Hi-diddle-dee-dee, an actor’s life for me.  Out actor Garett Hawe discusses one of the mostly anticipated tours of the season, Hello, Dolly!, and life in the theater.

You’ve been in a number of shows.  Other than Hello, Dolly!, what was your favorite one so far?  I’m so lucky to have been a part of so many wonderful shows, and they all stand out for different reasons.  If I had to pick one, I would say Mary Poppins, because it was my Broadway debut.  That show was just so magical, and the experience of performing on Broadway for the first time is something that I will never forget!

So what’s your favorite theater score?  These questions are getting tougher.  There are so many great scores!  The Sound of Music stands out for me.  I remember watching the movie as a kid and just being completely obsessed with it.  It’s definitely the reason I started doing theater.  When I listen to it still, it takes me right back to my childhood. Carousel and West Side Story are close behind.  I’m a sucker for the classics.

Do you have a dream role?  Again, there are so many!  I’d love to play Bert in Mary Poppins or the Baker in Into the Woods.  Did you see the recent revival of Hello, Dolly! on Broadway?  I did!  What did you think of it?  I was blown away by it.  I saw both Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters, and I thought that they were just so extraordinary.  The costumes, the scenery, the dancing… it’s all so lush.  It’s everything you want in a revival of a classic musical.

You play “Ambrose Kemper” in Hello, Dolly!.  Were you inspired by how other performers have interpreted the character, or did you avoid seeing how anyone else did it?  Well, I certainly grew up watching the movie version, and I love Tommy Tune’s portrayal of Ambrose.  However, the movie version is very different from the stage version, so I think that my interpretation is probably pretty different.  My Ambrose lives in a constant state of stress.

Is this your first time in Miami?  It’s not!  I was here once before in 2009, with The 101 Dalmatians Musical.  I’m so excited to be back!  And finally, what will you do with you down time when you’re here?  Ok, this one’s easy.  The beach!  I’m also excited for Thanksgiving.  I love pie!

The Arsht Center is located at 1300 Biscayne Blvd, in Miami, Florida.  Hello, Dolly! runs from November 20 to 25.  Tickets can be purchases online at www.arshtcenter.org or by calling the box office at (305) 949-6722.