NR: Had you heard anything about the League before?

WPM: Oh, yeah. I was warned and told to enjoy them and to make the most of it.

NR: So far your experience has been good?

WPM: Very good. It's wonderful to have my family be able to bring up the website and know the latest.

NR: That's great. Of course this interview will be up there, and then we even have an Alumni page now, so at some point when you leave the show and you do anything else, let me know and I'll post the information. Many of us have gone to see other people perform in different shows after they've left the cast. It's a very supportive group.

WPM: That's great and sometimes I'm so hair-brained when I'm on the road that my family is better off getting information from the computer than from me.

NR: You've traveled before, right?

WPM: I have, yes.

NR: You have a wife and kids. That must be so hard on all of you.

WPM: Having a wife and kids at home makes traveling pretty bittersweet. It's exciting to be doing a new show and to be getting the kind of feedback that this show gets, but my son is three and a half and my daughter is one and a half, and not to belittle the fact that I miss my wife, but every day and every week brings so many new developments in my children that just a word from them, just an inflection that changes in their voice....

NR: Are they going to be able to see you on this tour?

WPM: Yeah. They've been able to visit me here in New Haven and I'll be going home on every day off. They'll be coming to San Francisco and then out to L.A.

NR: How do you prepare yourself mentally for such a long trip?

WPM: Take it day by day. I bring some projects that I want to work on, some songs that I want to polish. We have a very talented orchestra traveling with us so maybe I can put together a cabaret show or benefit. I bring things to read. There's plenty to do. You know, being a professional and being a father and a husband doesn't end just because I'm not in Manhattan with my family.

NR: Wherever you do your cabaret, let us know, because there are fans all over the country and they will be interested.

WPM: Really? There are fans for The Scarlet Pimpernel all over the country?

NR: Absolutely.

WPM: Even though we haven't played all over the country?

NR: Absolutely. Every city you go to, there will be people at the stage door who know cast members. That's what the Internet has done.

How long are you going to be with the show? Do you know yet?

WPM: Right now I expect to be here at least through Chicago, which is the end of August, possibly further. It will depend on how long I can be away from my family and other opportunities.

NR: If you could pick a dream job, what would it be?

WPM: Hmm, a dream job would give me twelve hours a day with my family, three hours a day in acting and singing coaching, maybe an hour or an hour and a half every couple days to perform songs and that's enough for me.

NR: That sounds good to me. Is there any role you're dying to play?

WPM: I'd love to play a Sweeney. I have to say that. I would just love the chance to play Sweeney Todd sometime down the road. I've got time, but that's definitely one role that comes to the top of my mind when I think of what I'd like to play. But there are new roles being written. Frank Wildhorn is in the midst of writing new pieces and there's no telling what's going to pop up on the horizon. I just want to work on things that are a challenge and that allow me to use my tools to the best and make a comfortable life for me and my family. If you can put all that together with what you love to do, then you're very lucky.

NR: That's for sure. Thank you so much.

WPM: Thank you.

I was very impressed with William's interpretation as Chauvelin and feel he is a wonderful asset to the company. He seems very much at home with the League members and is enjoying his time at the stage door. He enjoys his stage time too, although I think he will be able to relax even more once he gets over the "terror" of being the primary target of Douglas' ad libs!

Questions suggested by:

Leona Hoegsberg, Kathleen Smith, Carolyn Peters, JoeyKo, Jan Kolb, Shari Perkins, Stephanie Henkin, karen k, Mary Helfrick, Jan Combopiano

Interview conducted and photographs by Nancy Rosati.