Now in its second year on Broadway, Back to the Future: The Musical has welcomed a new member to the McFly family. On June 25, Evan Alexander Smith officially joined the company of the hit musical as George McFly.
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Smith joins the cast directly from his run in the acclaimed Tony Award–winning revival of Merrily We Roll Along. New York audiences may also recognize him from Little Shop of Horrors, where he understudied multiple roles, including Seymour.
During a break from his turn as the McFly family patriarch, Smith took some time to answer 5 Questions with Broadway Direct, sharing the musicals that made him want to pursue this career, why the leading Merrily trio continues to inspire him, and which two restaurants are his personal New York favorites.
1. What inspired you to become an actor?
My parents were huge musical theater fans. When I was a kid, we listened to the Les Mis London cast recording on every single road trip. The first musical they took me to was this incredible production of Oliver! in Toronto when I was 10. I wanted so badly to be one of the orphans on stage. The bug bit me for real: doing Les Mis in ninth grade. I bawled my way through the final curtain call and knew then what I wanted to do with my life.
2. Who in your field inspires you?
Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez. Incredible artists, exemplary leaders, and unbelievably kind human beings. Working with them on Merrily We Roll Along was an incredible gift and a master class in generosity.
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3. What will audiences be most excited about seeing in Back to the Future: The Musical?
The DeLorean, obviously! But really, Back to the Future is a big, splashy Broadway spectacle, with a beautiful beating heart at its core. Whether you’re a fan of the movie who wants a massive dose of nostalgia, or a hopeless romantic looking for a touching love story, we’ve got it all in spades.
4. If you didn’t need to sleep at night, what would you spend your time doing?
Eating pizza and playing video games.
5. What is your favorite NYC spot?
For food, it’s a tie between Jacob’s Pickles and Made in New York Pizza on the Upper West Side.
To relax? I love to sit at the north end of the Great Lawn in Central Park and take in the gorgeous view of the New York City skyline.
You can catch Evan Alexander Smith in Back to the Future: The Musical, now playing at the Winter Garden Theatre.