By Haley Sprankle

“Well at first I thought ‘this will be like a cakewalk,’ but then reality gave me a big ol’ slap across the head,” says Julian Ryan on his preparation for playing a lead in a nonmusical production for the first time.

Ryan steps into the lead role of Max in Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Tenor at Workshop Theatre as their season comes to a close. Typically, Ryan can be found working on musicals with Columbia Children’s Theatre, whether it be backstage or onstage. While theatre in every medium can prove to be a challenge, the juxtaposition of performing in a children’s musical to playing the romantic lead in a well-known play can be especially difficult.

“Max is this crazy mixture of excitement, fear, confidence, and love, much like all of us. With that in mind, portraying him realistically and not making him a caricature is the biggest difference,” Ryan explains. “I’ve had this awesome luck of playing ‘steal-a-scene’ characters from a cross-dressing wolf to a spiteful gay-ex to an excited Chihuahua. Max is probably the closest to ‘real’ I’ve ever portrayed.”

While this play about a young aspiring opera singer features some musical moments, they are merely accessories to the heart of this dramatic script.

 “Musicals are difficult because of all the elements that go into them. You gotta sing pretty, dance pretty, and act pretty, but ultimately a big musical number or a heart-wrenching ballad can win over any audience,” Ryan says. “With plays you just have your voice, your body, and your script. If something isn’t working you don’t have a high kick-step-touch-pivot turn to save you. It makes you work those acting chops just a little more.”

Luckily for Ryan, he gets to “work those acting chops” with a cast of characters he can trust.

“It’s kind of unfair how well this cast works together. Having four weeks to put up a full-length play with Italian arias and about 5 million doors could have made this process a nightmare, and yet I’m still sane and enjoying everything about it,” he marvels. “We have a true melting pot of age, training and experience. I think we all come in, listen to each other and just enjoy what we all bring to the table.”

This comedic play set in 1934 features over-the-top characters like a famous, flirtatious opera star named Tito and a young fan girl named Maggie. In the end, however, there is a real message to gain.

“The hardest obstacle to overcome is yourself. I’ve always been guilty of second guessing my abilities, and while this show kind of asks for it, I’ve also learned to just stop worrying,” Ryan admits. “I’m hoping that some people can find their inner Tito after seeing this…Gosh that was cheesy!”

In his best “vaudeville voice,” Ryan concludes that the show is “mad cap mayhem at the opera!”

Lend Me A Tenor runs May 8-17 with a mixture of matinee and evening performances. Tickets can be bought online here or through the Box Office at (803) 799-4876.

“This show is one for the books,” Ryan says. “It comes at this thrilling and dynamic time for Workshop, and I hope people can see what the future holds.”

By Haley Sprankle

“Well at first I thought ‘this will be like a cakewalk,’ but then reality gave me a big ol’ slap across the head,” says Julian Ryan on his preparation for playing a lead in a nonmusical production for the first time.

Ryan steps into the lead role of Max in Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Tenor at Workshop Theatre as their season comes to a close. Typically, Ryan can be found working on musicals with Columbia Children’s Theatre, whether it be backstage or onstage. While theatre in every medium can prove to be a challenge, the juxtaposition of performing in a children’s musical to playing the romantic lead in a well-known play can be especially difficult.

“Max is this crazy mixture of excitement, fear, confidence, and love, much like all of us. With that in mind, portraying him realistically and not making him a caricature is the biggest difference,” Ryan explains. “I’ve had this awesome luck of playing ‘steal-a-scene’ characters from a cross-dressing wolf to a spiteful gay-ex to an excited Chihuahua. Max is probably the closest to ‘real’ I’ve ever portrayed.”

While this play about a young aspiring opera singer features some musical moments, they are merely accessories to the heart of this dramatic script.

 “Musicals are difficult because of all the elements that go into them. You gotta sing pretty, dance pretty, and act pretty, but ultimately a big musical number or a heart-wrenching ballad can win over any audience,” Ryan says. “With plays you just have your voice, your body, and your script. If something isn’t working you don’t have a high kick-step-touch-pivot turn to save you. It makes you work those acting chops just a little more.”

Luckily for Ryan, he gets to “work those acting chops” with a cast of characters he can trust.

“It’s kind of unfair how well this cast works together. Having four weeks to put up a full-length play with Italian arias and about 5 million doors could have made this process a nightmare, and yet I’m still sane and enjoying everything about it,” he marvels. “We have a true melting pot of age, training and experience. I think we all come in, listen to each other and just enjoy what we all bring to the table.”

This comedic play set in 1934 features over-the-top characters like a famous, flirtatious opera star named Tito and a young fan girl named Maggie. In the end, however, there is a real message to gain.

“The hardest obstacle to overcome is yourself. I’ve always been guilty of second guessing my abilities, and while this show kind of asks for it, I’ve also learned to just stop worrying,” Ryan admits. “I’m hoping that some people can find their inner Tito after seeing this…Gosh that was cheesy!”

In his best “vaudeville voice,” Ryan concludes that the show is “mad cap mayhem at the opera!”

Lend Me A Tenor runs May 8-17 with a mixture of matinee and evening performances. Tickets can be bought online here or through the Box Office at (803) 799-4876.

“This show is one for the books,” Ryan says. “It comes at this thrilling and dynamic time for Workshop, and I hope people can see what the future holds.”