Theater Latte Da's At Home Series: Tyler Michaels King
Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 3:35PM
AT HOME WITH TYLER MICHAELS KING
Our At Home with... series continues with wunderkind Tyler Michaels King. Since his first arrival on a Latté Da stage (entering via a rope from the ceiling) as The Emcee in Cabaret, he has continued to wow us with performances including Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Lee Harvey Oswald in Assassins and Toby in Sweeney Todd.
Q: Do you have a daily ritual that's keeping you grounded these days?
A: On my best days I wake up and work out right away, If I wait, I find the motivation dwindles. Usually it's run by the river or some body weight training in our apartment. I’ve also started doing 30 min-1 hour of piano in the afternoons. I began last week and captured my first lesson on video. Doing the videos is my secret way to stay motivated.
A: What are you reading?
Q: I’ve got a few things in rotation right now:
- The Institute by Stephen King is by my bedside for nighttime reading.
- Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples. It’s a really thrilling comic book series. It’s wild and weird and quite the epic adventure.
- Overcoming Gravity by Steven Low. It’s a bodyweight training book - perfect for having no gym or workout equipment. I’m doing lots of handstands in front of my closet door. Two of my favorite fiction books (that I’m not reading but will take any chance to share with folks) are:
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - A wonderful classic fantasy book. Sort of a combo of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - An amazing contemporary sci-fi series. N.K. is the only person to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years in a row. Needless to say, she’s a badass.
Q: Which work of art - a book, poem, painting, piece of music--provides some solace for you?
A: I’ll share two poems. I’ll let them speak for themselves:
- "I" by e.e. cummings (left)
- Widening Circles by Rainer Maria Rilke (Translation by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy)
Q: What's your go-to, binge-watching tv series?
A: I’m a prestige television kind of guy, so I’m currently watching:
- Westworld on HBO - if you can forgive the wackiness of all the twists and turns, it’s a fun ride.
- Devs on FX/Hulu - the INTRIGUE!!!
- Ozark on Netflix - I haven’t actually started this one yet, but I’m so excited to!
- The Leftovers on HBO. I’m not actually watching this right now, but it’s my favorite TV show OF ALL TIME!!
And when you just need a quick fix of fun...Brooklyn Nine Nine, New Girl and The Office. Also, if you haven’t seen the film, Parasite yet... What are you doing?!?! Watch it tonight!!!
Q: If you could throw a Fantasy Dinner Party (since those are the only kinds of dinner parties we can throw right now!) who would be on the guest list?
A: One of my life-long heroes is Jim Carrey, so probably him. Then all of my close friends and family, so I could see them (and show off that I am friends with Jim Carrey).
Q: What are you doing to feel creative or productive during this time?
A: My piano lessons and brainstorming lots of different productions and future projects for the theater company I founded, Trademark Theater. Outside of that, I’m finding it hard to be creative/productive. I’m an extremely collaborative person, so being alone in my apartment is quite dampening to my creative spirit.
Q: What's a theater production you've seen that you wish you could stream right now?
A: Because I could really use a silly, stupid, off the wall laugh right now, I’d love to stream the original Broadway cast in The Producers. I have such a dear place in my heart for that show.
Q: Are you cooking? Do you have a favorite recipe to share?
A: I am! Baking mostly, and mixing cocktails (one of my hobbies). Here’s a recipe for home bar enthusiasts. The Champs-Elysees, my new favorite.
Q: Of the roles you've played at Theatre Latte Da, which is your favorite?
A: So so many great ones, but I’d have to say The Emcee in Cabaret. That was/is easily the highlight of my young career. I’d do that show with that exact cast again in a heartbeat.
Q: Would you share a quote that's especially meaningful to you?
A. I'll share another poem. Rilke’s Let This Darkness Be a Belltower is especially poignant right now.
Theater Latté Da / 345 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis MN 55413 / 612-339-3003
Reprinted with the permission of Theater Latte Da
