Despite tough times making it on Broadway, Miami University alumnus Steve Wilson ('94) is going strong after landing a lead role as Caractacus Potts in a national touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cast has been touring the country since Nov. 15, 2008 and will continue until the summer of 2009.
In the play, Wilson plays Caractacus Potts, a man who buys an old racecar that can fly. Wilson said he took the leading role as a way to showcase himself and the cast.
"(I try to perform like a) quarterback leading the team," Wilson said.
Wilson said he was fortunate to be cast in the musical, as Broadway is feeling the effects of the economy.
In January alone, 13 shows have closed or will close by the end of the month in the historic theater district.
According to Wilson, working as an actor during the economic downturn is a daily struggle, with most members of the Actors' Equity Association unemployed on any given day. The dire situation, he said, turns many auditions into "cattle calls," with lines 400 strong for one audition.
"Living out of a suitcase is better," Wilson said.
Although Wilson couldn't predict the future for on-stage musical productions, he said there are many issues Broadway should address, including the high price of tickets.
If ticket prices don't go down, Wilson said seeing a Broadway play will turn into a pastime of the elite.
Wilson began acting in middle school as a hobby, but his acting became more serious at Miami.
Rosalyn Benson, Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts, taught Wilson in a theater class.
"She (Benson) was the first person to challenge me to go deeper," Wilson said.
Benson still keeps in contact with Wilson and was not surprised by his success.
"Steve is a very, very hard working actor," Benson said. "He is one of those genuinely kind and gracious persons."
Wilson acted in numerous shows at Miami, some including Fool for Love by Sam Shepard and Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein.
"I have such a fondness for (Miami)," he said.
Wilson made his Broadway debut in By Jeeves in 2001. After it closed shortly thereafter, Wilson acted in Frogs in 2004, Lestat in 2006 and Sunday in the Park with George.
Wilson has also been a member of The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey Company since 1996 where he has performed in more than a dozen shows, including his favorite role as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest in 2005.
Wilson said that while the play offers some challenges-including some dancing, which Wilson admits he is no pro-he is confident his work ethic and strong training manages to pull him through.
"It was a small miracle to pull off what I do in this play," Wilson said.
Wilson will be performing locally at Dayton's Schuster Center from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25. For more information, go to www.schustercenter.org.
