On The Road: Eric Geil
This week's edition of On The Road features the multi-talented Missouri native Eric Geil! Eric is currently touring the country with the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon. I was so excited to set up a photoshoot for him with local photographer Ember Langley while the show was in Orlando! I hope you enjoy getting to know Eric and learning about his life on the road.
How long have you been a performer?
I come from a family of performers. We’ve been performing together since I was little. I did my first musical when I was 15 and I loved the community so much I just kept auditioning! It wasn’t until my senior year of high school when I started seriously considering this as a viable career option.
What is your favorite show you've ever worked on?
The Book of Mormon is definitely my favorite show I’ve worked on. There are so many aspects of the show to understand, and doing it every day has allowed me the opportunity to do just that. Between the highly technical elements and the intimate scenes there’s never a moment where you can disconnect from the action.
How long have you been on tour?
I’ve been on tour for 2 years 9 months and still going!
What role do you play in the show?
I play Elder Grant/Church.
Who is the coolest celebrity you've ever met at work?
Dustin Miligan (Schitt’s Creek)
What are some items you absolutely can't live without backstage?
I need some kind of snack backstage. I usually keep granola backstage in case I get really hungry at intermission. Having a good light snack at intermission can make or break the rest of the show for me.
What has been your most memorable moment on this tour so far?
We got to perform our show in Salt Lake City just mere blocks away from the Holy Temple… that was a pretty special experience.
What is it about this job that makes you come back each day?
My fellow cast mates are the best part of doing the show. Everyone brings a thousand percent onstage. Being around that kind of commitment continues to push me and keep me on my toes every day.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite part of my job is hearing the crowd laugh and seeing people smiling. The kind of joy this show brings is something very special and I’m very lucky to be a part of that.
What is the most challenging part of being an actor on tour?
The most challenging part of tour is staying healthy while constantly changing climates, and making sure your travel day is as relaxing and restful as possible.
What is the most surprising part of your job?
There is a lot of adult humor in our show. I’m still surprised sometimes that my job is to make jokes with the kind of language that is in the script.
What's a random fact about touring that people are always surprised to learn?
With our tour in particular people are always surprised that we don’t have a closing date. It’s rare in our business to be in a show where, as an actor, you can be in the company as long as you’d like.
What is the most interesting day at work you've ever had?
This is a tough one to nail down! There have been so many crazy things that have happened at work! I love seeing peoples debut shows. Getting to see someone go on for the first time with joy, excitement, fear, and focus in their eyes is pretty special.
What is your favorite part about telling this story every night?
Elder Price has a line at the end of the show that goes, “Whether we change some things, or we break the rules, or we have complete doubt God exists… We can all still work together and make this our paradise planet.” That message is my favorite part about telling this story.
What advice would you give to a young person who wants to move to NYC and pursue a career in the arts?
I would encourage getting a college degree before making that step. Obviously there are many successful performers who didn’t attend college which is incredible. I just know for myself I would not be where I am today had it not been for the training I received while at college.
What piece of advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Trust your instincts no matter what.
What is the best advice you've ever been given?
Don’t get caught up in reasons why you didn’t get a job. You’ll never know and nine times out of ten it wasn’t personal.
FUN FACTS:
Where did you go to college?
I went to college at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and Drama
What was the first Broadway show you ever saw?
Newsies
What is your favorite Broadway show you've ever seen?
The Color Purple
What is your favorite US city you've visited on tour?
Norfolk, VA
What is your favorite restaurant or bar you've found on tour?
Commune (Norfolk VA)
