Meet Rick Love
Mamma Mia! Spotlight
In our production of Mamma Mia!, Rick is playing his favorite real life role—a dad (he thinks). Performing on stage seems like a spontaneous adventure for this Napervillian. Rick played Reverend Shaw in SPT's 2018 Footloose, as well as performing in several Naperville-area productions, starting at Kidz Kabaret. Other favorite roles include Mr Bumble (Oliver), Geppetto (My Son Pinocchio), and Grandpa Joe (Willy Wonka). He moonlights as Santa.
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We asked Rick a few questions about himself.
Q: Who or what inspired you to start doing theater?
A: My son. He started acting when he was 6. My wife and I started helping out, learned about the theater, started acting... and ended up discovering a craft and getting hooked ourselves. You never know what your kids might get you into, when you support their passions. (I’m still trying to catch up to my son’s skills.)
Q: What was the musical that had you fall in love with musicals?
A: I’m not sure there is one for me—any show that brings the magic of theater to someone in the audience.
Q: What is the favorite role you've ever played?
A: On stage? Much like off stage, I do love the father figure roles (Geppetto, Grandpa Joe, Rev Shaw, Jakob, Santa). Oddly though, I might be most proud of my Mr Bumble, who couldn’t stand kids, because he was so different than me.
Q: What is the dream role you still want to play?
A: Perhaps Jean Valjean. Yep, another kind of dad, but I thinks it’s more because he endures so many struggles, and navigates such a range of emotions. I don’t know if I could keep singing through all of those emotions though.
Q: Most challenging part of bringing this story to life?
A: For Harry, maybe showing his aspects of love, for Donna, and his partner, and also that he could have a daughter.
Q: Do you have any performance superstitions?
A: Not really, though I do often like to have a pre-show ritual, but it’s usually different for every show. It may even be as simple as saying “break a leg” to the same cast mate just before the start of the show. Hmm... well, maybe I do.
Q: If someone was going to make your life into a movie, who would you want to play you?
A: Gosh, I love actors who are so believable, but I’m not sure who I could believe is me. Anyone have recommendations?
Q: What do you do when you’re not doing theater?
A: I’m in IT by day, but I love having adventures with my family and working with kids, and I dream of playing softball, hiking through every woods I see, and paddling across placid lakes.
Q: If you were stranded on an island, which character from Mamma Mia would you want to have with you and why?
A: Maybe Bill to help make sure we‘ll survive. Oh, if it’s not a survival situation, then Sophie, so I can get to know my new daughter! (Oooh, should have just made Sophie my first thought.)
Q: Why should people come see this production of Mamma Mia?
A: There will be such wonderful singing and amazing dancing, and you just might feel like you are with us on a Greek Isle! Also, if you like ABBA.