Spamalot - Meet Cast Member Drew Holcombe
What do you find appealing about your character and this
show?
Spamalot is an absolutely unbelievable show. With a basis
like Monty Python, people come in expecting to see their favorite scenes from
the movie, but they also don’t want a carbon copy. Spamalot rides that line
perfectly – some scenes are almost exactly the same as in the film, but there
are also new characters and plot twists that help it stand on its own two feet,
so you definitely don’t need to have seen the movie to understand the show.
Having been a fan on the show for years, I’m beyond
excited that I’ve been given the opportunity to experience it on
the other side of the fourth wall! My favorite part of being in this
ensemble is that we get to completely change characters every time we’re on
stage – the ensemble gets to play the silly residents of Camelot, the dreary
monks, and everything in between. As a result of this, we get to explore
different styles of singing and dance, something not offered in most musicals,
which aren’t usually as fluctuating. After taking a long hiatus from
musical ensembles, I’m glad I get to experience being a part of one in a show
like Spamalot that makes it a challenging and rewarding experience.
What have you learned about yourself being in this
ensemble?
More than anything, I think this production has
broken down a lot of my dancing barriers. I came into this show with a
whopping one semester of ballet under my belt, so I definitely expected
the choreography to be a struggle. But once we started working on the first
couple numbers, I realized that my own convictions of not being a dancer were
holding me back far more than my lack of experience. I definitely have had to
put in a lot of effort to make everything happen (especially the tap!),
but I’ve gained a lot of confidence in my own abilities that I didn’t have
before.
What do you want the audience to experience/take away from
this show?
The thing I love about comedies is that people don’t
see them expecting to walk out with a moral or a new way to look at
life. They expect mindless entertainment, and in a lot of ways,that’s
what you get. But the side effect of silly shows like Spamalot is that you get
to create this incredible connection between everyone in the room as
everyone laughs their butts off together. There’s a lot of hostility
in the world today, so I think it’s important that we have shows like
Spamalot to diffuse the tension and bring us together.
How does this show differ from other shows you have worked
on?
Considering my background is almost entirely in
educational theatre, this show is extremely different from
everything I’ve done before. Working with a cast of adults is a new
experience, though age definitely hasn’t been the barrier I expected it to
be. Being the youngest member of the cast was intimidating at first,
but I’m incredible lucky to work withamazing people who help me
remember that I’m a welcome part of this cast. This will also be the
first time I get to perform for multiple weeks – the most performances
I’ve had in a previous show is just six. I’m excited to learn how to
keep my energy up throughout the extended run.
I also haven’t been in a musical ensemble since the
first musical I was in, which was Fiddler on the Roof at West
Springfield High School, over four years ago. Now that I’m used to
having speaking roles, being in the ensemble has presented me with a lot of
challenges. You have to be just as engaging as always, but it’s hard to do
when you don’t get to make many of your own acting or vocal choices for the
sake of cleanliness. I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this show and
learn this other side of music theatre!
How long have you been acting and what made you get involved
in theatre? How did you get involved with LTA?
I’ve been involved in theatre and music since I was
little, but I didn’t really become invested in performing until high
school. That’s when I realized that, by breaking down the barriers of film
and bringing the audience and performers together, theatre can connect people
in a powerful and profound way. As soon as I realized the power of those
connections, I knew I had to keep performing for the rest of my life.
As for this production, I’ve been researching summer
performing opportunities throughout my spring semester. Before LTA’s
season was announced, I saw that the dates of the show would work with my
schedule, so I made a note to audition. When I found out the show would be
Spamalot, I instantly knew it would be a perfect fit for me. I’m thrilled
to be a part of this production and can’t wait to share it with an audience!
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