Matthew Patrick Davis is an overnight sensation.

Photo Credit: http://www.matthewpatrickdavis.com

Matthew Patrick Davis of the new Broadway musical 'Side Show' took the time to answer some questions for The Pickwyck. He shares why audiences should go see this breathtaking new musical, what inspires his original work and his debut on Broadway.

For audiences that aren't familiar with Side Show, what is going to get them to come see the show?
 

• "It’s a show with a great score and a lot of heart.  And as I’m playing one of the so-called “freaks,” I’m really partial to their amazing design.  With the talents of Dave & Lou Elsey, who usually work on major motion pictures, coming in and making the prosthetics and masks, combined with the genius costumes of Paul Tazewell, our fully realized freaks are pretty breathtaking.    What is the message of Side Show?  It makes you look at what makes you feel like a “freak,” and what makes you feel unlovable.  I think that’s why songs like “Who Will Love Me As I Am” and the journey of the Hilton twins packs a punch for so many people."

Tell us about your original musicals and songs? What inspires you?

• "I write original comedic songs, such as “Facebook Birthday” & “She Doesn’t Like Radiohead" and put them up on my YouTube page (youtube.com/happyemu), and I also write musicals at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in LA and NY.  From parody musicals, like "Jurassic Park: The Musical," or "The Shining! The Musical!," to all original, like my solo show “Matt Davis Gets A Girlfriend:" a One Man Musical about One Man’s Quest to not DIE ALONE.  Beyond basic songwriting things that inspire me, like finding unique rhymes or wordplay, I’m inspired by musicalizing that which is not traditionally musicalized or made humorous.  For instance, a peppy uptempo about Jack Torrance in The Shining going on a murderous rampage; or in a musical I wrote about Jr. High, a showtune about the main girl’s first experience with her menstrual cycle!  You know, fun traditional musical faire."

How do you get yourself into character for this specific show?

• "This character is unique because I’m in a mask, so because my face isn’t shown, much of my communication is necessarily physical.  So it’s more of an outside-in experience, of warming up physically and warming up with the mask, manipulating it in the mirror and finding the best ways to express myself while buried in rubber."

Tell us about your journey to Broadway?

• "Man, I have always loved New York and Broadway and have always wanted to live here, but I always said to myself that I wanted to come out here with a job.  So I moved to Los Angeles first, pursuing on-camera work, while still taking theatre jobs on the West Coast, including shows at the La Jolla Playhouse.  Side Show was my fourth show at the La Jolla Playhouse, and I just got lucky that it would take me to the Kennedy Center and a year later would be premiering on Broadway!"  

What was your first encounter with musical theater that prompted you to pursue it as a career?

• "I was in Jr. High, an evil, horrible period of awkward, being bullied for being too tall and skinny and not being good at sports, when I auditioned for a youth theatre production of “Pinocchio.”  I got the role of Geppetto, and at the applause at the button of one of my songs, I remember thinking, “Wow, this feels way better than being pantsed in P.E.  I’m gonna do this for a while." 

Who are your musical influences and why?

• "In the musical theatre genre, without a doubt, Stephen Sondheim.  He is a genius.  Musically and lyrically he is just at another level.  His music speaks to me like few other musical theatre composers can."

What is something about yourself that you consider "peculiar”?

• "Almost without fail, I eat the same exact thing for lunch.  Every day.  And I love it."

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

• "Boy howdy, it would be a dream to be in a new Sondheim piece.  Also, director Matthew Warchus, as I loved Matilda, God of Carnage, and The Norman Conquests.  But most of all, I would love to collaborate with Disney Theatricals and Tim Burton and in bringing “Nightmare Before Christmas” to the stage, playing Jack Skellington.  Come on, people, why hasn’t this happened yet?" 

A lot of your original work is rooted in comedy and parody, when did your interest in that field begin?

• "I came from a funny family, I’ve always been surrounded by funny friends, and have always felt more natural doing comedy.  As a musician, if I feel I have one thing to offer, it’s in making music and lyrics that are actually funny, which isn’t the easiest thing to do."

What was your worst audition?

• "There have been some commercial auditions where I’ve had to take off my shirt, like for a swim suit thing -- and I don’t really “have muscles” per se, so I know off the top that I can just save us both the embarrassment and not do this."

What is your quintessential New York moment?

• "On the Town had given our cast tickets to one of their previews, and that was the same night that all of our pictures went up on the front-of-house of the St. James Theatre.  So I walked to the show by way of the St. James, saw myself on the front of the theatre, had a moment, and then walked over to On the Town, which opens with them singing “New York, New York, it’s a helluva town…” and I was saying to myself, “You know what?  This is a helluva town!  I’m on freaking Broadway!"

Stay up to date with Matthew by visiting his website: www.matthewpatrickdavis.com