On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I got together with my old pal, Marcus Weiss, who is an amazing and dedicated actor. We met at The Henry at The Cosmopolitan, where I drank myself silly and feasted on the delicious truffle tater-tots!
Michael: Let's start right off the bat with "Every Brilliant Thing." You're in this play right now, here in Vegas. Tell me all about it. I've never heard of it.
Marcus: It’s an extremely beautiful and inspiring play that encourages hopeful conversation about depression and suicide by celebrating all of what makes life worth living. All the ups and downs. I know that sounds intense, but the piece is ingeniously funny, often hilarious, gentle in its tone and superbly crafted. The British creators, playwright Duncan MacMillian and stand-up comedian Johnny Donohoe spent three years knowingly developing the piece on the foundation of humor. They knew the topic is sensitive, and humor would be a powerful way to begin conversations about it. It’s a one-man show that involves a lot of audience participation and improvisation. While over 90% of the show is scripted, I am always taking the temperature of the room, because the primary goal of the piece is to take care of the hearts of the audience. Doing this play really brings together a lot of my life’s passions, as well as skills that I’ve accumulated over the course of my career. One of the things that makes life beautiful for me is connecting to other people, and it’s the reason I got into performing in the first place. I am super blessed to be able to do this tremendously heartwarming peace.
Michael: The Cockroach Theatre Co? That's an interesting name. What's that about? How'd you get involved with them?
Marcus: Cockroach Theatre is a really popular, really cool local theater company in Las Vegas that came into existence about 15 years ago. A bunch of college friends got together and started doing play readings and guerrilla-style theater all over Downtown. They came up with the name Cockroach Theatre, both because cockroaches turn up everywhere out of nowhere and are also really resilient.
Michael: That's wonderful news.
Marcus: Well, it’s turned out, so is the theater company. They are currently in their sixth season in their permanent space. A friend of mine from Blue Man Group was performing for them, and I was friends with a lot of the guys. I actually met my wife at a Cockroach performance of the play Caligula— maybe not exactly what you would call a romantic play. Still! You never know what you’re going to get out of a live performance! I did some teaching and special appearances for them, but when they began being able to pay union actors, I was able to do full length pieces for them. They do really challenging work, and I consider them some of my closest friends. I just adore it there so much.
Michael: Since you brought it up, you were a Blue Man for a long time. Let's hear some good Blue Man Group stories.
Marcus: Look, I know there’s not a lot of editing that has to happen on the Internet, but there’s no way you have enough room for all the stories I got!
I can tell you that it all began with an audition in New York during the time when they were starting to load in a brand new show at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. As a result, I was flown to Las Vegas for my callback. Flown! I’d never been to Las Vegas in my life, and before I knew it, I was ogling an oversize lion and pyramid replica, walking to meet all the artistic director brass of Blue Man Group. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life.
Some other things come to mind, like being jokingly choked by an audience member on stage, having a little five-year-old girl show me the blue tip of her middle finger (accidentally giving me the bird), and being able to perform the first Blue Man Group tour in my home country of Switzerland. The opportunity to play with them for a solid 10 years, playing drums, improvising, and connecting deeply with audiences every single night will always be one of the most formative aspects of my entire life.
Michael: We met years ago in New York City, doing quite a terrible off-off Broadway show. "The Best Sex of the 20th Century Sale!" Do you remember that? How'd you first get to NYC? Do you miss it? You're from Switzerland, you said. Do you go back often?
Marcus: Of course I remember that! I can’t really speak to the quality of the show we did at the time, but, boy, was it memorable. I’m still trying to get in touch with some of the people that were in that. Help me out, Michael, are you friends any of them on Facebook?
Michael: I couldn't remember the names of any of that cast if you put a gun to my head!
Marcus: My dad was from the Bronx...
Michael: I'M from The Bronx! And so is JLo. And Cardi B! Anyway...
Marcus: I was already pretty familiar with the city when I moved there in 1996 after graduate school. It was either there or Los Angeles, but at the time, New York was a better place to be for theater, and that was where my focus was.
I miss New York a lot. There really is no comparable energy anywhere in the world. I miss walking everywhere and being constantly inspired by everything I would look at. I miss the sense that I was always conquering this beast all the time. It made me feel stronger every day, somehow. I also miss the bagels and cheap coffee on every corner, and people telling each other off and that being kind of harmless, because, you know, it’s New York City.
I spent my formative years in Switzerland, and I still consider it the home of my heart. I haven’t been back much, primarily because it’s really expensive to fly there from the West Coast, and I have a family of four to take care of. But my kids, now that they are 7 and 10 years old, are probably old enough where it’s really worth going back to explore their roots. Both of my boys have Swiss citizenship, and I’m really glad about the prospect of them maybe being able to live there someday, should they want to explore another side of the world. My wife, Anastasia, and I got to spend some time there while I was on tour with Blue Man Group. It was beautiful showing her all the corners I used to explore as a kid and teenager.
