In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Rockville Musical Theatre’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, meet Paul Loebach.
Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past year on local stages?
Paul: I’ve appeared in several RMT shows over the past few years. I played Sr. Mary Hubert in Nunsense A-men! and Custis in Crazy For You.
Why did you want to be part of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at Rockville Musical Theatre?
Believe it or not, my wife made me audition. I hadn’t planned on auditioning but she said there were too many juicy roles for men for me to pass this up. I’m happy I listened to her.
Why is this musical relevant today and what does it have to say to audiences?
The fashions may be 70s but the themes of the story are timeless. Melvin Thorpe uses his celebrity and his TV show as a tool and even a weapon to spread his version of morality. Today, with 24/7 television and social media available to people, it’s hard to escape the constant barrage of messages from all sides of the political fence.
Who do you play in the show and what songs do you sing? If you have a solo tells us what it is and what the song means to the character and to you.
I play Ed Earl Dodd, the foul mouthed sheriff who tries to run TV personality Melvin P. Thorpe out of town. I sing “Good Ol’ Girl” about Miss Mona, the woman for whom I have feelings for but don’t really know how to express. He sings that he doesn’t need to tell her because “she knows” already.
Have you appeared in other productions of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and who did you play, and how is this production different and unique?
I have not. I haven’t even watched the movie, so this production will set the standard for for me.
What is your favorite song in the show and why?
I love “24 Hours of Lovin” because it showcases all the women of the Chicken Ranch. They are the real hit of this show. You can’t not fall in love with each and every one.
Which character in the show is most like you, and why?
That’s a tough one. This show and its characters bleed Texas through and through and that’s an entirely different world for this Maryland boy.
What do you admire most about your fellow castmates’ performances?
I love the voices of the women of the Chicken Ranch. Zoe and Megan, in particular, shine as Mona and Jewel.
What was the best advice or suggestions that Director Duane Monahan about playing your character and how has Musical Director John Marlowe helped you with your performance?
It’s funny, I think Duane’s helped me the most with my cussing. I worked my whole life not to use most of this language and it was very awkward for me at first. John is a patient perfectionist, which is the most valuable attribute in a community theater music director. He’ll go over songs as often you need him to until he thinks you got it right.
How would you describe Duane Monahan’s choreography, and what was the hardest thing to learn?
I’m not a dancer but I can tell you he’s reason half the folks who auditioned showed up. He is very well respected and always gives the audiences what they want to see.
Why should audience goers come to see The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas?
If not just for the song and dance numbers, the show has so many laugh-out-loud lines.
What do you want audiences to take with them after seeing The Best Little Whorehouse at Rockville Musical Theater?
I always consider a show a success if the people leave smiling. I think Whorehouse is gonna do that for them.
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas plays from July 10-26, 2015 at Rockville Musical Theatre performing at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre – 603 Edmonston Drive, in Rockville, MD at The Rockville Civic Center. For tickets, call the box office at (240) 314-8690, or purchase them online.
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Meet the Cast of Rockville Musical Theatre’s ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’: Part 1: Zoe Alexandratos.
