SAM Lips

You’re from the USA and trained in Michigan - how would you describe your upbringing and where did your love of the arts come from?

I grew up in a very rural part of Colorado where there were acres of land. My grandmother was a dancer and a singer when she was younger - she was always singing, so I started singing, because I spent a lot of time with her when I was younger. I was born in Missouri and we moved to Colorado when I was three and stayed with my aunt and uncle for a while. They were season ticket holders to the opera, and my aunt showed me videos of Riverdance and I decided I wanted to start tap dancing, and that is how I got started. I took dance classes and then I went to an Arts high school in Colorado and then onwards to New York City.

Was this something that you were naturally passionate about or was it forced upon you?

No, not at all. I think it is very rare for people who are male to feel that it is forced upon you, that you have to be a performer or a dancer. It is quite the opposite, usually males are put into sports or something like that. However, my family was very, very supportive. It was a conversation that had to be done and I told them I wanted to start taking dance classes and they have supported me ever since.

You’ve more than a dozen shows under your belt , Cats, Wicked, The Cher Show, West Side Story, Chicago while in the USA and Singin’ in the Rain and Strictly Ballroom - IN UK to name a few - such a varied mix, are you drawn towards certain shows/styles?

I have always loved the more classic style of shows - you know like 42nd Street, Singin’ in the Rain - I really do love that style. I think with younger people these days it’s more about the more contemporary and ‘poppie’ kind of stuff, and I don’t know, what I was raised on and what I am more drawn to is definitely the more classical side.

It’s more romantic isn’t it?

Oh yeah, I just think it is so classy and there is a sophistication about it and kind of a restraint that you don’t often get with shows these days - it is very like “in your face”. I really enjoy the classical style a lot.

Having performed at both ends of the Atlantic I wonder how do audiences differ?

I find that, at least in New York City, people sort of frown upon the feel good, happy shows, or the ones that are filled with songs that people know. They sort of turn their noses up at it, they want more artistic, edgy pieces. Whereas over here I think people go to the theatre because they want to be there, they want to feel good and enjoy themselves and have a good time. So a show such as 42nd Street and Singin’ in the Rain, where people know the songs, they really do well over here which is good fun.

Was it theatre that brought you to the U.K and where is home while here?

I am in south-east London, near the Kent border, that is where home is for me. I was brought over here around seven years ago to do the musical ‘Strictly Ballroom’ up in Leeds. They cast me in New York and took me here to play the role of Scott, and there was something I thought about the way the business is over here that I really liked. I felt like I could explore a different side of who I am as a performer over here that I wasn’t really going to be able to make happen in New York for some reason. I was sort of getting pigeon-holed in a different niche over there and it was very hard to break out of that in New York. I think coming here was a fresh start for me and I have loved it and haven’t looked back.

Do you stay here most of the year round even if you are not working?

Oh yeah, I am here full-time now.

To date what has been your favourite role or show to work with and is there one specific role on your bucket list?

Do you know what? I know it is back on in the West End now, but it has to be Bobby Child and Crazy For You. I played that role in New York at the Merry-GoRound Theatre. I don’t know if my agents wanted me to do it at the time because it didn’t really make very much money, but I really wanted to play the role. To this day it is the most fun I have ever had on a show, that role is so iconic and great. I saw Charlie Stubbs do it on the West End and he is brilliant at it. It is just for someone who comes from this song and dance upbringing, it is the ultimate. Don Lockwood and Singin’ in the Rain is a close second to that I think. Those two were probably my two most favourite roles I have ever played.

As far as a role that I would love to play now - I have always had, it seems a bit far-fetched based on what I have just said, but I would love to play Emcee in Cabaret - that’s back in the West End as well. I think it would be great to take a step back from the classic, buttoned-up personality that I am doing a lot of the time and do something really out-there and edgy. That is something I would really like to try.

42nd Street is such an iconic show, for those not familiar can you give us a brief overview of the story and your character Billy?

