Daniel Marconi. Photo Courtesy of Daniel Marconi
Broadway performer Daniel Marconi chatted about “Gardside’s Career” and “Sweeney Todd.” He also opened up about being a part of the digital age.
James Dean once said: “Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” This quote to Daniel Marconi.
‘Gardside’s Career’
“Garside’s Career” tells the story of Peter Garside’s soaring flight from working engineer to member of Parliament, propelled by a ‘silver tongue’ and an insatiable fascination with his power to persuade.
“I loved performing it on Theatre Row,” he said. “It’s the best Off-Broadway venue, and its affordable theatre.”
“It was really good,” he admitted. “We didn’t ever know how an 100-year-old play is going to be received. This was its New York debut, and it was written 104 years ago.”
“We ended up getting a Drama Desk nomination for ‘Outstanding Revival of a Play,’ which was totally unexpected. So, it was great. That cast was incredible,” he added.
‘Sweeney Todd’
On being a part of “Sweeney Todd,” he said, “It was the best; it was incredible and an absolute whirlwind. I replaced Gaten Matarazzo, who was on ‘Stranger Things’ since Season 1.”
“Gaten was supposed to do a limited run there, and then the SAG-AFTRA strike happened, so he was able to extend on ‘Sweeney Todd.’ Once the strike lifted, he put his two weeks’ notice in, and they didn’t have anyone to follow him yet. They had two weeks to find someone and get them in the show. So, it was whirlwind,” he elaborated.
“I didn’t’ even call my in-person callback… I was on stage nine days later. It was an absolute chaos and whirlwind, but that team was amazing,” he noted.
“I’ve been a fan of Annaleigh Ashford since her ‘Kinky Boots’ days,” Marconi said.
“That woman understands physical comedy in a way I never will, but I really want to. She’s an even better person than a performer. She is truly a genius. I would watch her do anything,” he added.
Daily motivations
On his daily motivations, he remarked, “My biggest motivation is realizing characters for the first time. In the last few years, I’ve pivoted myself from doing roles that have been created already. I would highly prioritize roles that are debuting.”
“Getting to sink my teeth into a character that nobody else has had to, and set the precedent is really refreshing,” he admitted.
“So, I can create something, and nobody can tell me that it’s the wrong direction because it’s a playground,” he added.
The digital age
On being a part of the digital age, Marconi responded, “I am not. I try to stay as removed and unplugged as possible. I haven’t posted on social media in a year and a half. I’m sure it would be good for my career, but for me, that aspect of things is overwhelming, so I try to stay unplugged, and so far, so good!”
Marconi continued, “We are living in an age now where I’ve heard recordings of myself doing shows in San Diego, St. Louis, and New Jersey.”
“People bootleg everything now, so that’s an added pressure because you never know if someone is recording you and it’s going to wind up on the Internet. There are pros and cons to it,” he elaborated.
Future plans
On his future plans, he revealed, “Much of the same. I just got an offer for a new show but I can’t really say much about it at the moment.”
Advice for young and aspiring performers
For young and emerging performers, Marconi said, “Trust the process; believe that it’s a war of attrition and it is a numbers game.”
“At some point, if you stick around the barber shop long enough, you will get a haircut,” he said.
“Find a survival job that you love or a job that you don’t hate, and just go to every audition that you can, and something will fall in place. It is a numbers game,” he acknowledged.
“I’ve had so many friends who did nothing for their first five years out of school; I’ve even had friends in ‘The Outsiders’ who hadn’t even done their first professional gig. It is that one audition or gig that can change their lives,” he explained.
54 Below shows with Brent Comer
Marconi recalled performing with Brent Comer at his 54 Below shows, where they dueted on such songs as Jamestown Revival’s “Young Man” and “Stay Gold” (normally sung by Sky Lakota Lynch and Brody Grant) from “The Outsiders” musical.
“Performing with Brent Comer was amazing,” Marconi exclaimed. “We go way back. Brent is just the best!”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Marconi said, “Retooling”
“I did my first professional job at 11, and I did Mary Poppins at 12,” he revealed.
“I’ve always been small in stature. Until very recently, I have never played even a 20-year-old. ‘Sweeney Todd’ opened up a lot of audition room doors for me, and that gave me some legitimacy as an adult performer,” he elaborated.
“Since then, I’ve gotten to play several adults, which has been great,” he added.
Marconi on theatrical agent Matt Redmond
Marconi also complimented his theatrical talent agent Matt Redmond of DGRW.
“Matt is the best,” he exclaimed. “That dude is awesome! He is so good and so supportive. He is an incredible person and he is so good at his job.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, Marconi said, “Healthy relationships”
“I don’t think I derive success from anything career-related or achievement-related,” he said.
“Within the theatre, success is creation! Personally, it is about maintaining the relationships that matter to me (with family, loved ones, and close friends); that is success,” he elaborated.
Message for the fans and supporters
For his fans and supporters, Marconi expressed, “I have limitless gratitude to anyone who has supported me. I feel I am still at the beginning stages of my career. I have endless gratitude for the fans.”
“I’ve gotten some unbelievably kind messages from them, and in times of doubt (personal or career doubt), they have been so affirming,” he concluded.
To learn more about actor and singer Daniel Marconi, follow him on Instagram.
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