Michael: Right, and that's great in case we all need to get the fuck out of this country! So, you have two sons now, and one of them was, until recently, in "Love." How did that happen? What was that experience like for him, and for you, as his father?
Marcus: Yeah, Jacob, who just turned 10, did the show for two years. I could write a book about what that has meant to me, my family, while I can only dream and imagine what it’s meant to him. Being in the business, I was aware that auditions were coming up for the boys that they use to represent the Beatles in their show. I thought it would be really neat, so I kind of nudged my son into it. We practiced some little dance routine to the song “Happy“ and afterwards he said, “You mean I have to do this in front of people?“ Fast-forward two years, and he is a seasoned, passionate theater performer, who has three producing projects he’s working on, has read both parts of Angels in America, has an agent and manager in Los Angeles, has interviewed with Steven Spielberg’s casting director, auditioned for Eli Roth, and has chosen to go to Juilliard for college. Who am I to stop him?
Michael: Can he get me an agent?
Marcus: I'll ask. The journey of him being the show was beautiful, intense, and didn’t come without its price. He was often tired, started to question the importance of school, and grew up way faster then he might have otherwise. But the confidence and seeds of dreams it’s planted in his heart and mind far outweigh any challenges we may have faced.
I perform for Cirque du Soleil, as well, and we were actually able to do a few appearances together. This sense of sharing something huge, while passing the torch, was an immense sense of pride and love for me.
Michael: I saw you in "Le Reve." Was that a fun experience?
Marcus: Dude, being able to scuba dive every day and get paid for it? Are you kidding me? Yasss!
It was insanely fun. Though the role of us clowns was pretty small, I got to be part of yet another beautiful show. Watching these insanely talented people every night, and being able to call them my friends, was incredible honor. I loved every minute.”
Michael: You're also in "O?"
Marcus: Well, I am a clown understudy for them. I play the White Clown, which is, arguably, one of the the most iconic, recognizable characters in all of Cirque du Soleil. It’s a style of Russian clowning that I had never done before. But my training with Blue Man Group, workshops, as well as The Second City (where I performed for about seven years), really prepared me for the role, I think. I perform whenever the full-time performer is out, and I also get to work a lot of PR gigs. It’s incredibly humbling to be a part of something so beautiful that touches so many people every night.
Michael: I graduated from Second City in Hollywood. One of the best experiences of my life!
Marcus: An amazing place!
Michael: Vegas is definitely home for you now. What's your favorite thing about Las Vegas? Least favorite?
Marcus: My favorite thing about Las Vegas is that, within the same 24 hour period, you can go hiking or rock climbing in world-famous terrain, spend an afternoon throwing a frisbee with your kids in a suburban park, then see a Broadway show at a huge performing arts center, and finally end the night at the highest caliber night club you can find. Not that I do those things every day, but the fact that I could is really unique.
My least favorite thing is the urban sprawl. Driving past row after row after row of houses that look the same can be somewhat numbing. I’m not making a judgment about the aesthetic itself, but I like the inspiration variety brings. I like paying attention to obscure and unique detail as I pass through my day. It’s here in Las Vegas, for sure, you just have to open your eyes a little wider and look a little more carefully. Gems are hidden in every corner!
Oh, I also love that a lot of incredible musical talent comes to the city. In addition to all the world class performers of all kinds that have steady gigs in this town, virtually every band from the past and present makes it a point to stop in the city. It’s an international crowd all year round, so it’s a great place to touch on audiences from all over the world.
Michael: Do you get to see any shows? Celine? Mariah? Britney? JLo? I'm excited to come see Gaga.
Marcus: Michael, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t! If I’m not working, I’m with my family. I’ve seen all the large production shows in town, and many of the smaller shows, as well. But as far as touring shows are concerned, I just don’t find the time. I’m putting James Taylor on my calendar, however! I need a good cry.”
Michael: What's next for you?
Marcus: I am doing a play called Incognito with another company in town called A Public Fit. It’s a play about memory and the brain, and I get to play six different characters, turning on a dime several times in the play.
I also have more performing and producing projects in the works for the spring, but I can’t really talk about them right now. In the meantime, however, I keep teaching in schools around town for The Smith Center for The Performing Arts, Cirque du Soleil, as well as the College of Southern Nevada. I juggle a pretty busy life, but all the stuff I love to do.
Hey, a message to my friends: don’t stop calling me because you think I don't have time for coffee. I do, so give me a buzz!
Michael: OK, friends, call Marcus for coffee. Or call ME for cocktails! And go see Marcus in "Every Brilliant Thing" at The Cockroach Theatre in Las Vegas. There's just one week left!