UW Senior Carter Krzyzaniak lights up the stage as the charismatic castle maître d', Lumiere. Read on to find out more about his very first role, what he likes about playing Lumiere, and how is passion for singing and dancing extends beyond the theatre.
Are you a Madison native? If not, what brought you to the area?
I’m not a Madison native. I came to Madison to go to school at UW-Madison.
Have you done a show with Middleton Players before?
I did Crazy For You and Legally Blonde last summer, and I am in all three shows this summer.
How do you prepare for auditions? What did you sing to audition for MPT’s 2018 season?
Auditions are actually a very stressful process for me so I spend a lot of time making sure my cuts are ready and that I am very familiar with them. This year I sang part of Donny Novitski from Bandstand and If I Didn’t Believe In You from The Last Five Years.
What was your first stage show and who did you play?
The first stage show I was in was Willy Wonka Jr. I played Grandpa Joe and had such a fun time flying and burping my way through that show.
What do you enjoy about your character Lumiere?
Getting to know Lumiere has been such a fun process. I love exploring his flirtatious energy and his slightly reckless behaviors. The French has been a great challenge and has really helped me as a performer.
What is your favorite theatre memory?
I don’t know if I can pick one specific theater memory that is my favorite. Every show for me offers a different message to take away from it. Some shows are extremely uplifting and spread so much joy, while others might instill more hope and positivity. There is just something so special about taking yourself out of your own world and diving into life that can be anything you want it to be.
What do you do when you’re not performing/working in the theatre? Do you have a daytime job?
When I’m not doing theater, I can be found directing and choreographing for show choirs. I was in show choir in high school and it is a huge passion of mine. There’s something special about working with high school kids and watching them grow as performers and as young adults.
What are people going to think about as they drive home from the show?
As people leave the show, I hope their hearts are full of the joy the theater brings to people. Live performance is such a powerful art and I love to hear the excitement that audience members have after they see a show.
See Carter on stage as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast August 8-11. Tickets are available now at www.middletonplayers.com/tickets.