Gavin Waid will be playing Bert Barry in our upcoming production of 42nd Street. Last month, he played Malcolm in our production of The Full Monty, and will also be appearing as Henry Ford in Ragtime.

Are you a Madison native?

No, I moved to the Madison area from Orlando, Florida in 2014 to pursue my master's degree in vocal performance. After graduation, I ended up sticking around.

What do you do when you’re not performing or working in the theatre?

I work as a catty receptionist for a law firm downtown.

What is your favorite theatrical work?

Opera: Così fan Tutte by Mozart. The vocal ensembles never fail to give me goosebumps. The music is absolutely perfect, even if the plot is problematic.

Musical Theatre: I have a lot of wonderful memories of watching Gigi on TV with my grandfather and listening to him sing along, so that's what I'd have to say.

What is your favorite theatre memory?

I'm not sure if this technically counts, but I worked retail for Cirque du Soleil for three years in Orlando. While working there, I was able to participate in a staff cabaret and a Michael Jackson flash mob. You can catch glimpses of me (very quick ones) in the Michael Jackson flash mob supercut on Cirque du Soleil's YouTube account. It's definitely one of the coolest things I've ever done.

What is your favorite part of the rehearsal process?

The sitzprobe! It’s so much fun to finally sit down with the orchestra and sing through the entire show. It’s the most exciting part of the process, for sure.

What would you like the audience to know about 42nd Street?

It's really everything you want in a musical! There's dancing, catchy songs, a show-within-a-show…really, what more could you ask for?

What do you enjoy about playing Bert Barry? Are there any aspects of the character you are finding challenging to portray?

Bert is an interesting character. He doesn’t say much in the scope of the show, but when he does, you can tell that he has a lot of love for Pretty Lady, and all of the actors involved with it. The most challenging part of playing this role, though, is making him a real character with the little bit of dialogue given.

BONUS: Give us a fun fact about yourself!

I am double-jointed in my right shoulder, both of my elbows, and almost all of my knuckles! Does that count?

Don’t miss your chance to come see Gavin in our upcoming production of 42nd Street! Performances are June 29-July 2 at the Middleton Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2895782.