Photo Provided by Gigi Coo

Parker killing it as Jean Michel!

You may know him as Jean Michel, Algernon Moncrieff, or Edward Ferrars. But off stage and out of each of those carefully curated costumes, you’ll find Servite student and Trinitas legend, Parker Lee ‘24. Today, I asked him a few questions to showcase why the Servite and Trinitas communities are beyond blessed to know him.

Q: What is your favorite role you’ve played?

A:  Algernon Moncrieff in The “Importance of Being Earnest.” Everything felt so natural. Being Algernon was like being a kid alone on the playground: I could do insane stuff- eat all the food on-stage during another character’s monologue– and it would read as real on-stage because it came directly from the heart. Basically, I’ve been method-acting him my entire life.

Q: What was the most challenging role and why?

A: Jean-Michel in Cinderella. I could barely sing coming into my junior year, and I had to spend a long time learning. The role was, ultimately, not excessively demanding vocally, but it was a fight even to learn to sing.

Q: What’s your favorite time of the year during Trinitas?

A: Winter. I’ve loved every winter show I’ve done, and we throw a great Christmas party.

Q: Favorite line you’ve said?

A: “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”  

       – Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest.

Q: Can you tell me about your mac and cheese audition?

A: Okay. Yeah, sure. Thanks for the question, Gigi.

During the auditions for “Sense and Sensibility,” I arrived without a monologue prepared. Rather than preparing a monologue, I had been attempting to earn a role as the show’s Dramaturg [provides the cast and crew with vital knowledge about the theatrical work], but it wasn’t in the stars; I suppose it came around eventually since I’m the Dramaturg now for Diary of Anne Frank (opening Nov. 10). Since I didn’t have a monologue, I just improvised. I mimed making mac and cheese onstage in front of the audition group and directors, complete with sound effects, and I still got called back to do more auditioning the next day. After a strong callback, I ended up with the leading male role, Edward Ferrars, so… follow your dreams, I guess.

Seriously, though, don’t show up to auditions without a monologue prepared. It’ll stress the directors out.