#BehindtheCurtain: Get to Know Van Angelo

 In Blog, San Diego Broadway Shows

We are thrilled to introduce Van Angelo, who is making their San Diego Musical Theatre music directorial debut for our upcoming production of “Anything Goes”. Van is an avid performer both on and off the SDMT stage, and is currently also a Teaching Associate at San Diego State University and an MFA in Musical Theatre candidate. Keep reading below to get to know this amazingly talented individual before you get to see their work in action in a month on the SDMT Stage!

What inspired you to get into musical theatre?

It’s my moms doing, truly. When I was very young I played football, and was apparently good at it, but the second we switched from flag to tackle I was out! I was about 8 and my mom wanted her children to just try new things, find our place. She put me in a production of Annie Jr. and here we are 21 years later!

What made you want to music direct “Anything Goes”? Does the show have any special meaning to you?

Anything Goes is really special for me, it’s the musical that taught me how to tap dance. I did it as a high schooler at the RCC Summer Conservatory and it marked a time where I was  learning how to operate in this world as a professional and not just a participant. I have fond memories of being in the show with many friends, taking classes, honing skills, and getting to be on a large stage tap dancing across from my twin brother.

If you were on a cruise, who’s the one celebrity you’d want to see and talk with on board?

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, first of her name.

Who is your Broadway idol?

THE Audra Ann McDonald. She’s a master technician, I’ve seen her in so many things and I am blown away by her attention to every detail. I just saw her in Ohio State Murders, give her all the awards!!

What is your dream role and what’s your dream show to music direct?

A dream role is probably something Sondheim. My first thoughts are Mama Rose in Gypsy or George Seurat in Sunday in the Park, because range. A dream show to music direct would be Spring Awakening or Next to Normal. I haven’t gotten to do a rock show with a small cast and crunchy harmonies yet.

What’s your favorite scene in the show?

I love the first cabin scene with Moonface and Erma. I think it perfectly encapsulates the style and humor of this piece.

What’s the hardest thing about your role?

I think in Musical Theatre we’re almost always playing a zero sum game, if we give something more time we take away from something else. Time is probably the hardest facet of the role, which is no different than most other roles in theatre. Because we don’t have all the time in the world it’s hard, but having an amazing team of collaborators (directors, actors, stage management) makes it doable, and joyous.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I love baseball! I love a lot of things, truly, but baseball seems to be the thing that shocks people most. My grandfather raised me an Angels fan, we’d go to spring training, go to regular season, watch on tv, he even listened to baseball radio (which is boring but he loved it). Now that I live in San Diego the Padres and I might need to converge since the Angels management is just always bad and we haven’t had a strong pitching line up since who knows when. (That’s not a read, it’s a fact. No disrespect to my faves Trout and Ohtani).

 

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