When Marc McIntyre first auditioned for a musical, he didn’t know what one was.
Flash forward 35 years, and he is preparing to take on the lead role in Shepparton Theatre Art Group’s latest production.
He was 14 when he experienced the stress and anticipation of the cast unveiling for the first time.
“I first auditioned with STAG at age 14 with a friend,” Marc said.
“Neither of us had any idea what a musical was, and then during the audition, the panel was like, ‘Can you sing for us?’ and I had no idea why, but I just sang for them.
“I had never even seen a stage play at that point, but I was part of a band so I had a bit of a musical background.”
Much to his surprise, he ended up getting in, so he stepped into his first spotlight.
It was during the 1998 STAG production of Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Rob Robson.
“Fate threw me into it more than any type of decision-making,” he said.
“I very quickly fell in love with it, especially as STAG was always very encouraging.
“Even though I was a 14-year-old kid who didn’t know what he was doing, they treated me as they did the adults in the cast.”
His theatre journey didn’t end there — he continued to embrace the stage, starring as Audrey II, the plant, in STAG’s 1992 production of Little Shop of Horrors.
His other STAG career highlights include his role as Enjolras in the 1994 production of Les Misérables and his appearance as the Scarecrow in the 1996 production of The Wizard of Oz, both shows directed by Rob Robson.
STAG’s 2023 production, Fiddler on the Roof, marks Marc’s return to the stage following a 27-year hiatus, and he is taking on the significant role of Tevye, the moral centre of the musical.
“Retrospectively, I wonder if it [auditioning] was a mid-life crisis,” Marc said, with a chuckle.
“It’s such a huge role, so maybe I’m just trying to prove that I’ve still got it.”
But really, Marc said the show was about so much more.
“It’s such a tried and true classic,” he said
“It’s a relevant story, it tells the story from the people’s perspective.”
Marc found much to embrace when immersing himself in his latest role.
“The character really intrigued me; I mean, he experiences 50 different emotions in just one sentence,” Marc said.
“But he also enjoys a bit of drunk dancing — that’s the one thing we all agreed on: my ability to act drunk.”
The show’s opening night is only days away, and Marc is preparing for the Shepparton audience to see the cast’s performance.
“I’m excited because old audiences will get to revisit the show, while the younger members will get to see it for the first time,” he said.
“It’s about family and tradition, something we all experience in one way or another.”
To see Marc and the rest of the cast perform Fiddler on the Roof, which opens on Friday, September 15, head to the Riverlinks website for details and tickets.