PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: The "Enjolras" of Broadway's Les Miz, Kyle Scatliffe | Playbill

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Stage to Page PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: The "Enjolras" of Broadway's Les Miz, Kyle Scatliffe Kyle Scatliffe, who stars as the revolutionary Enjolras in the new Broadway production of Les Misérables, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.
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Kyle Scatliffe

Scatliffe is a graduate of AMDA and a Lys Symonette Award winner in the Lotte Lenya competition.

Credits include Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime (Zach Theatre); Jud Fry in Oklahoma! (5th Avenue); Haywood Patterson in The Scottsboro Boys (London premiere, Young Vic) and Jacob Marley/Ghosts in “A Christmas Carol: The Concert” (PBS).

He is making his Broadway debut in Les Miz.

Full given name: Kyle Louis Scatliffe

Where you were born/where you were raised: Born in Washington D.C. Raised in Westwood, NJ.

Sign: Cancer! Woo!

What your parents did/do for a living: My mother is a nursing assistant and my dad is a store manager.

Current Audition Song: "The Dryer" from <i>Caroline, or Change

Special skills: Zombie and Chewbacca impressions. I'm also really good at "Rock Band." I always play on Expert. Always.

Something you're REALLY bad at: Swimming.

First Broadway show you ever saw: Aida!

If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be?: I would go see the original Broadway cast of Ragtime.

Current or recent show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: A Dolls''s House at BAM. Saw it in London and it was phenomenal. Also, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Favorite showtune(s) of all time: "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific "The Bus" from Caroline, or Change "Make Them Hear You" from Ragtime "Javert's Suicide" from Les Mis And the whole Parade soundtrack haha. You can't go wrong with Jason Robert Brown.

Some favorite modern musicals: Spelling Bee, Next to Normal, Parade, Ragtime, Caroline or Change

Some favorite classic musicals: Les Mis, Oklahoma, Lost in the Stars, South Pacific

Broadway or screen stars of the past or present you would most love to perform with: My dreams! Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anthony Warlow and Audra McDonald. From the film world I would have to choose the one and only Sidney Poitier.

Your personal vocal idols, living or dead: Audra McDonald, Carole Carmello, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Placido Domingo and Josh Groban

The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: Watching Geoffrey Rush in Exit the King was beyond brilliant.

Music that makes you cry, any genre: I don't tend to cry when listening to music but Michael Ball and Lea Salonga performing "A Little Fall of Rain" in the 10th Anniversary Les Mis concert destroys me.

MAC or PC?: PC. Definitely PC.

Most played song on your iPod: It is either "High Pressure Low" by Against Me or "Mist" by Protest the Hero.

Most-visited websites: IGN, Buzzfeed, Facebook, ESPN

Favorite Tweeters: Laura Benanti, Kevin Hart and Lin-Manuel Miranda. They bring laughter to my heart on a daily basis.

Last book you read: "How to be Black" by Baratunde Thurston

Must-see TV show(s): "Breaking Bad," "House of Cards," "Orange is the New Black," "Archer," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "New Girl"

Last good movie you saw: "12 Years a Slave." I've never seen people in a movie theatre so affected that they couldn't get up immediately after the movie ended.

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Brian Stokes Mitchell. Without a doubt.

Pop culture guilty pleasure: When I paid attention to it, it was Britney Spears.

Three favorite cities: Seattle, Austin and NYC.

Favorite sport/team/player: Basketball. My favorite player is Derrick Rose.

First CD/Tape/LP you owned: The first CD I owned was the "Slim Shady" LP by Eminem. I definitely didn't walk around the house reciting it.

First stage kiss: Johanna Laliberte in City of Angels at Westwood High School.

Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. I hope to revisit this role one day.

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: Playing Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls. I felt like I found my place in the world. It is also the last full production my parents have seen me in. Les Mis will be the next!

How you got your Equity card: It was a production of Dreamgirls at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. I played Marty.

Favorite liquid refreshment: Water and pineapple juice

Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: I always listen to my iPod or a warm up I like to call Aloha. Because it sounds like you are saying Aloha as you do it.

Most challenging role you have ever played: Definitely Haywood Patterson in Scottsboro Boys. It's a roller coaster ride for an hour and a half straight.

Biggest challenge about this current project: The biggest challenge so far has been to find a way to make the character fresh without losing the iconic nature of what he stands for. It's an interesting challenge to enter into an iconic show and add another piece to the puzzle.

What was your first experience with Les Miz? When did you first see it?: My first experience was in high school when our choir performed a Les Miz medley. That's when I discovered the music. I saw the 2006 revival on Broadway and that is the only production I've seen of it, other than the concerts.

Did any particular research or preparation go into creating your Enjolras?: Most of my preparation was based on the way he acts in the novel. I was also keeping a very close eye on the revolutions that are happening around the world. Mainly the one in the Ukraine. There are so many things in the world to fight for and I just needed to find what makes me fight.

Most fulfilling or fun aspect about the project: Becoming a part of the Broadway community and working with people who you respect and idolize has been the most fulfilling. You learn so much by watching the best.

Craziest audition story: How I was cast in this show is actually the craziest one. I was in London performing in Scottsboro Boys and it was opening night. About 40 minutes into the show we were backstage and Idriss came up to me and said, "Did you see that Cameron Mackintosh is out there!?" I didn't. When the bows happened I saw him right in the center. The next day I received a call from my agents. They said Cameron saw the show and wanted me to audition for Enjrolas on Monday. I had my audition at the Queens Theatre on the stage and was cast the next day. It was very surreal.

If you could trade roles/tracks with anyone in the show for a week, who would it be?: Javert is my favorite part ever but for the sake of fun I'll say Gavroche.

Leading man role you've been dying to play: It's not a lead but I'd like to play Memphis in The Life.

Something about you that surprises people: My favorite music and the fact that I&#39;m not as intense in real life as I am on stage.

Something you are incredibly proud of: My family.

Something you're embarrassed to admit: I bought Britney Spears' second CD when I was in high school. "Lucky" is still one of my favorite songs.

Career you would want if not a performer: I would have been a psychiatrist. I have always enjoyed helping others with their problems. I'm a nurturer.

Three things you can't live without: My best friends, a video game and pizza

"I'll never understand why…" … no one has made fluffy bread pizza.

Words of advice for aspiring performers: Never. Give. Up. Perseverance is the key to success.

 
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