In one sentence, ‘It’s a musical about putting on a musical’. It takes place in the 1930’s, it’s right in the heart of the Great Depression, so a lot of actors, well, everyone is out of work and people are trying to figure out how they are going to make ends meet. Then, all of a sudden, this Broadway Director Julia Marsh decides to put on a musical and everyone gets very excited about it. They get this diva, Dorothy Brock, who is romantically involved with the gentleman who is providing the money for the show to play the star and at the end of Act One she gets injured and cannot do the show. So who is going to step into the role... no other than the doey eyed Peggy Sawyer from Pennsylvania who is full of dreams, and all of a sudden she finds herself in a starring role. It’s a love letter to theatre, it’s all about following your dreams and having a good heart. It really is fantastic, spectacular and heartwarming.

Do you have a favourite number in the show?

The big number for me is ‘Lullaby of Broadway’. It’s at the beginning of Act Two and I think that the lyrics just speak to anyone who is in this business and the love we have for this business and the magic that we can create on a stage. It just captures that so beautifully. That number is just iconic.

You previously worked with - Adam Garcia, Ruthie Henshall - now Les Dennis, Samantha Womack and Faye Tozer are in the cast , you’ve worked with Faye before, what a lineup ! How is it working with everyone? They are absolutely wonderful. I actually did Singin’ in the Rain with Faye as well, she is an absolute professional.

Who is the biggest Diva, lol

Oh gosh! They are all wonderful and so professional. They are always on time and they are just lovely to work with. They are just a wonderful, wonderful group of people. You always run into a bunch of hurdles on tour and the fact that this company has really come together has made it really lovely. I don’t think we have any divas!

The run is about 6 months in total and Belfast is the final stop. Have you been here before and will you get some time after to take in the sights and do tourist things?

I just want to listen to everyone talk! Actually, coming from America, there is a girl on our sound team who is Irish, from Dublin, and I was actually having this conversation with her, that is actually easier for Americans to understand people from Ireland because of the hard R, so I find it easier to understand people from Ireland than I do in the UK. I love the accent and everyone I have spoken to has said it is just such a great city and I am really excited to go over and see what it is like.

There are already plans for 42nd Street in Spring 2024, are you on board or have you other plans?

It is all kind of up in the air at the moment and nothing has been finalised yet, but I am sure many of us will be there.

Have you any Christmas projects or pantomimes planned?

I have a concert just before Christmas, it is going to be all over the country leading up to Christmas. The show is also going to Canada, so I will be jumping in for that, and hopefully we will continue on in the New Year.

I read in your credits that you worked on the new Wonka Movie - I am so envious right now, I love Timothee Chamlmet, did you get to meet him?

Yes, we called him Timmy on set. It was really cool, that was the first time I have done a big proper feature film like that. It was interesting as well because it was right in the middle of Covid and the restrictions were pretty intense. We filmed it in winter 2021 and just the scale of the Warner Bros budget and the fact that they built that entire set in an open piece of land was pretty mind blowing. Timmy and everyone were really nice on the film. It was just a cool experience and very eye opening. I really, really hope that I get to do another one because I just loved it.

Do you know how much of it you are in or does it all depend on an editor’s cut?

I am in the trailer. There is this bit where they are in a streetcar and there are people going back and forth and I am in there in a green coat. There is another bit where everyone is doing a tick line and I am in that. I think I am only in two of the big numbers in the film, it will probably be one of those ‘blink and you will miss me’ but... it was really cool.

Enjoy the rest of the tour, we look forward to seeing you in Belfast from 24th October, before you go, give us a one liner of why people should come see the show?

I think after the pandemic, after what this country has gone through over the past couple of years, you just need a night where everything is happy, joyful and wonderful and that is what this show is.

Interview was with Daniel May

You can see 42nd Street in the Grand Opera House from 24th October - tickets can be purchased via goh. co.uk