SP: Interview with Mark McGrath

NR: In your kind words to me on the Scarlet Pimpernel message board, you talked about Douglas being generous to cast members. Do you want to elaborate on that?

MM: Doug is so much that I admire. I've learned from him, and I've told him this. He has carried his stardom with such aplomb and grace and dignity. He cares so much about the people he's performing for and the people he's performing with. You can tell that he knows that you don't do it by yourself, no matter how good of an actor you are. You can tell that he knows he's not going to get on stage and pull off near the stuff he does unless he has everybody there with him. Because he is looking right at you. He's right there and he touches you and he brings you into his world and cares about the quality of his performing and what he's going to give that audience. Because he knows, and I agree with him, he knows they're paying $75, $80 a ticket. Do you want to see somebody that's going to halfway walk through something? There's a responsibility to it and he carries it with ... He's so totally aware of it. That's what he does in rehearsals. And besides the fact, he has fun. He has fun doing his work. And if you can't have fun doing your work, especially this kind of work, why do it? And he does. And he's busted his butt. I know he's been exhausted. God knows the interviews he's done, all in this period of time. I think he was aware of it when he started into it and took on the mantle and said, "OK, if this is what it's going to be for me to do this, I will take this on and I will see to it that I will spend time with people and I will appreciate them." And he does, he really does.

NR: I know you recently found the League. Were you surprised by the level of fan support?

MM: I was ecstatically surprised, wonderfully surprised about it. Because I had heard some talk about it before I came into the show. Then I saw Sal and Gayle Musselman and Amy and Kelly and some of the other people and I heard them talking about how they would go out ... and I was talking to Amy and Kelly about this too, and some of the other people, and I was talking to Doug about this too. We don't really know, and will never be able to measure, the influence all the Pimpys have had on our show continuing its life. I don't think you'll ever be able to measure it. When one person talks to another, and that person talks to two others and how that extrapolates, we'll never know. But look at the people that we're bringing in the house. Look at the standing ovations. Look at how much that has all turned around. You can't help but attribute some of that influence to the Pimpys who stood out at TKTS saying, "You're not sure about what show to go see? Go see Pimpernel. It's a great show."

NR: Well, we can't take credit for everyone that's out there. The commercial had a lot to do with it. And the standing ovation is all of YOU. That's not us. We're not forcing anybody to stand.

MM: Again, that's part of the producers "going to town," stage management and everybody doing their jobs, everybody working as a team, and you've got Doug, who's the star, who, like I said, carries it with such energy and aplomb and it just bleeds down into all of us. Because he is who he is, I can't help but say he brings the best out in us. Because he expects the best out of himself, he brings the best out of us. And then the audience reaps the rewards and gives it right back to us with their appreciation. Hey, it's also helped me keep working. You guys have helped me keep a job. Thank you, I appreciate that.

NR: You're welcome. Thank YOU. Do you have a dream role that you haven't played yet?

MM: Sweeney Todd. I have not played Sweeney Todd and I would love to play Sweeney Todd before I'm 50. I'm 45.

NR: What do you wish you had more time for in your life?

MM: Spending time with family. More time to visit with family and be with my family. For example, my wife's on the west coast and I'm here. We're doing a bi-coastal thing. I've got family that's spread out. For example if you get Christmas off, I may spend it with her family, so I can't spend it with mine. And this business can spread you out and demand so much of you sometimes, that suffers. So that's what I would say. I wish I could have more time to take off and be with all my family members and stay in touch with them more than I have.

NR: What do you want to do in the future?

MM: I would like to do what Doug has done. I dream of having the opportunity to create a role for the first time myself. And to bring it all the way to fruition in a Broadway house would be great fun. To be able to create that role for the first time and have others say, "That was the role that Mark McGrath created." I would like to do that.

NR: Thank you.

MM: You're welcome.

I'd like to thank Nancy Rosati for 
taking the time to do this 
interview with me.

"No one reaches any level of 
success without the support of 
Loving & Helping hands along the 
way".  I've had many in my life. 
To them I am forever grateful.

My deepest, heartfelt Thanks to:
My wife Lynne, 
My mother Ruby,
The entire McGrath family,
The entire Wintersteller family,
Douglas, Rachel & Rex,
The wonderfully talented Creative 
Staff, Production Staff, Cast & 
Crew of The Scarlet Pimpernel 
(I'm so proud to work with you all)
The Producers, Director & Musical 
Director, Ms. Julie Hughes,
My agents - past, present & future,
The wonderful Pimpernel fans one & 
all.
Members of the R&W Law Firm,
Members of the FCH&S Law Firm,
Members of the O'M&M Law Firm,

Also:
Pat Diangelo & Family, Donna 
Ryan & Family, Mary Jo Beresford, 
Michael Schulteis, Elston Hurst & 
Family, Ronny Dale, Oscar Kosarin, 
Worth Gardner, Mr. Lorenzo 
Malfatti (my Italian papa), Ted 
Dugas, Beverly Rinaldi, W.H. 
Laster and many, many others.

Mark impressed me as someone who most definitely has found the proper career path for himself. His excitement is infectious and he is so grateful for the opportunities he has been given. I certainly hope he gets his dream of originating a Broadway role.

Questions suggested by: Gayle Musselman, Peter Williams, Aimee Cherry, Mary Helfrick, Jessica Parson, Susan Cassidy