It takes a lot to make New Yorkers come out on a chilly, rainy February school night. Yet the Secret Room, a cozy, copper piped themed club in a basement on Eighth Avenue, just steps away from Times Square, was jam packed this past Monday night. Everyone was buzzing with excitement as we waited to watch and listen to the talents that would assemble on stage to perform “Love and Other Feelings at the Hidden Cabaret”.
I was there to watch Stephen Miller’s return to the stage, after 20 years spent on the producing side of things and in academia. Miller is a wondrous man with a taste for sequin jackets that highlight his tall frame. His boyish smile and confident stance complete the magic of this performer who was clearly born to be on a stage. The Hidden Cabaret proved that. But more on Miller later.
Hosted by Craig Horsley, the Hidden Cabaret is a Monday staple these days in NYC and features some of the greatest talents from the NY theater scene and beyond. Under the watchful, caring eye of its host, one can safely say we’re watching the Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy award winners of tomorrow.
“Love and Other Feelings” had the perfect theme for a pre-Valentine show. Six performers, accompanied by musical director Terry Burrus — he has worked with Mariah, Diana, Aretha and some other first-name-only music legends — took to the stage to go through the path of love, from enchantment to breakup and back again.
It was a perfect night.
The singers featured were Sarah Parnicky, Roderick Lawrence, Ruby Rakos, Shane Weisman, Marcie Henderson and Miller — the latter the reason I attended. Parnicky kicked off the show with a cool rendition of ‘What a Feeling’ from ‘Flashdance’, followed by Miller singing a heartfelt, sultry ‘Feelings’ and Lawrence doing a hilarious version of ‘Rubber Duckie’, the Sesame Street song. Midway, Weisman did a touching rendition of ‘I’m on Fire’ by the Boss himself while Henderson sizzled as she sang ‘Fever’.
Anyway, you get the idea here. At one point Horsley himself took to the stage, and sang a charmingly funny medley of TV tunes, from the theme song from ‘Love Boat’ to that of ‘Love American Style’, ending with an audience singalong — complete with lyrics written on pieces of paper that we could read for ease — of ‘The Brady Bunch’ theme song. I’ll admit it, it was the most fun I’ve had in a long while.
Craig Horsley on stage
The evening proved that sometimes the most wonderful performers aren’t necessarily the most famous. We should always try to remember that when watching award shows as if they’re the gospel. In fact, this time the most precious jewels, a group of truly spectacular performers, I found in the strangest of places — a cabaret venue with a unisex bathroom featuring a floor of pennies. So there you have it!
I caught up with Stephen Miller and asked him a few questions about his return to the stage, 20 years in the making.
Can you talk about your career a bit? I know you were a child actor, right?
Miller: At age 3, my great aunt Alice Kean Stockwell knew that I was destined for the musical theater and the arts in general, and requested of my parents to get me enrolled into classes to begin the process. The first location was the Delcroze School of Music. Shortly after I was enrolled in the lower school of Rudolf Steiner School. This was done alongside classes at Kaufman Music Center with a focus in Musical Theatre. At age eight I auditioned for The Metropolitan Opera with 80 boys and girls, and only a handful were accepted… I was one of them. While at The Metropolitan Opera I studied with the genius Children’s Choir Teacher, the late Elena Dore. During this time I had the opportunity to participate in ‘La Boheme’, ‘Tosca’ and ‘Carmen’ on the main stage. As I progressed in my career I was accepted into the Neighborhood Playhouse and studied with the late Sanford Meisner. One of my favorite teachers has been Uta Hagen. Having these opportunities progressed my career into high speed. Throughout the years, I have performed in many theaters from New York, to New Hampshire and even across the globe. My favorite memory was performing in the home of former New Hampshire Governor Judd Gregg.
What made you want to return to the stage after years as a successful producer?
Stephen Miller: After my many years in the industry, I took a short break and returned to New Hampshire where I became a paraprofessional and shortly after the chair of the Drama Program at Newfound Memorial Middle School. In 2015, my dear friend Rori Nogee presented a musical that she had written ‘Siren’s Den – A New Rock Musical’ based on a story that I lived through during the “RENT Head” days. I grabbed hold of it and produced the show for the festival and then for a month long Off-Broadway run. Throughout the years following I completed many shows that I produced, and took on Stage Managing between shows which has led me to becoming an Actor’s Equity Stage Manager/Performer. The reason for my return to the stage, is because of my incredible boyfriend Brian Geldin, who has given me the courage to take this on. He listens to me every day as I sing at home, and he told me I need to do this. He introduced me to the incredible and hilarious Craig Horsley who whisked me off to the Hidden Cabaret. Now that I see the spotlight in my eye and love in my heart, I never want to leave the stage again. Vocalizing Queen for hire!
What was the scariest part of this comeback and what did you look forward to most?
Miller: In the words of Norma Desmond of ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (Ed: played by the legendary Gloria Swanson and soon, in a musical remake by the glorious Glenn Close) “It’s as if we never said goodbye.” But, I think the scariest part of my “Return” to the stage is that it will be different from before. What I keep telling myself today is that this is a new part of my life, a new stage, a new experience, a new love.
As a former child performer, how has your relationship with the stage changed? What do you remember as being your challenges and favorites back then as opposed to now?
Miller: The biggest part of the relationship has always been a part of stage fright, because it’s always hard to step on the stage with so many faces out there in the dark. But, I keep telling myself — and that is something I have learned throughout life and with experience — all of those people out there in the dark, are there to support you. You can’t always make everyone happy, but if you can make a majority of them happy, then your job has been done successfully. So, I think the fear that I have now, is just that — will I make everyone happy, or even a majority of them happy? I know I will, because I’m putting my talent out there for people to enjoy.
The ensemble on stage for ‘Love and Other Feeings’
And finally, how did you all come up with the songs for your performance?
Miller: Although, I didn’t get to choose the songs that I will be singing, I am extremely thankful for the songs that have been chosen. One is truly one of my favorite songs, because it was in my favorite movie ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ which coincidently, the musical director for this cabaret played keys and mixed the song for CeCe Peniston’s iconic ‘Finally’. The other song that I will be singing, is a song that has grown on me. It was a song that I had never heard before, but the message is strong, and I have put my own spin on it which has brought new meaning to me. I hope that it will to you as well.