang. Joy Dewing Casting was amazing; they saw everybody that didn't have an actual appointment. I [got a] callback [where] I had to sing "Take Me or Leave Me" a million times, and I had to do "Over the Moon" a whole bunch of times as well. [Then] we had a two-month break where I didn't hear anything, and I was convinced I didn't get the role. But, I got a call to come back in for [yet another] call back. Two MORE after that I got [cast in the role]. I was in disbelief!

They told me at the very end of June, and we didn't start rehearsing until around August 20th. We had about two weeks [of rehearsal] in the city and then we had tech in Athens, Georgia. Now we're here!

Kyle: If you were even born when RENT opened on Broadway in 1996, you were probably too young to have seen the show for quite some time. Still, are there past Maureens who have inspired your performance?

Lyndie: I actually wasn't born yet when RENT first came out [laughs]. But of course I watched it on YouTube and I watched the movie. Because this 20th anniversary tour is using the same blocking as the original Broadway production, we are very minimally confined to some of the movement and actions that are sort of integral to the musical. In that way, I think past Maureens have inspired me, but I think that I bring a whole lot of myself [to] this character, which creates a different character already because no two people are the same.

Kyle: Tell me about some of the ways you see yourself in Maureen?

Lyndie: Oh, okay! I love Maureen. I think she is so unapologetically herself. She's just this dramatic and amazing woman and she takes pride in that. She's a huge advocate for equal rights, and speaking out for what you believe in...which is obviously super relevant today. Fun fact: she sings a song about milk, and milk is my favorite drink of all time. That's a huge similarity [laughs]!

Kyle: Now, stepping back a bit, can you tell me about what made you first fall in love with theatre?

Lyndie: Well, believe it or not, I was a big yodeler in Kansas in my elementary school days. I would yodel these songs that you've probably never heard of. I think that's when I realized I loved singing and performing. When I moved to Delaware, I did my first musical theatre production. I was in fourth grade and it was Scrooge the Musical. I was one of the daughters.

Kyle: I know you only have one year of college under your belt, but has your recent education impacted your early career?

Lyndie: Oh, one hundred percent! The year I was there was so eye opening and so incredible. I had the most amazing teachers. In my acting class especially, I think I grew the most; I learned different techniques and strategies that I could use in acting. My voice teacher was just incredible! We went over my callback songs and she taught me how to sing without blowing my voice out. I am so thankful that I went; I definitely think it opened my eyes to the industry.

Kyle: If the rest of your career was a choose-your-own-adventure opportunity, what roles might you choose to follow Maureen?

Lyndie: Oh my gosh. Oh wow. That is tricky. I have always loved LEGALLY BLONDE and I would love to do BONNIE AND CLYDE. I'd say WICKED, but I feel like everyone says that. Who wouldn't want to be a part of WICKED? Oh, you know what I would say: SPAMALOT: The Lady of the Lake. She's a diva and she's funny. I love that character.

Kyle: Well, we'll be keeping an eye on your career, and we can't wait to see you onstage in Texas soon!

Lyndie: I can't wait to go there. Thank you!

Lyndie Moe and the cast of RENT will perform at Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall From October 17th-22nd. Tickets and more information can be found at www.RentOnTour.net

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