Preston Truman Boyd will be playing the role of the Monster in the upcoming tour of “Young Frankenstein,” which will play at ASU Gammage from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. The show is a musical based on Mel Brooks’ movie by the same name. It tells the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his attempts to bring a corpse to life.
Boyd spoke with The State Press about the musical, his background as an actor and the tour.
State Press: Are you excited to go on tour for “Young Frankenstein?”
Preston Truman Boyd: I sure am … I’ve already been out for 10 months on the previous leg of the tour before they kind of re-contracted everything … I got a little bump up and I’m now playing the Monster permanently instead of understudying. So that’s a new experience out on the road, so it’ll be very nice.
SP: How do you like that role?
PTB: It’s great. It’s a bit of a challenge trying to portray acting choices just through grunts and moans and a lot of physical movement when you don’t have text to relay what you’re trying to say. It’s a different monster in itself, I would say.
SP: How long have you been a part of this tour?
PTB: Started rehearsals in New York last August and went out on the road, and I was in an ensemble track and we were on the road for 11 months. After the re-contracts, they brought in the new ensemble, and some people returned, some did not.
We just finished rehearsals in Burbank, Calif., this past couple weeks. … I literally just arrived to Costa Mesa and this is where we open [before we come to Tempe].
SP: What’s been your favorite place to visit so far?
PTB: I would have to say Denver was the best stop on the tour, just because I’m kind of an outdoors nut. We got to go water rafting and a lot of hiking and stuff like that. … It’s a bit of a reward to be able to spend the days in Denver golfing and then get to go to the office, will you, at the theatre. I’m living the dream.
SP: So, are you excited to come to Arizona then?
PTB: Yeah, very excited — especially for the golfing. Actually, a guy that I grew up with and went to high school with is now a golf pro in Tempe at a course there, so he will be taking me out to his course.
That’s another great thing about touring. You’re able to reconnect with people all over the country that you grew up with, not necessarily did theater with growing up, but you know? A lot of guys I played hockey with are all over the country now, so when I’m out on the road working, I’m able to catch up and see them, as well.
SP: I saw that you understudied under Schuler Hensley?
PTB: Yep, Schuler Hensley originated the Monster on Broadway, and then when it went out on tour, I understudied him for the past 11 months. And now I’m taking the reins and letting his performance live on through myself now.
SP: What’s been your favorite musical to be in?
PTB: Favorite musical probably would have to be when I did “The Pajama Game” at school. I went to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with the University of Cincinnati and studied there and got to do a bunch of great shows.
I also performed in “Les Mis” at the MUNY [Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis], which is one of the largest outdoor union houses in the country … it seats 11,000 people. So, it’s fun to perform a big show on a big stage for a big audience. It kind of heightens the stakes. It feels like you’re performing in a football stadium almost.
SP: What was your favorite role to play?
PTB: Probably — oh gosh, that’s such a tough question. My favorite role? I would have to say Sid Sorokin in “The Pajama Game” at school, one of my favorite shows, as well. It’s such a golden-age show, and a lot of my favorite songs from musical theatre repertoire are actually from the show, so it’s great to play a role that you like and sing some of your favorite music, as well.
SP: Would you say that’s your favorite musical overall?
PTB: Overall favorite musical? I really love “Spamalot.” That’s a great show — very, very funny. Or, also, “Sunday in the Park with George,” if you want to get a little more intellectual with it all, I guess.
SP: Did you start doing musical theatre before you went to school?
PTB: I grew up kind of splitting time between my athletics and theater, and theater was always something I found myself making sacrifices for. So, I knew when it came down to it all, this was probably what I would end up doing, and it’s where my true love lies. Although I thought I was going to be a pro-hockey player one day, the dream of doing this became more realistic, and I’m doing it now. I couldn’t be happier.
SP: How did you get involved with it then?
PTB: I grew up in a very strong and prominent arts community up in Minnesota, and I had many, many opportunities to do theater, and I kind of got started out singing at the church choir. Then translated to school choir, then the director came up to me and said, “Why don’t you audition for the musical?” And from then on, I did not stop.
SP: I was reading your bio from your website, and I saw that you have received many awards from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), etc. What was your proudest moment with those? Which one were you most proud of earning?
PTB: Well, we performed down in Coral Gables Miami, Fla., and we were honored. Ten students were chosen out of 5,000 who auditioned to be a part of the voice finalists there, so I had taken more of an operatic route.
And when I was able to study with one of my favorite singers of all time, Plácido Domingo, that was probably my proudest moment of that week for sure.
SP: Is there still a dream role that you would like to have that you haven’t gotten a chance to play yet?
PTB: I feel like one of my more cliché answers to that question is the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera.” That’s definitely a role I would love to play someday.
SP: Before you thought of the musical, did you think it was going to be a weird transition from the movie to musical?
PTB: I think after “The Producers” kind of led the way for Mel Brooks’s translation from screen to stage, I think everyone was expecting “Young Frankenstein” to work out as well, if not better, and it’s been very well received in New York and also out on the road.
I’ve always been a big fan of Mel Brooks, and my father also. I remember watching the movie [“Young Frankenstein”] with him when I was 12 years old and not totally understanding it, and now when I see the movie today and do the show, I can appreciate the art form ten fold now. It’s a great translation from the screen to the stage. When you add in all the flash — the costumes and the lights and the energy of a live show, it sets up for a very successful evening of performance.
SP: Would you ever want to be in “The Producers” or another Mel Brooks production?
PTB: Yeah, absolutely. I would love to play Franz Liebkind in “The Producers.” “The Producers” is a great show — all of Mel Brooks’ stuff. I wish and hope that a lot of his other things will make it to the stage like “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” I think could be great on the stage. And if they could find a way for “Spaceballs” to work, that would be fantastic too.
SP: Have you had an inspiration? Has there been somebody that’s been your inspiration on Broadway?
PTB: It’s been very rewarding to work with the people that we get to work with in this business, because you not only are having the opportunity to work, but you’re also having the opportunity to learn every time you go to work, which is very important to me. I’ll be learning things about myself as an actor for years and years to come.
But I was very fortunate to grow up in a family where it was not a far-fetched dream to want to be an actor or to work in this business. My grandfather won the MET audition and sang with the Rome Italie Opera House in Italy. My dad was a voice major his first year of college, and my mom’s an artist and a pianist. The arts have been a big part of my growing up, and we’ve always been encouraged in my household to strive for those dreams.
SP: Is there anything else you would like to add?
PTB: I’m excited to come to Arizona. Everyone should come see the show. It’s the same ole Mel Brooks. The whole story is the same. It has all the iconic jokes in it still, and it’s going to be a very, very fun night of theater. It’s a bit of a colorful show. If you can handle it, come out and enjoy it.
Reach the reporter at mmattox@asu.edu