PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: The "Apollo Creed" of Broadway's Rocky, Terence Archie | Playbill

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Cue and A PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: The "Apollo Creed" of Broadway's Rocky, Terence Archie Terence Archie, who stars as rival Apollo Creed in the Broadway production of Rocky, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.
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Terence Archie

Archie originated this role in Rocky Das Musical in Hamburg, Germany.

Other notable credits include the Broadway revival of Ragtime, the title role in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Second Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company's Two Gents: A Rock Opera, Tamburlaine the Great and Edward II.

Full given name: Terence Eugene Archie

Where you were born/where you were raised: Detroit, Michigan

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Special skills: Can sing like Louis Armstrong and Aaron Neville. Can mimic the voice of Martin Luther King.

Something you're REALLY bad at: Putting together a cohesive thought or sentence within first hour of waking.

First Broadway show you ever saw: Phantom of the Opera, 1994

Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: Haven't seen a Broadway show in 2 years. I was out of the country.

Some favorite musicals: The Who's Tommy, Ragtime

Your personal performance idols, living or dead: Luther Vandross, Lou Rawls, Donny Hathaway

Most played song on your iPod: "Keep Your Head to the Sky" by Earth, Wind and Fire

Last book you read: "The Science of Good and Evil" by Michael Shermer

Must-see TV show(s): "The Walking Dead," "Game of Thrones"

Last good movie you saw: "12 Years a Slave"

Some films you consider classics: "The Godfather" 1 and 2, "Rocky"

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Words With Friends

Three favorite cities: New York, Hamburg, London

Favorite sport/team/player: Basketball (Kevin Durant)/ Boxing (Roy Jones Jr.) and MMA (Jon "Bones Jones")

First CD/Tape/LP you owned: "The Best of Luther Vandross"

First stage kiss: An 8th grade play about MLK. Kissing scene with the cutest girl in class. However I missed the kiss because I got so caught up playing Martin Luther King and delivering a speech that I skipped our kissing scene entirely.

Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: Organized, choreographed and performed a lip-synched Temptations routine for 7th grade talent show.

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: As a first grade student we watched in class, a video of Martin Luther King's "Dream.." speech. I didn't understand it all, but I knew it was important enough to make people feel something (including myself). My eyes welled with tears and I resolved then at 7 years old to memorize the speech. It was memorized by the second grade and remains a sterling example to me of the power of word.

How you got your Equity card: Playing Pharaoh in a production of Joseph. I was also deputy on that show.

Favorite liquid refreshment: Water and craft beers

Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: Jumping rope, pushups and physically touching those I'll share the stage with

Most challenging role you have ever played: Macheath in Threepenny Opera.

You very convincingly portrayed a pro wrestler a few years back. Did you have any boxing experience prior to this role? Trained with kickboxer, boxer and Tae Kwan Do expert Corey Jacoby in L.A. But also sparring with my little brother as a teenager (a bit one-sided) was equally important.

Biggest challenge about this current project: Not being able to eat as much ice cream and donuts as usual.

Most fulfilling or fun aspect about the project: Laughing at actors who don't take themselves too seriously is fun. Playing a role in an iconic story that has consistently moved and inspired people all over the world for over 3 decades inspires me. A good story is a great vessel to bring people together!

Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: The aforementioned story from 8th grade. I mean, who skips a whole scene because they love the "I Have A Dream" speech?

Worst costume ever: I played “Joseph” in Joseph… Dreamcoat when I was 18 and had to wear this rainbow vest in "Go Go Joseph" that was one to remember….

Worst job you ever had: Shoe salesman in North Carolina

Craziest audition story: Had an abysmal audition for Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center. I was off-key, studied the wrong character and was late because I was running from work and anxious to get back on time. Ironically Stephen Flaherty was the composer. Stephen Flaherty is the composer of Rocky. He must've forgotten that audition. Thank God!

If you could trade roles/tracks with anyone in the show for a week, who would it be? If I could play one of those badass horns in the orchestra, that would be fine with me.

Leading man role you've been dying to play: I'm already playing it: husband to my lovely wife.

Something about you that surprises people: I'm legally blind in my right eye. Also, chances are I'm a lot sillier than you.

Something you are incredibly proud of: My marriage of 13 years. My main goal when I get home from work is to make my wife laugh as often as possible.

Something you're embarrassed to admit: I'm a bad driver.

Career you would want if not a performer: If there was an "if," I wouldn't be performing.

Three things you can't live without: Air. Water. Hugs.

Words of advice for aspiring performers: Be the best version of yourself as often as possible.

 
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