Lara Strong and Scott Silagy in ‘Vape! The Grease Parody’ musical. Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel.
Actors Scott Silagy and Lara Strong discuss starring in “Vape! The Grease Parody” musical, which is being performed at Theater 555 in New York City.
Scott Silagy
How does it feel to be playing the role of Danny in “Vape!”?
Danny has been a dream roll of mine for a while. “Grease” has always been a show I’ve wanted to be in and now I get the chance in this new fun way.
Getting to play this extreme version of Danny is an absolute treat!
What do you like most about this show?
Our cast is small but mighty and seeing what we have been able to put together has been amazing.
This show is so ridiculously hilarious and each scene brings its own surprises.
How does it feel to be a performer in the digital age?
Being a performer right now is all I know but I can recognize that we have every resource imaginable at our fingertips.
If I want to look up a reference or get a better understanding of a time period, I can do it immediately.
How was your experience in “Jagged Little Pill” in White Plains?
“Jagged Little Pill” was unlike any show I’ve ever done before and getting to dig into a deep story like that was a beautiful experience.
White Plains has a great space and the set we were able to put up was epic.
What was it like working with David Borum in “Jagged Little Pill”?
David Borum was my dressing room buddy and brought such vet energy to everything we did.
We had a couple interesting lifts in the show and he was a great leader in more challenging parts of the show.
What is your advice for young and emerging performers?
I want every performer, young and old, to approach every project or artistic endeavor with the mindset of “what can I learn from this.”
That little phrase has fixed my process in very challenging moments and really grounds me.
When we are in rooms making art with our peers there is so much we can learn from each other by just taking a breath and observing what is going on around us.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Success to me is being able to look back on a day of my life and be proud of what I have done.
It is very easy to compare my own success to others but taking pride in every little step I make proves my own success to myself.
What would you like to tell our readers about “Vape”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
We are here to make fun of a classic movie that everyone loves. Laughing is the gas that powers this show so buckle up and let the laughs out.
This show is absolutely hilarious!
Lara Strong
How does it feel to be playing Sandy in “Vape!”?
Wonderful! The first movie musical I ever watched was Grease and I always sang along and just loved it.
I used to force my best friend Sammie to be the Danny to my Sandy and sing Summer Lovin – the videos still exist somewhere!
Bringing this iconic character to life in a new way with this hilarious writing and excellent team has been pure joy.
What do you love most about this show?
I love it all. Mostly; the cast – they have me dying of laughter in every rehearsal then all of a sudden rip out stunning vocals. They blow me away.
The crew – we’re in such good hands. I mean to have a director like Jack Plotnick and AD like Danny Salles who are so experienced and talented and passionate has purely been a treat! I feel so lucky.
What’s it like working with Scott as Danny?
Scott is brilliant. I have so much fun playing off him – he’s nailed the Travolta impression and he cracks me up.
Scott’s ability to be so silly and playful yet still be so sharp and polished in his work, is fantastic. I’ve learnt a lot from watching him work!
How does it feel to be a performer in the digital age?
I just feel grateful to get to work as a performer in live theatre, it’s magic.
What do your plans for the future include?
Keeping at it in NYC, chasing the dream. But at least for the next few months, my plan is to soak up every moment of getting to perform Off-Broadway for “Vape!” at the lovely Theater 555.
What is your advice for young and emerging artists and performers?
Go for it. Be ambitious! There is nothing more gratifying than going hard out for a goal and reaping what you sow.
It can be very hard, but oh boy do moments like these make up for it.
Also, get out there and meet people, collaborate – that’s where so much of the joy and longevity is!
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Getting to do what you love every day, with people who make you laugh and inspire you to create!
What would you like to tell our readers about “Vape!”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
“Vape!” is just entertainment at it’s purest, audiences get to enjoy a fresh and hilarious take on the iconic film we know and love.
We’ve had so much fun rehearsing and bringing this killer writing to life – I can’t wait for audiences to get in on the fun with us! See you there.
To learn more about “Vape! The Grease Parody” musical, visit its official homepage.
