By Andrew Gans
Question: What is it like for you now playing a different role in the same show?
Question: What are some of the moments that you're enjoying as Donna?
Question: In terms of stamina and endurance, what's this role like compared to playing Tanya?
22 Jun 2012
McLane in her first performance as Donna Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
McLane: You know, it's interesting. It feels like a brand-new show because when I wasn't on stage, I wasn't seeing the show, and after a while, you don't hear it anymore, really. You're backstage… So it felt, going into rehearsals, I really felt like it was a brand-new show. There is one moment, and that is the only moment that physically is hard to get out of my body, and that's the jumps that I do. I usually do the first jump in "Dancing Queen," and last night, it was the first time I actually went to do it twice!… Just physically. I wasn't feeling the part, but it was just musically and physically. Other than that, I look at the costumes — it seems like a different character to me, totally. It's bizarre. I think it's because I'm just focused on Donna and just trying to find that road and discover this kind of journey that she's taking. I'm very separate from it. And, most people have asked me that question, "Isn't it strange seeing people…?" It's like, "No, it fits somehow." I think Donna, in so many ways, fits me more in a lot of ways — she's got her feet on the ground, a hiker. That's kind of what I am. I'm an Earth-girl, so it's kind of fun to go to that part.
McLane: Oh, my gosh! Well, I get to sing, Andrew! [Laughs.] I get to sing. They call it the Donna-thon. The second act is about three or four songs in a row, so it's really great. I have to say, Mamma Mia! has been so amazing over the years — letting me go to do my symphony work. I went out to do Next to Normal. So they've given me so many amazing opportunities. I feel so blessed by this job. Now I'm actually doing the singing in the show, and it's great. I get to sing with Aaron Lazar, who is just a dreamboat to sing with. I wish we had more together to sing, but we don't. And, I couldn't have asked for a better Sophie. Christy [Altomare] is just fantastic. This girl is a little go-getter. She's just amazing. I think I love singing my duets even more so than the solos. That's really been fun.
McLane: So different. So different. Tanya was all about the physical… And, so is Donna in a lot of ways. I'm still dancing a lot, but I'm out of my four-and-a-half inch heels. Seven-and-a-half-years of four-and-a-half inch heels is a little crazy! [Laughs.] So I'm not doing as much physical therapy. [Laughs.]… I still do my yoga every day because that's part of who I am, but it's more the vocal [demands]… Sunday was day off, and now I'm calling it Silent Sundays. I'm writing notes to everybody because I just need to find my pacing, find out, vocally, where it fits. Especially coming out of the rehearsals and all the run-throughs and doing the show — that's the tough time. For me, it's going to be more about pacing my singing. No more red wine for the year! [Laughs.]
McLane following her first performance as Donna on June 4 photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
McLane: Oh, my gosh! Red wine is the worst. I can drink a glass of red wine and wake up the next morning and have no voice. It's weird. It's so drying. So that's going to be the difference, and I find that that's going to be my test. I'll spend a lot of quiet time this year. It'll be a very quiet year! [Laughs.] Other than singing on stage… until I get into the groove of it.
Question: Having seen so many different women do the role over the years, how did you go about finding your own version?
McLane: Well, it's hard because there are so many brilliant — like I said, Carolee, Beth [Leavel] — and everybody's got their own individual thing. And, that's what I think I found the most — Donna works when you really come from who you are first — your individual stuff… I work a lot kind of kinesthetically — physically — like where does she fit in my body kind of thing. Once I find that physical life — along with the emotional at the same time — but when I find that, that tends to help me. The physical part really helps me a lot — finding my ground and finding where my body is in different parts of the play. I know that sounds strange, but that's kind of a lot of what it is. And, having lived a lot, I have a lot of, I should say, "Donna Experience." You know, married twice, had breakups. I'm familiar with them, so that kind of helps, too, because I have some things I can draw on, which is kind of fun. I guess it's not fun, but I'm grateful for it. [Laughs.]… People say, "Well, don't you remember when this person did this and this person did that?" When I'm playing a role on stage, I'm not one of those people who learns [everyone else's] lines and knows every word. I'm just not one of those people. In fact, when the audition came, two nights before the audition, my friend Tony was like, "You need to learn these lines. You're not getting the lines right." [Laughs.] He was helping me learn them. I'm just not one of those people. When I'm in my part, that is what I'm doing, and that's what I'm focused on and relating. I'm not anticipating someone's line. It's very odd. Even though you'd think I'd seen many people, I don't really remember a lot of what they did. I know the essence of what I got from them, which is incredible, but I'm really trying to find my own. It's been fun to do that.
