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Video: Millicent Simmonds Opens Up About Her Spooktacular Broadway Debut
May 17, 2024
There's a serious case of stage fright happening this summer at the Lyceum Theatre... and it's not afflicting the actors onstage. Audiences at Broadway's Grey House are getting chills and thrills served to them eight times a week and one of the culprits is Millicent Simmonds. In this video, watch as we chat with Millie about her debut!
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0:00
Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge
0:11
My guest is one of the entertainment industry's newest rising young stars
0:15
You know her from such films as Wonderstruck and from the Quiet Place franchise
0:19
Well now she's making her Broadway debut in Levi Holloway's new thriller Greyhouse, directed
0:24
by Joe Mantello. Please welcome Millicent Simmons. Well you are making your wonderful Broadway debut in Greyhouse
0:34
How excited are you? 1,000% excited. 10 hundred thousand percent excited. Has it been magical for you
0:43
Oh it really is magical. It's a dream come true. I mean it's an amazing crew to work with, a cast to work with, working with Joe as a director
0:52
They're all so brilliant in their own ways and in their distinct ways and you see the
0:56
magic on stage. Performing on stage is so different than film and I'm so glad I have this experience
1:03
When you first got the play and you read it, what made you say yes I have to do this
1:10
I mean it's everything that I love. I mean it's dark, it's humorous and it's really brilliant
1:17
It's very clever writing. It's much more psychological. It's like a psychological thriller which is sort of the genre I've been working in, you
1:23
know, in the past. So I had to say yes to this project
1:27
What was it like being in the rehearsal room, working with these actors and working with
1:31
your director Joe Mantello? I mean from day one, Laurie Metcalf came in, you know, in rehearsal
1:40
She already had memorized the whole script. Blew our mind. Everyone was so, you know, inspired
1:46
We go oh my gosh we have a lot to catch up on to match her skill level
1:50
And we had a lot of, you know, there are a lot of young talent. There's a lot of young talent on set
1:55
Joe's very understanding. He knows what we need. He really works with us as actors
2:01
As a director he really understands what we need. And he also is gentle and compassionate and it's been fun working with everyone
2:07
Okay, that first performance, like your debut on Broadway, what do you remember about that
2:13
night when you took your first bow on that whole entire performance on Broadway
2:18
I mean just before the show what I remember is being so nervous
2:23
I mean I was sweating. I just kept pacing the hallway, you know, in front of my dressing room
2:28
And then, you know, when the curtains went up, I swear I almost passed out
2:33
I go I can't do the show. But then I fell into it. It felt kind of surreal like I was walking, like I was sleepwalking in a dream
2:41
At the end I saw people standing up for a standing ovation. I went okay, we did okay
2:45
We made it through. I made no mistakes. So when you took your bow that night, what were you thinking opening night
2:51
What do you remember about that bow? That everyone I loved was in the audience
2:57
My parents, my brothers, my siblings. Everyone was finally able to see the show that I'd been working on and I felt like a
3:05
weight had been lifted. It's sort of like now we're living the play. Yeah
3:09
Where did your love for performing begin like at a young age and what made you say yes
3:14
I want to be an actress? It was never an intention. I mean when I was growing up I never thought I'd be able to do this
3:24
It was sort of, it came about because of Wonderstruck. And when I saw everything on screen I went oh yes, this is possible in my life
3:32
I really want to continue doing this. It was my desire. Okay, you made your film debut in Wonderstruck
3:39
Such a beautiful, beautiful film. Favorite memories of doing that? What was that like
3:46
I mean for the film, Wonderstruck. I, Wonderstruck is when I, you know, when I first, was the first time I came to New York
3:55
I came here in New York. I met everyone. You know, it was like the 1920s setting
4:03
So here I am in New York in this 1920s setting with horses and carriages and costumes and
4:08
I felt like I had traveled back in time. I mean you don't actually, you don't often get that experience
4:13
It was very surreal. Did you grasp filmmaking right away, the art of filmmaking
4:18
