Who wouldn’t want to be part of the biggest inside joke around?
On a typical morning at Scranton’s third largest paper company until,,,for no logical reason a documentary crew begins filming the employees of Dunder Mifflin. This is the premise behind The Office! A Musical Parody.
Featuring everyone’s favorite TV characters, the hilarious, unauthorized parody of The Office, the hit TV show now on tour and in Manhattan, lovingly pokes fun at The Office, which stars Emma Brock as Michael (Steve Carell’s character).
The fun and uplifting show at the Merriam Theater on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29, has tons of inside jokes that fans will gobble up, features songs such as “Welcome to Scranton (The Electric City), and “That’s What She Said!”
The show was created by Bob and Tobly McSmith who met while applying for jobs at the Dippin’ Dots in the mall.
They did not get the job but went on to create the following masterpieces: FRIENDS! The Musical Parody, Bayside! The Saved by the Bell Musical, Full! House! The Musical (Starring Perez Hilton), Katdashians! The Musical, Showgirls! The Musical and JonBenet! Murder Mystery Theater. They are hard at work on their next musical: The Passion of the Teletubbies.
The following is an exclusive interview for PCM with Emma Brock about this irresistible show:
Tell me about your acting history.
I have been acting all my life. I was in childhood productions in Lansing, Michigan while I was growing up. Receive my BFA in musical theater and have been in New York City since 2012 and I have circus contracts as a singer and theater contracts and a lot of it. So, I am thrilled to be in The Office. This will be my fifth tour. So, I am really excited.
What other acting roles have you enjoyed a great deal?
I played Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act: The Musical that was just a blast and a half. Dancing, singing, and crazy choreography – it was just phenomenal.
What is the upside of touring?
The thrill of it all is being in a new place every day or every other day and seeing the country. We are going to see a lot of the Northeast in the fall, and then the Midwest and then we head out to the West Coast next spring. It’s really thrilling to see all of these cities and getting to know each little town and stop and getting to know the culture of them all.
And what would you say is the downside?
We are constantly traveling and we are away from home and away from our loved ones. It can be really tiring physically for our voices and our bodies, but mentally it is incredible because you are always in new places learning new things and that’s what makes it so much fun.
Do you have close friends already that you have made on the tour?
We are a small cast. We are only 10 actors on stage – 8 actors and two swings — and so we are pretty close-knit and we 5 crew members, so there are 15 of us traveling together. It’s really a bonding experience to travel with these people and then do this show, which is very much an ensemble show, all working together on stage.
What attracted to this show in particular?
This is all based on the American TV show The Office, which I think started on NBC in 2007, and I loved the TV show when it was happening. My friends would actually dress up as the characters to watch the show. So, this show has always been with me. I’ve always loved these characters and who they are. Now, this resurgence with the show being on Netflix has made the audience broader, so there is a wide range of people who come to see our show. And then those who grew up with it like me have such appreciation for the show. I love that we’re making fun of it, but in a loving way. The writers have put so much thought and love into the characters, it’s like you’re watching the TV show again, but in a condensed down version. All your favorite moments from the TV show are in one fun musical.
Tell me about your character in this show?
I play Michael who is Steve Carell’s original role. As he is in the TV show, he is a little crass at times. But he does it because he just wants to be loved. He just wants to have a good day in the office in which everyone feels like he is the world’s best boss and he is making a difference in the world. It catches him in some sticky situations. But at the end of the day, they all love him and they all want the best for him. You really get that heart and soul into the musical, as well.
When did the tour begin?
In early August in Toronto.
So why should my readers want to come and The Office?
It is for the fans of The Office. It is for those of us who grew up with it and loved it, and they just want to be put back into that world again. They want to feel the love between Jim and Pam. They want to see how silly Phyllis can get and how crazy Meredith can get. They want to experience the show again, and we do it in a musical form. In a musical comedy parody none-the-less. So there are jokes everywhere. There are our favorite moments. There is everything wrapped up in a perfect little bow for all The Office fans out there. We are going to have a blast.
How familiar are you with Philadelphia?
I stopped there once or twice, but I do not know it very well.
What are you looking forward to when you are in town?
A Philly cheesesteak, of course, it’s exactly what I need.
When you go to a new city, what do you look for the first day?
A good place to eat and a good coffee shop, for sure, those are the biggest ones and if they have both, even better.
If you had a weekend without work or obligations how would you spend it? How would you chill?
Being a tourist in a different city is always fun. I love going on adventures and seeing the sights of where I am. I live in New York City, yet I feel like I am constantly finding new places to go and look at – a museum or a park. I’m always ready for a new adventure.
What is your goal or game plan for the future?
As an actor, I would still like to be performing, whether that is on Broadway, or TV or film. Or just having a healthy career in this world of show business.
For tickets to The Office please Click Here
The post Emma Brock on <em> The Office! A Musical Parody </em>: “There is Everything Wrapped Up In a Perfect Little Bow for All of The Office Fans Out There” appeared first on PCM Reviews.