Colby Reisinger
Colby Reisinger (Janet)
The Drowsy Chaperone
SEPTEMBER 2 — OCTOBER 9
Does it feel weird coming into a production where a majority of the cast has already been there and done that? How are you navigating your way through that process?
It is daunting to come in! There’s just so little rehearsal time. I’ve got to just have my stuff nailed and rehearse at home. I have huge shoes to try and fill as Emma Maxfield won a Henry for my role, Janet van de Graaf, and I lost a Henry to her for it! I’m honored for the opportunity to learn and study from what she did so well but to also make Janet my own. It’s a dream role after seeing her nail it, so it feels great!
What have you been filling your time with?
When I’m not rehearsing I’m mostly resting as a pregnant person; it’s so nauseating and wholly tiring. I haven’t been working out as much as I normally do but I’m hoping as I enter my second trimester I’ll start to have the energy, again. I’m really just trying to relax into this process of creating a life.
What roles do you find to be the most interesting to you, and what roles do you like to play that most?
I gravitate towards comedy as making people laugh is my favorite thing. That’s why ‘Mary Amnesia’ in Nunsense was such a fun character, she was just the silliest!
How did you feel after Young Frankenstein the Musical ended? Were there any fun takeaways?
I loved Inga. I really enjoyed the challenge of the technicality of her yodels. I thought it was a really strong, funny show…takeaways were that I’d like to play her, again.
Ever get nostalgic about a show like Young Frankenstein, or are you more like “on to the next one?"
I do!! There’s always a grieving process when saying goodbye to a show and a character…each one imprints on your soul and becomes a part of you. The only solace is that an ending to one show means the potential and birth of another show, and another character to fall in love with…not to mention the opportunity to meet new, talented people to befriend.
How does your process in preparing for this role differ from your previous go-around?
This is one of the biggest challenges of my career, if not the biggest. Being a remount, there’s very little rehearsal time…as a new person who doesn’t have this role in my bones already, and as the lead-that’s scary. Not only that, I am pregnant! The exhaustion and nausea that has come with that has made rehearsing at home more difficult as some days I just don’t have the energy and need to lay down as to not get sick…I’ve done much more mental study lying down watching rehearsal tapes for this reason.
What excites you about The Drowsy Chaperone?
I was able to see this show with Performance Now and truly be inspired by it so to come onto the team for round two at Vintage is a wonderful feeling to be beside such talented artists to create a piece that-because I’ve seen it-I know should be pretty beautiful. It’s goofy, it’s light, it’s joy…I think in these tumultuous times coming out of the pandemic that’s what audiences need right now.
What’s your process like in preparing for a show like this? Is it different from any other show, or is your preparation always similar?
My preparation is very different! Most of my prep work has been done at home and has to be as I try to catch up with a cast who has already done this before.
What’s your biggest challenge in taking on this role?
Being pregnant is the greatest challenge along with the limited rehearsal time. I’m truly exhausted and have had morning sickness in at morning, noon and night…I don’t have the repetitions I’d normally get with the band and the set doing a show that’s not a remount, so I just have to get it in my head at home as best as possible.
Tell me about the last production you were in!
The last show I was in was 1776 performing as Martha Jefferson…I was nominated for a Henry for this role and happily lost it to Nancy Evans Begley, aka The Drowsy Chaperone, from when it was first put up at Performance Now! Before that I played Sister Mary Amnesia-my favorite character of all time-and lost that other Henry nomination to Emma Maxfield for her Janet van de Graaf in the original Drowsy at Performance Now-I told friends that these two girls were the ones to beat and I was right on both accounts after seeing their performances. I am very honored to have been in the same category as them and to see both of these girls take their Henry’s justifyingly home! Bernie was also completely deserving of his Henry win for Man in Chair so I’m thrilled to be performing alongside him and Nancy, now.
What do you do when you’re not performing?
I produce music! Available in stores online, everywhere.
What’s your dream role, and what do you feel your would bring to it?
I’d love to play Roxie or Velma. I’ve also always been a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe ever since I was a child and think to be in “Sugar” would be amazing as well.
How did you get started performing?
In school in choirs as a girl at Reed elementary and taking piano lessons with Judy Pickerell in St. Louis, MO.
Why do you still perform?
I’m a right brained, artist! Just what I was born to do. I still perform largely because my high school voice teacher Debby Lennon encouraged me to do so when I was too afraid to pursue it as a career in college.
What’s a fun fact people may not know about you?
I hold the longest record for swimming at Missouri Athletic Club! Butterfly, girls, aged 6-7 years old. One day whilst meditating I saw whom I believe to be myself, behind my eyes, as a male swimmer who I saw also swimming the butterfly stroke…so now, I believe in reincarnation and that I was that male swimmer in a past life and is perhaps why I was so naturally talented at the stroke! I hope I get the answers one day post-mortem with my God as to whether or not this hunch holds any water…