Because you're a natural. I never really, I never studied. I never did any background research
4:27
I just tried to do what the director told me to do. I tried my best to express what the director asked for, their vision
4:33
And that was it really. I'm very fortunate, very lucky. Do you have a favorite memory from working on that film
4:41
So, going to work. I mean in the Museum of Natural History was amazing to be able to see that
4:48
And it was empty, right? We were filming at night. No one was there
4:53
It was like this secret, this secret garden really. I got to, when we're not filming we just got to look around and it was really a memorable experience
5:02
And then of course there's the Quiet Place films. I mean, amazing
5:06
Favorite thing about working on those movies? Stunts, of course. I love doing the stunt work
5:13
It was tough, but I also feel like, you know, that's not something you get to do very often
5:19
and it was an opportunity. I loved it. And working with John and Emily was just amazing
5:24
Both of them are an amazing couple. You know, sort of they're a powerhouse together
5:30
And then also as individuals, they're very fun. Wonderful to work with
5:33
Everything just was perfect for those shoots. Why do you think audiences have fallen in love with The Quiet Place
5:42
I think it's very unique. It's very different. I mean, most of the story is told through the Deaf character, which is not done often
5:52
We don't often see narratives being told or led through a Deaf eye
5:57
So it's very unique. Being told or led through a Deaf eye
6:03
And, you know, what is the Deaf character going to do in this situation? You know, there are high stakes
6:07
And also in horror films, you often rely a lot on sound to drive the narrative
6:13
So I think they use the sound device very cleverly in both of those films
6:17
Well, let's go back to Greyhouse. Let's talk about what was the rehearsal process like with working with you and an
6:22
interpreter and the actors during the rehearsal process for Greyhouse? It takes a lot of patience, a lot of learning, a big learning curve
6:34
Actors and directors often don't have experience working with Deaf actors. So it does take a moment to sit down, come together, just talk about how the process
6:43
is going to be, how to work with interpreters, how to do this collaboratively and understand
6:48
and have patience because there will be miscommunication. There will be misunderstandings
6:52
And, you know, just everybody was open to that. Everyone wanted to learn sign
6:57
Everybody's learning sign language. Also, I've been working with Andrew Murrell, who is there as the director of an ASL coach
7:04
and has been really working a lot, helpful with translations. What is sign language going to look like in that period of time within that family
7:12
So he brought in a lot of research and information that shaped it as well
7:17
This has been really special for you being on Broadway with Greyhouse, hasn't it
7:21
Oh, yes, it has. Definitely. It couldn't be any better, really. Yeah
7:27
Your dressing room, like, how do you decorate your dressing room? I mean, I looked around
7:34
I wanted to see, you know, I get memes. I draw memes
7:39
Post-it notes are covered on my door with different memes. And then on opening night, someone actually bought me a whole slew of Post-its and, you
7:47
know, colored pens. So I plan to cover my door. Hopefully it'll be covered by the time we close
7:54
So and then I hope everyone can take their favorite meme from the door to take home at
7:59
the end of the show. That is beautiful. Thank you. How early do you get to the theater
8:04
Like, what's your theater rituals like? Like, what's your day like leading up to a show
8:12
I love talking with people, actually. So it really makes me just sort of put away the stress and just be with everyone and catch
8:21
up. I don't, because I always worry. I overthink things. I get anxious
8:26
So I like the moments when I'm just with people sitting with me in the room
8:30
I love the hair and makeup people getting dressed. I drink a lot of, you know, caffeine
8:35
I have to say a lot of energy drinks. How early do you get to the theater
8:42
At least an hour, at least an hour before a show. I like to be prepared. Yeah
8:46
So the first time you saw yourself done up as your character, what went through your mind when you saw yourself all done up in hair and makeup and the outfit
9:00
How lucky I am to be here right now in this place in this moment in time
9:06
It just really didn't feel real. It still doesn't. I'm still trying to embrace each moment
9:13
The ability to walk on a Broadway stage and show Bernie, let Bernie do her thing
