Michael Mayer
The incredible, Tony Award-Winning Director Michael Mayer, joins us On The Couch this week. With a catalog of over 20 Broadway shows under his belt, we’re lucky that he has helped bring such a daring piece of new theatre – Swept Away – to Broadway this season.
Read our full interview below where, alongside a truly embarrassing and humbling moment working on Angels in America with Robbie Sella, Michael explains how he receives the compliment of a lifetime from the Arthur Miller.
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What do you consider to be your best asset?
My sense of humor
What was your proudest moment?
One of them was certainly when Arthur Miller told me I was the first director to make A View From the Bridge the way he imagined it.
What is your favorite drink?
Black coffee
What is your favorite food?
Sushi
What is your favorite condiment?
Heinz ketchup
What is your current obsession?
Beethoven’s 7th
If you could give up one of your vices, what would it be?
Sugar
What is the one professional accomplishment you long for most?
To be completely satisfied by the final iteration of a project
What is the one thing you waste too much money on?
Clothes and eyeglasses
What is the one activity you waste too much time doing?
Playing word games on my phone
What do you consider to be the single greatest threat to your health?
The GOP
What’s the single best trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
Believing in, and working towards equal rights for everybody
What’s the single worst trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
Anxiety
What in the world most thrills you?
Great art in any medium
What current trend in popular culture most irritates you?
Fake sincerity
What was the most embarrassing moment you’ve ever experienced on the job?
In 1993 when I was directing the national tour of Angels in America, we were in tech, and the actor playing Prior (wonderful Robbie Sella) had to climb this metal ladder that flew in from above to his hospital bed, so he climbed up a few rungs but then stopped, claiming it hurt his bare feet. I said “oh come on just climb up” because I thought he was being extra sensitive. He said it really hurt which I found preposterous, so I made a big show of getting up onto the stage in front of everybody, taking off my shoes and socks to demonstrate how he was making a fuss over nothing. And I took one step on the first rung of the ladder and it was like a hot spike driving into my foot! I yelped some expletives, jumped off the ladder, apologized to Robbie, and quietly limped back to my table in the house. It was mortifying but I learned my lesson! And they fixed the ladder so there weren’t sharp edges anymore.
What is your favorite place in the world?
Rome
What is the most important trait you seek in a romantic partner?
Kindness
Do you prefer the company of dogs or cats?
Dogs
What would have to happen to make today the best day of your life?
To find out that the recent election was just a bad dream, and that Kamala Harris was going to be our next president
What is your personal motto?
Show up