NameDavid Grindrod
Role
Mark Anthony (Really Mark Philip Lawrence Tabori)
Describe your favorite song / scene / moment in A Chorus Line.
After doing the show 75 times I know every word of the show. I know when the audience is going to laugh. I know when my body is going to start complaining. I also know standing next to Jessi Trauth (Val) makes life on the line so wonderful. We keep each other smiling and giggling through the show. My favorite part of the show is whenever that cutie pie is looking my way!
Mark is a guy who goes through a lot of changes in his life. We know the tour is only half over, but how do you think you've changed since being on the road with A Chorus Line?
My mom told me that before she went to college she was very shy and quiet. When she left she decided that she was going to throw her shyness in the trash and be “chatty cathy.” This was a success for her! She asked me if I was planning on changing anything about myself as I headed off to college. I was kind of insulted. I thought I was pretty perfect. I asked if she had any suggestions. She said, "You might what to stop with the hugging random people." HOW RUDE! Unfortunately or fortunately this trait has not left me! So, if you come see the show, stay after and I will be overjoyed to say hello and I will be glad to give you a huge hug! As I headed out on tour, my mother knew not to ask me this question again, but I did think about it…
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you on or offstage on the tour?
In Richmond, VA it was about ten minutes until places and I am getting dressed. I put on my costume pants and the bottom of the pants go all the way up to my shins. The “ready for a flood” look is not attractive. Backstage in this theatre had probably 68 flights of stairs. I go running down the stairs looking for wardrobe. After 5 minutes I finally found it! The wardrobe lady says, "Take them off." She irons them to stretch them out. I am standing there with no pants. It’s not a cute look for me. I won't get too descriptive, but my legs haven't seen the sun in about 4 years. Then I hear "Ladies and Gentlemen, break a leg, and places please, places please." CRAP! I am still standing there with no pants! I quickly put my pants back on and run up 68 flights of stairs. I just made it in time for "step, kick, kick, leap, step, touch." Phew!
Near the end of the song, “What I Did for Love”, the music drops out and we just sing "What I did for.....(breath) loooooooovvvvvvveeee! In Pueblo, Colorado, we get to this point and its “What I did for (SNEEZE) looooooooovvvvveeeeeee!” Someone in the audience had a perfectly placed sneeze. It was hysterical!
A little birdie told us that Baayork Lee is obsessed with your sense of humor. If you two were to star in a sitcom, what would the name of it be and how many seasons would it run?
My life would be so wonderful if Baayork and I had show! It would be called "I'm Trying to Get a 6-pack, and You Keep Feeding Me Cookies!" Here’s the reality. Baayork told us she wanted us to look great in the very tight costumes. She expected us all to have 6-packs. She made us do this hour-long warm-up before every rehearsal and every show. The warm-up includes approximately 64 million crunches, 97 thousand sit ups, and 78 hours of these weird pelvis thrust things. We were all feeling good about our abs. Then about halfway through rehearsal Baayork would pull out these huge trays of cookies! Some people thought it was a test. If it was a test, I failed. I can't turn down a cookie (it was the Pepperidge Farm variety tray!). On our sitcom there would be an invited guest. On one side of the set, I would be laying on my yoga mat doing sit ups. On the other side, Baayork would be sitting with a tray of Pepperidge Farm Cookies. The guest would have to choose to do sit-ups with me or eat cookies with Baayork. It would be a huge hit for seven seasons and bring us success for the rest of our lives so we will finally be able to get off our diets, get in the car with our husbands, drive up to our 50 acres in Vermont, dance around our kitchen cooking, (making our own cookies) and enjoy getting fat!
Which past tour stop has been your favorite thus far and why?
I loved Charleston, SC. My sister goes to school there, lucky girl! We had a great time walking around the beautiful historic town. Okay I just said that to make myself sound smart. Historic towns aren't really my cup of tea, but I loved the pralines. What's a praline, you ask! It's some yummy candy and there are always free samples. Let's be honest, what's better than free candy!
David Grindrod as Mark in A CHORUS LINE
Photo by Phil Martin.
Photo by Phil Martin.
Name one item you can't live without while on the road.
Hardy! Well, he's not an item, he's my bus buddy. Hardy plays Bobby, who is very mean to my character, Mark, onstage. Offstage Hardy keeps me laughing. He is also very well-educated. We have a “word of the day.” He teaches me a big word and I will use it, or attempt to use it throughout the day. He also encourages me to read, which I don't do, but he is trying. We spend hours and hours and hours sitting next to each other and not once has he ever smelled stinky. Granted we are only half way done, but so far so good. (I'll keep you posted!)
What is your favorite Broadway show and why?
Ugh! Why this question? So much stress! "Who's your favorite child?" Okay, okay, okay. I love West Side Story, tick, tick, BOOM, and A Chorus Line. I am not just saying that either! It's true! I really loved this show. Often, when I see a show, I can list things I didn't like. I saw A Chorus Line the first time and I said "I have to be in that show." The show is just perfect. Love it!
What are the top five most listened to song on your iPod?
- The entire soundtrack from the film "UP" (Great music to listen to when you just need something pretty lingering in your ears.)
- “Free Fallin'” - John Mayer (This is my sister’s favorite song. Whenever we drive anywhere together, we open the window and belt this out!)
- “Seize the Day” from Newsies (This is my pre-show song for the 8th show of the week, the 5th city, and I am in need for some kind of inspiration!)
- “Sunday Morning” - Maroon 5 (Just a great song.)
- “Umbrella Beach” - Owl City (For spontaneous dance parties...which are not so rare in my life!)
Do you have any pop culture guilty pleasures?
Ugh twitter. I love it, but hate it. I find it so weird, but I have one and I love it. (http://twitter.com/DGrin63)
If you had to pick just one, would you describe yourself as peripatetic, poetic or chic? Why?
Chic, because I am not poetic at all. Words are not my specialty. I'm not peripatetic, well I don't think I am, I don't have a clue what that means, So chic is my only option, as I sit on the bus in sweat pants and bright orange sweatshirt... oh so chic!
If you had to pick just one, would you describe yourself as peripatetic, poetic or chic? Why?
Chic, because I am not poetic at all. Words are not my specialty. I'm not peripatetic, well I don't think I am, I don't have a clue what that means, So chic is my only option, as I sit on the bus in sweat pants and bright orange sweatshirt... oh so chic!
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