Monday, July 17, 2017

Spotlight On...Milo Manheim

Name: Milo Manheim

Hometown: Los Angeles California

Education: High School Jr.

Select Credits: Disney's "Zombies", Spring Awakening, Rent, A Chorus Line.

Why theater?: I get to step into the shoes of someone else. I get to feel what they feel and I find it exciting to be able to express their emotions in my own way. I get to tell stories that have an impact on people.

Who do you play in Generation Me?: Milo Reynolds; a guy who is misunderstood and who is very dependent on what other people think of him.  He is unable to express himself to the people he loves and keeps all of his frustration inside of him.

Tell us about Generation Me: Generation Me addresses the fact that things aren't always what they seem. The play brings up the difficulties of high school and how the emotional pressure teens feel, can take a devastating toll on them.

What is it like being a part of Generation Me?: It feels like having a second family. There's no one In the cast that I would hesitate to go to for anything. It feels very fulfilling that we are talking about important issues that affect teenagers.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I enjoy comedies the most, but I am most impressed by dramas. It's amazing to watch good actors portraying characters. I'm obsessed with Jim Carrey because he can make almost anyone laugh with his comedic timing.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I would love to play Elder Price in the Book of Mormon because I've loved that show and that character since the day it came out. I would also love to play Saint Jimmy in American Idiot, because he is a very dynamic character and it would be a challenge to play him.

What’s your favorite showtune?: My favorite show tune right now is, "If I Could Tell Her", from Dear Evan Hansen. Not only does the song sound beautiful, but the lyrics are extremely impressive to me because every line has a double meaning. It moves me every time I hear it because the character singing it finally gets a chance to confess his love honestly without hesitation.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would Love to work with Lin Manuel Miranda. I think he's a genius and the passion he's shown in his work is very inspiring and It would be an honor to be alongside him one day.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: If a  movie was made about me it would be called,  "My Life From 3rd Row Center." I would be played by a young Jim Carrey, and the movie would be about how I spent all my life going to the theater.  I started doing musicals when I was 7 years old and it has changed my life for the better. It's important that Jim Carrey plays the role because he finds the humor in everything like I do.

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I would have loved to see Rent when it was first and Broadway. I used to perform the whole musical in my garage with my best friend. It was a dream come true when I got to play Roger A few years ago.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I think Spring Awakening is a very important show to see at my age. It is always an exciting show no matter what age, but I feel like it is more impactful to see it in our teenage years because it's relevance at this point in our lives.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I'm not sure this is really a guilty pleasure but I could spend hours in my room alone playing my guitar. Eating junk food.

What’s up next?: 11th grade. Volleyball and a new musical movie for the Disney Channel called Zombies.