Mike Traylor

Acting like he knows what he's doing

Comments (0) By Robrt L. Pela Thursday, Oct 25 2007

He loves his baby sister and the Marx Brothers, but actor-director Mike Traylor — who's appearing this week in iTheatre Collaborative's Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad— isn't above admitting when he’s blown an audition or copping to his similarities to Superman.

Mike Traylor

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I knew I wanted to be in show business whenI was doing an improv in an eighth-grade drama class, 35 years ago. Suddenly the entire class burst into laughter at something I said. I knew then that this was where I was supposed to be.

The worst thing about working in theater isnot working in theater.

My worst audition ever wasa mass audition for 20 summer stock theaters in Illinois. In front of more than 30 casting people, I forgot the lyrics to "Slide Some Oil to Me" from The Wiz. Twice! Needless to say, I didn't get hired.

The happiest day in my life was the day my baby sister, Ayanna, was born — about 36 years ago.

If I could be anyone other than myself— it wouldn't matter. I still wouldn't be satisfied.

It’s not entirely true, but I sometimes tell people thatI know what I'm doing.

The fictional character I am most like is a combination of Cyrano, Charlie Brown, and Clark Kent.

I am utterly terrified ofbeing terrified.

I laugh uncontrollably atthe old comic geniuses like Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers.

The one thing I absolutely refuse to do on stage is perform on autopilot. It's all or nothing.

Something I have never admitted to anyone before isthat even though I am my favorite actor, I still think I suck and one day everyone else will find out.

The first time I got drunk Iswore I would never drink again. I've done plenty of swearing since then.

Like my mother used to say, "If you play with fire, you're going to get burned."