9:19
Bernie's smart. She's patient. She's compassionate. What's the last thing you do before you hit the stage during a performance
9:28
What's the last thing you do before the curtain goes up? Okay, so me and some of the young talent on stage, we're always together
9:36
We do 10 push-ups together every time. Before we go on, before a show, we go, okay, let's do our 10
9:43
What's the scariest moment in the show for you? When it was all coming together, what was the scariest moment in the show for you
9:51
I think it was during, you know, the show in hell. It's very heavy, the game, right
9:58
It's very fast-paced. The show builds up to it, but it's hard to catch up with all of the lines, with all the action
10:08
That's a heavy scene for me. That's a scary part of the show for an audience member to watch
10:13
without giving anything away. But when that happens in the show, it's like, whoa, here we go, right
10:18
Yes, exactly. And just why do you think audiences are falling in love with Grey House
10:26
Again, I think it's very creepy. It's weird, but it doesn't have all the answers you want either
10:34
You have to just go for the ride and see what the play offers you
10:40
And I think it's also very innovative. There's a deaf character in it who gets a spotlight
10:47
I'm hoping that more people from the industry, both film and theater industry, will be more open
10:53
will open their minds, be open to including more languages, not just ASL
10:57
but to not be so limited in what's possible in entertainment. Because you're such an inspiration for so many people
11:06
What that means to you? Everything, really. Because I didn't have that growing up
11:13
I mean, I have a lot of family support. I had a good education in school, but I didn't see myself represented on television
11:22
a strong role model to look up to. I didn't. So I mean, for me, it's really indescribable
11:31
I have no words to express it. People looking up to me in this way, I mean, I'm just trying my best to fulfill the role
11:38
Meeting the fans, like from the movies and for this show, what that means to you
11:42
when they see themselves up there saying, oh my God, I'm being represented
11:47
What that honor means to you and what that means to you personally. Again, I just want to see more possibilities
11:58
including the inclusivity of more people, more communities. And nothing is limited
12:05
And I hope I'm inspiring people to have their dream. You can be on Broadway
12:09
If I can do it, you can do it. You can be in films. You can be an actor. Yeah
12:13
It's not impossibility. What are you enjoying the most? I mean, Broadway is so special
12:18
I mean, there you are at that beautiful theater doing live theater. What that means to you
12:27
That you're able to work with the director on Broadway, Joe, and the actress, Lori, how they work together
12:35
I mean, you can see the trust between them. If Joe just lifts an eyebrow or says one word, Lori already knows all the subtext
12:44
They don't even have to do any more than that. They understand each other. Like, oh my God, how do they do that
12:49
I'm very fortunate to be able to see that kind of relationship and to be working on Broadway
12:54
When I grew up, I was doing shows in the deaf school. Our drama club would do a show
13:00
But this is on a whole different level. I never thought that this would be possible. Yeah
13:06
In school, did you have a favorite role that you played? Midsummer Night's Dream
13:13
I played Puck. I like Puck. Puck's my favorite. Shakespeare. Wonderful. Yeah. Yes. Yes
13:20
A lot of Shakespeare in our drama club. So you did a lot of Shakespeare? Yeah
13:26
I mean, that was fun. Every show, it seemed to be Shakespeare, and I loved it
13:31
You know, I learned a lot about history through Shakespeare. Yeah. And here we are sitting at Sardi's
13:36
This is like, you know, the creme de la creme of Broadway. Please
13:42
I can't touch it. There are no words, right? No, none. But I mean, just being a part of a theater community, what that's meant to
13:50
What a fabulous time coming out of the pandemic and now bringing Broadway back
13:55
And you're one of those people who are doing that, what that means to you. Just the whole experience of being on Broadway
14:06
To be able to come back to work, I mean, and to be on Broadway is
14:13
I mean, again, no words to describe the experience. It's been a dream
14:17
And I feel like, you know, I shot for the moon and I hit it. I got it
14:22
Thank you for doing what you do. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today
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