Featured Performer of the Week: Michael Manuel

I was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. In jr. high I was introduced to theatre and sketch comedy, although one could argue that I saw no difference between the two. After high school, I moved to Seattle and began working in theatre (Empty Space, Group, New City, and Seattle Rep). While in Seattle I was encouraged by some to attend clown college, but there were no shoes that fit. No doubt through some clerical error I was admitted to the M.F.A program at the Yale School of Drama where I studied with the legendary Earle Gister.

Regional credits include Yale Rep, New Jersey Shakespeare, Seattle Rep, Group Theatre, Empty Space, Geffen, Pasadena Playhouse, Mark Taper, South Coast Rep, Cornerstone, Interact, and A Noise Within.

Some favorite roles include Bottom and Flute in Midsummer, Solony in Three Sisters, Hotspur in Henry IV pt 1and Andre Thibault in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

1) What are you working on right now?

I'm currently rehearsing Hamlet at Yale Rep with my old classmate, Paul Giamatti. It's been great being in New Haven seeing old friends and making new ones. James Bundy is directing and he's fantastic - really open to letting us try anything. We're fortunate to have 8 weeks of rehearsal - which is a rarity nowadays.

2) What has been your professional biggest accomplishment so far?

Aside from the birth of my daughter, Lily, the work that I'm most proud of, the public has never seen. I worked for a number of years in Los Angeles with groups like Playwrights in the Schools and About Productions going into 'at risk' schools in South Central and East LA and working with the students to help them find their voices through the development of plays, scenes or monologues they write. It's a lot like the 52nd Street Project.

3) Share your funniest or worst audition moment

About six years ago, I was screen testing for the co-lead in a buddy dramedy about the first racially integrated drive-in restaurant in Alabama. It was called Eyes on the Fries. I had a 4:30 audition time and made the misguided decision to eat Indian food for lunch at a place in Manhattan that had a handwritten "C" health code grade in the window. When I got called and started my scene, I needed to go the bathroom in the worst imaginable way. The end of the scene called for me to accuse my co-lead of something vaguely racist by wagging my finger at him; instead I delivered the line, slapped him with the back of my hand and ran out the door to the restroom, where I remained for some 30 minutes thumbing through a dog-eared SkyMall catalog. Needless to say I did not get another call back.

4) What's your dream role?

I just finished a run at the Odyssey Theatre in LA of Chekhov Unscripted with Impro Theatre . At Impro we create full length improvised plays in the style of specific authors (Chekhov, Williams, Shakespeare, Sondheim, and others). So, in a way, I was able to play lots of dream roles - Lopahkin, Ivonov, Vershinin, Yepikhodov - or at least play archetypes of those characters. There are so many roles out there that I'd love to play - far too many to mention. Someday I'll play Lear and Big Daddy.

5) If you weren't a performer, what would you be?

I'd be a chef. I've always cooked and baked. One of my first jobs was when I was 15 and I worked for Jeff Smith (The Frugal Gourmet). One of the first things he had me do at the restaurant was clean out the refrigerator and make a meal with whatever I found. It was kind of like one of those shows that are on the Food Network now. It was a great lesson in working with what you have.

6) Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years?

I just want to be working. Theatre, film, tv, improv - whatever. I'd also like to be directing more. I've directed theatre and some short films; I'd like to continue with that.

Many of my friends and colleagues know that I have a penchant for mischievousness when I work. As dumb as this might sound, I like things to be right on the edge; maybe even a little dangerous when I work. I hope that in 10 years I'll still be as courageous and spontaneous.

7) Where can people find you online?

My website here!

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