After appearing in off-Broadway's Sleep No More, the Starz series Power, and creating and starring in his own show Calloway's Salon, William Popp makes his Broadway debut as the protagonist's awful husband, Earl, in the hit musical adaptation of Waitress
. BroadwayBox caught up with Popp to talk about his most memorable audition story, his inner Batman villain, and avoiding pie at the theatre.
1. The redeeming quality I like most about Earl:
His sense of humor.
2. Three things I need in my dressing room:
Food! Pictures of my Husband and family. Water!
3. The first thing I did after I found out I’d be making my Broadway debut in Waitress:
Booked a plane ticket to Michigan at 6 AM the next day to be with my Husband and his family. We got married in January, can you tell by my excessive use of the word? =)
4. My most memorable audition story:
I auditioned for the wall street bull in the Rockettes' Spring Spectacular show. They taught all of us the choreography, then brought us in one at a time. When it was my turn, I barreled in, took my shirt off, grunted, groaned, and improvised the entire thing. I LIVED my life. I thought I NAILED it. I guess they thought otherwise....
5. Moment I knew I wanted to perform and create professionally:
I went to school for acting and moved to Los Angeles right out of college. I hated it. It made my soul hurt, and I realized I was pursuing fame, not a career. I stopped for two years, worked at a farmer's market, in a bank, taught at a nursery school. But I slowly began wanting to perform again. By that point I was in NYC and went to see Sleep No More.....that changed everything!
6. If I could give my high school self a piece of advice, I’d say:
Worrying is worthless, my love. Still trying to take that advice...
7. One thing I feel super passionately about outside of performing:
My family.
8. Most surprising part of joining Waitress has been:
That I haven't started eating more pie?!
9. Fictional character I relate to on a visceral level:
Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman from Batman Returns. A tortured seductress who’s willing to risk it all.
10. The most memorable experience I’ve had as an audience member:
My first one-on-one at Sleep No More.
Head to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre to see William Popp's Broadway debut in 'Waitress'.
