Spotlight on the Artist: Dan Prevette

What excites you most about stepping into the world of Dial M for Murder?

I’m a huge fan of the crime-noir genre. The smokey charm this play has feels deeply cinematic, and it's dripping in drama, so even though it’s about murder, it's great fun to perform (and to watch)! So many amazing performances have come from this style, from Casablanca, to Rear Window, to Chinatown. It's a joy to get to step into those shadows. I hope folks feel comfortable getting dressed up and sharing a martini (or two) before curtain. In my opinion, that's the way Dial M should be enjoyed!

How does this role challenge you differently than roles you’ve played in the past?

Tony Wendice is described in the play as being “charming,” and I think that’s a bit intimidating! It’s like knowing your character has to be “sexy,” or “cool.” It can’t be forced or faked. How do you act charming? Charm is just one of those things that people know when they see, so it has to feel effortless, which is tricky as an actor on stage. It’s imperative that Tony be likeable to some degree. The audience must enjoy watching him, even if he is someone they may not enjoy in real life.

Without spoilers, what do you think audiences will find most unsettling about this production?

The first line in the play is one character cheekily asking another character, “so, how would you murder me?” That says so much to me about who we are as people. For some reason, we like to flirt with darkness and danger. I hope what unsettles some people, is just how much fun it can be to wonder about the worst case scenario. That’s why suspense, horror, and true crime exist at all. Maybe more than one couple will drive away from the theatre asking their partner, “I know you never would… but if you did… how would you?”

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a performer?

I spent many years doing improv comedy in Los Angeles, and I was a member of a group that performed improvised episodes of Law & Order. We’d have detectives, suspects, coroners, the whole thing. We even sang the theme song and made the CUNG-CUNG sound effect between scenes. We performed hundreds of times, but the absolute highlight was getting Christopher Miloni, Detective Stabler of Law & Order himself, to come and play a show with us. He was amazing. I have never heard a sold out crowd cheer or laugh so hard. It was unreal.

You recently moved to Duluth after starring in The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong. How has that transition been, both personally and artistically?

Artistically, leaving Los Angeles for Duluth may seem like an odd path for an acting career, but it was the right choice for me! This community has allowed me to return to theater after years of stand up, improv, and auditioning for beer commercials, which has reignited my love of the stage. Duluth has an incredible theatre community that has warmly welcomed me and allowed me to re-explore my craft in a new way. I’m exceedingly grateful to be able to perform here.

Personally, the winter is an adjustment but, my flannel collection has never been better!

Dial M for Murder runs January 30 - February 8. Click here for tickets.