Interview with Howard McGillin
Known more for his portrayal of the disfigured
masked character in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
“The Phantom of the Opera” is now on tour in
“Peter Pan” as the villainous Captain Hook.

Interview by Carolyn Weaver

Howard McGillin as "Capt. Hook" in the
100th Anniversary Tour of "Peter Pan."  
Photo Credit Craig Schwartz.

Howard McGillin was born in Los Angeles, CA, and is a graduate of the University of California, Santa
Barbara.  Here are McGillin’s credits from the cast announcement for "Peter Pan."  He has worked
extensively in the theatre as well as in film and television. He recently starred in the world premiere of
Stephen Sondheim's “Bounce” at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C., where he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for his performance. On Broadway and in London's
West End, his starring roles include his record-setting performance in the title role in “The Phantom of the
Opera,” Mack Sennett in Jerry Herman’s “Mack and Mabel,” Molina in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,”
Kodaly in “She Loves Me,” Archibald Craven in “The Secret Garden,” Billy Crocker in “Anything Goes”
(Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations), John Jasper in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” with the NY
Shakespeare Festival (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Theatre World Award) and in “Sunday in the
Park with George.” He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his New York Theatrical debut in the
NY Shakespeare Festival’s production of “La Bohème.”  He last appeared off-Broadway in the Moss Hart-
Irving Berlin review “As Thousands Cheer” with the Drama Department. He has appeared in numerous
movies, miniseries and movies for television and can be heard on numerous books on tape including
Richard Preston’s “The Hot Zone.” His solo CD, “Howard McGillin: Where Time Stands Still,” is available
online.

CW:  Did you take singing, dance or acting lessons while at the University of California at Santa Barbara?
Or did you have a private teacher?

HM: No, I was a history major at UC Santa Barbara. I was pretty sure I was going to pursue acting, but I
thought I was getting plenty of training studying acting and voice privately. I was always interested in
history, and I also had a lot of pressure from my parents who were dead-set against my going into acting.
They probably were right, but I was determined. What I may have lacked in confidence I made up for with
determination. I just wasn't going to take no for an answer.

CW:  How did you get into performing?  I see in one listing of credits you started acting on TV in 1960,
which I cannot believe as from your photos you look so young?

HM:  Ha! That's good. I wasn't acting in 1960! I'm older than I look, though. Guess I'm lucky that way. I
was in the orchestra in high school, and in my freshman year, we put on "The Sound of Music". My
brother, a senior, played the lead. I'd never even seen a musical before, let alone a play. I was smitten. I
just thought I could do it. And I auditioned for the school musical the next year and got tiny part, basically
in the chorus. And I was hooked.

CW:  Well, I wondered, as I did not think you were that old!

CW:  What made you pick "Peter Pan" and what is it like working in "Peter Pan?”

HM:  It really came out of the blue. But I was thrilled to have the chance to take on a roll so different from
anything I've ever done before. I've been very lucky in my career to have such different characters to play,
from leading men to villains to tortured souls. I have to say, the tortured and the villains are much more
fun to play!

CW:  Are there any roles you would love to do?

HM: Well, I've never been one to think of what role I'd like to do next. I see a show and think, well I could
do that, or I'd like to take a crack at that, or even, I don't think I could do that, but I'm not one to latch on
to something and say "I've got to do that one". Maybe that's a flaw, I don't know.

CW: What has been your favorite show and why?  Any funny incidents happen to
you on stage?

HM:  As I said, I've been very lucky to play very different kinds of roles. I was
The Phantom on Broadway for over 3 1/2 years, and I loved it!  I would love to
come back to it again. I was surprised by how much I loved playing the character,
and by the impact that show has on audiences. But then, I had a blast in
"Anything Goes", playing the romantic lead. I once feel flat on my ass in that
one, during a romantic song and dance number. Think "Fred Astaire moment".
And my feet went out from under me (in all fairness, they had just re-surfaced
the stage that day, and it was very slippery). But there went my feet, and it was
one of those humbling experiences in one's career. I've rarely been in a show I
didn't have fun doing. I won't mention those.

Stephen Tewksbury, Deedee Lynn Magno
and Howard McGillin at B'way on B'way

CW:  I have heard so many good things about you in  “The Phantom Of the Opera” on Broadway.  (You are
reported to be the longest running actor to portray the role of the Phantom.)  You must have enjoyed the
part.  This is what I ask all actors who have played a part for a long time.  How do you keep it fresh each
day?

HM:  It's not easy to keep it fresh. However, whether you're playing a part for four weeks or four years,
you have to have the same commitment to the show. You can't walk through a performance and still look
yourself in the mirror. I guess there's also something in me that makes me cut out for long runs. I love
them. I never get tired of playing a really good part. There's always something new to explore. And with a
role that is so rewarding and that touches people in such an extraordinary way as PHANTOM does, it's
almost enough just to remember that the audience tonight is seeing it for the first time, and that they are
going to remember. I guess it comes down to pride. You want to be your best every time you go out there.

CW:  Have you been to Las Vegas before?  If so how do you like our city?  We have a version of
"Phantom" coming in 2006, would you like to do the lead in the shorter version of "Phantom" if it was
offered to you?

HM:  I love Las Vegas. I've been many times, and would be very interested in playing PHANTOM in Las
Vegas. No one's offered me the part yet.

CW:  I also see that you have done some singing on animated videos.  Do you enjoy doing animated films?  

HM:  I love recording, and love animated films. It's a bit isolated, you're in the studio on your own most of
the time, but it's a fascinating and fun process.

CW:  You did an episode of "Murder, She Wrote."  How was it working with Angela Lansbury a legend in
theatre and films?

HM:  Fabulous! She's just amazing.  I've been a fan of hers all my life.

CW:  What do you like to do in your free time?  From the looks of it you do not have much free time.

HM:  I'm an avid bicyclist. I swim; love to go to movies, especially old ones. I'm not crazy about most of
what Hollywood puts out. I gravitate more toward the independent and foreign films. They just tend to be
more interesting.

CW:  Now you are doing “Captain Hook,” it must be a fun role.    I remember Cyril Ritchard in the role
years ago with Mary Martin.  How is it working with Cathy Rigby?

HM:  Well, it's a great role, such a classic villain. And big shoes to fill, not only Cyril Ritchard's, but dear,
late George Rose's performance in the Sandy Duncan revival a few years back. I can't really focus on their
long shadows, though. I have to try to make sense of the character for me. Hopefully that will carry the day
off, and the audiences will respond. That's always the goal. As for Cathy, she's just amazing. I mean, when
she flies, it's one of the most exciting things I've ever seen in the theatre. She has incredible talent, and
brings it all to this show. She's so charming and likable. It's such a winning performance. I'm so thrilled to
be a part of it with her.

CW:   You have a solo CD out.  I heard one clip on your website.  It was very good.    This apparently is
your first solo CD do you plan anymore?

HM:  I'd love to do another CD and have been starting to gather ideas for it. It's a huge undertaking, not to
mention expensive, but I've never enjoyed anything more than making "Where Time Stands Still."  It's a
collection of some of my favorite songs, ranging from classic standards like "All The Things You Are" to
more contemporary stuff by James Taylor ("Secret of Life") and Mary-Chapin Carpenter (the title song).

CW:  What would you like to do in the future after "Peter Pan?”

HM: Let's see what comes up...

CW:  Thank you for doing this interview and I look forward to seeing you as Captain Hook in “Peter Pan”
when it comes to Las Vegas October 19-24, 2004.

HM:  All the best, to you.

Vegas' Arts & Entertainment Corner