5Q: ‘The Great Gatsby’

The Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” brings the glamour, excess and heartbreak of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s enduring classic to the stage. The lavish production is filled with soaring music, dazzling choreography and Roaring Twenties spectacle. As the national tour arrives at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre, audiences will have the opportunity to experience the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan and the elusive pursuit of the American Dream in a fresh and visually stunning way.

Among the colorful figures inhabiting Gatsby’s world is Meyer Wolfsheim, the mysterious businessman whose connections and influence help illuminate the darker corners of the Jazz Age. Portraying the role is Broadway veteran Edward Staudenmayer, whose extensive stage career includes appearances on national tours and a memorable turn in “South Pacific” at Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater.

Meyer Wolfsheim is one of the more mysterious and morally complicated figures in “The Great Gatsby.” What drew you to the character, and how are you approaching him for today’s audiences?

I’ve always loved playing bad guys. They’re many times the most interesting characters. Meyer Wolfsheim is very mysterious, and he gives a few clues into how morally bankrupt he possibly could be. Wolfsheim also has a bit of swagger that is delicious, and I think today’s audiences really enjoy it.

“The Great Gatsby” explores reinvention, ambition and the masks people wear. Do any of those themes resonate differently with you at this point in your career?

Reinvention and ambition still resonate deeply. As a character actor, I thrive on wearing masks — stepping into roles that aren’t necessarily me. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with acting. For many of us, especially growing up queer, acting gave us a world where we could try on different selves and escape the pressures of not being fully accepted. As a young gay kid, performing was a space where I felt free. Reinvention, whether on stage or off, was a way to survive and eventually thrive.

You have a connection to Minnesota audiences through your past work at the Guthrie Theater. What memories stand out from your time performing here?

My summer at The Guthrie performing as Emil DeBecque in “South Pacific” was one of the best summers of my life. The Guthrie is an incredible facility where I felt fully nurtured as an artist — pure heaven. Performing there was exhilarating yet also a bit nerve-wracking, with audiences surrounding you on three sides. That raw, immersive experience stays with me. I was really proud of the work I did there and loved all of the kind people I met.

Your career has included everything from Broadway productions to cabaret and concert performances. How does stepping into a literary classic like “The Great Gatsby” compare with some of the other work you’ve done?

I’ve played iconic literary roles before, but stepping into the Gatsby story — part of the American cultural fabric — is especially thrilling. Everyone knows the story, but getting to bring my own interpretation to something so familiar is a unique challenge. I should say, maybe not everyone knows the full story. We get many student groups that are studying the novel. It’s a funny moment when you realize a few students might be encountering the wild ending for the first time — a gentle hint to their teachers that perhaps not everyone made it to the last page.

Looking back across your career, what has theater continued to teach you about human connection, both onstage and off?

I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I still get surprised at how much I can be moved by the power of theater on people. I think that it is so beautiful that we as a human race put on these performances, and entertain each other and tell stories to help us escape from some of our problems in the world. It’s just such a beautiful quality about humanity.

“The Great Gatsby” runs at the Orpheum Theatre through June 7. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to hennepinarts.org.