A Short Chat With Mike Stewart of "Rumors"

Mike Stewart - Back on Stage Again

1. So why have you decided to jump back on stage now?
About 16 years ago I decided to give acting a break, jobs were getting harder to come by and I wasn't getting any younger and I told myself that when I got into my 50's that I would get back into acting and this is it.

2. What was the veryn first show you acted in? and what was the last one before Rumors?
Bye Bye Birdie was the very first show. The last show before Rumors was A Streetcar Named Desire.

3. Tell us alittle about yourself?
I started acting at Lake Superior State College in the 70"s but found that there wasn't much to learn there and deciced to return to Lansing and take classes here. I went to LCC and at the time the Boarshead ran the Theatre Classes so I learned my craft from two of the best - Richard Thompson and John Peakes. I then began working for LCC building sets and also got grabbed for several plays at the Boarshead. After school I spent several summers at the Weathervane Theatre in Whitefeild, New Hampshire, where I was introduced to real rolling Repertory (a different show every night) - it taught you to learn your lines very fast. I also moved to New York and worked on several small plays and commercials and extra work in movies etc.
In the 80's I moved to St. Louis, Mo. and opened my own Theatre called The River Repertory Theatre and ran that for 8 years. Then I came back and worked at Boarshead, and hit the road again and ended up in Indianapolis at Indiana Rep Theatre as a Master Electrician. After that you know the rest; 6 years a Hannah Community Center Running the theatre and helping LCP do shows.

4. Why is Theatre important to you?
Theatre is my life, there is not one thing I don't love about it - where else can you become an entirely differen't person, create beauitful sets, costumes, lighting and just plain have a blast.

5. What is your favorite show?
I love most all of Shakesphere's plays, Probably my favorite is Merchant of Venice.

6. Favorite Line from a play?
Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious Summer by this Son of York! What a way to start a play!!

7. How does it feel to be back on stage agin?
Wonderful!!! I could not ask for a better group of actors to perform with, or for a better Director than Rick. This show has been a Blast and it shows on stage!