by Lorie Lewis Ham
The Book of Mormon comes through Fresno next week for seven performances at the William Saroyan Theatre in Fresno. We were able to chat recently with one of its stars, Kevin Clay, who plays Elder Price.
KRL: Where are you from?
Kevin: I am from Centreville, Virginia. It’s a suburb about 30 minutes south of Washington, D.C.
KRL: When did you first become interested in acting?
Kevin Clay (Elder Price) in “The Book of Mormon”
Kevin: There was one summer when both of my parents were working and they needed a place for me to go during the day. One of my friend’s older sisters was doing a theatre camp so my mom roped me into that. The first solos I ever sang were “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Give My Regards to Broadway”; I’ve never stopped singing since!
KRL: What was the first role that you ever had?
Kevin: My first real role is a classic for all young lads. I played Oliver in the musical Oliver! through our local community theatre, Alliance.
KRL: What drew you to the role of Elder Price? What do you like best about playing him?
Kevin: The Book of Mormon came out my freshman year of college and I can remember devouring the soundtrack. I loved all the songs, I loved the comedy, etc. I was sad, however, thinking that most likely it would be over and done with by the time I graduated, because everyone would always tell me that Elder Price would be a great type of role for me to tailor myself for. Luckily, the show was a massive success and has been running for more than seven years!
Monica L. Patton, Kevin Clay, Conner Peirson in “The Book of Mormon”
KRL: How do you prepare for the show night after night?
Kevin: The show is especially challenging vocally, so most of my preparation is dedicated to making sure that my voice is healthy and ready to sing the material. I’ll arrive to the theatre a half hour before the half hour call, shave and do my hair, and then begin vocalizing while I get into costume. I also drink warm water with honey leading up to the places call.
KRL: What do you like best about BOM?
Kevin: What do I like best? Hmm. Really, I think, the people. Our company does such a good job with hiring amazing individuals that have kept this show tight and clean for so long. Our producers care so much about this show, which, in turn, inspires us to be at the top of our game.
KRL: What is a typical day like for you while in this touring show?
Kevin: During the week, our days are relatively free! Depending on what city we are in, I may do some exciting activity or go see something fun, but most often, I lead a pretty calm existence. My top priorities everyday are finding good food and going to the gym. For me, I enjoy finding a sense of normalcy and calm during the day so that I can really give my energy to the show at night!
“The Book of Mormon” Company
The Book of Mormon performs in Fresno October 3-7 at the Saroyan Theatre in Fresno. Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster and you can get more info on the Broadway Fresno website.
Editor’s Note: This info came in after publication-
BOM ANNOUNCES LOTTERY TICKET POLICY
PERFORMANCES BEGIN OCTOBER 3rd
AT THE SAROYAN THEATRE
THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is pleased to announce a lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins October 3rd at The Saroyan Theatre in Fresno and plays a limited one week engagement through October 7th. In Fresno, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $25 apiece. Entries will take place at the Saroyan Theatre Box Office.
The wildly popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some performances. The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced lottery seats for every city on the National Tour.
Entries will be accepted at the box office beginning two and a half hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase
You can find more theatre articles, and other entertainment articles, in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find a review of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which is currently on stage at Roger Rocka’s in Fresno, up in KRL News & Reviews!
If you love local theatre, be sure to check out our new Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. The first 5 episodes are now up! You can check the podcast out on iTunes and Google Play, and also on podbean.
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