London
From ”Miss Saigon” to ”Gypsy”, the ”Buyer and Cellar” star fills us in on his favourite showtunes
Michael Urie found fame on the hit TV programme Ugly Betty. He is currently appearing at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Jonathan Tolins' one-man show Buyer and Cellar.
We caught up with Michael and asked him: "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?"
I spent four days working on Company with Roundabout Theatre in NYC – Daniel Evans was unbelievable as Bobby, John Tiffany directed, I played April hee hee. I learned more about music from four days of Company than four years of marching band, and being inside that opening number was like a dream.
I think this show is perfect and so did the Pulitzer Prize committee, and this incredible number is the culmination of a running theme in the show, that behind every idiotic man there is a much cleverer woman. Major props to Ellen Harvey who blew the roof off as Miss Jones when I was a brother.
A three act play in one song.
I was reminded of how much I love this show when I saw the fabulous West End revival. Heartbreak and determination with enormously high stakes, it's a gut wrenching song.
I loved this song as a kid for its inspirational words and upbeat tune. Once I learned the show, and the context in which Mama Rose sings it, it became a very different song to me. Amazing how one song can live so fluidly in two different worlds, depending on subtext.
Buyer and Cellar runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory until 2 May. You can read our review here and book tickets here.