BroadwayRadio: Class Notes

Matt Manuel in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Date: April 3, 2026
Host: Lauren Clash Schneider
Guest: Matt Manuel (Mitch Mahoney, Spelling Bee at New World Stages)

Episode Overview

In this engaging conversation, Lauren Clash Schneider interviews actor and singer Matt Manuel, who currently stars as Mitch Mahoney in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at New World Stages. The episode delves into Matt’s journey with the show, the unique challenges and joys of performing in a production with audience participation, memorable experiences with celebrity guests, his background growing up in Detroit and transitioning from gymnast to Broadway actor, and the advice he offers aspiring performers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mitch Mahoney’s Role in Spelling Bee

• Role & Significance
  • Matt describes Mitch Mahoney as the “comfort counselor,” tasked with consoling eliminated kids—offering juice boxes and emotional support, albeit with humorously little enthusiasm at first.
    • "His job is when a kid gets a word wrong, he offers them a juice box, he consoles them as best as he can, and then he gets them off the stage. The part that's kind of funny about it is he's not very warm at the beginning." (Matt Manuel, 01:00)
  • Mitch is someone searching for his purpose, volunteering at the school and unexpectedly filling this unusual position.

2. Onstage Humor and Staying in Character

• Corpsing:
  • Matt admits it’s genuinely hard not to laugh onstage, especially given his funny castmates.
    • "Sometimes it's really, really hard. I try to keep a stone face for at least half of the show...But sometimes it's really hard to not break, especially because my castmates and some of the spellers are hilarious." (Matt Manuel, 01:49)

3. Navigating Audience Participation

• Handling Unpredictability:

  • The cast has adapted to audience participation, including unexpected guest speller successes, which can alter the course of the show.
    • "You have to plan for if a guest speller gets a word right when they're not supposed to, it can shift the show. But Jason Kravitz is really great with it, and so is Lilli Cooper...They really control the ebb and the flow of the show." (Matt Manuel, 02:29)
  • Matt humorously likens his ability to “remove” guests from the stage to being a nightclub bouncer.

• Memorable Instance:

  • Recalls a time when a guest speller persisted through multiple rounds due to initially easy words, teaching the cast a valuable lesson about show pacing.
    • "We all looked at Jason, and we were like, it's because you gave her a very easy word at the beginning. You should have got her out...So let that be a lesson. When you give somebody a really easy word, thinking they won't get the hard ones later." (Matt Manuel, 03:46)

4. Celebrity Guest Spellers

• Daniel Radcliffe’s Guest Appearance:
  • Matt names Daniel Radcliffe as his favorite celebrity guest, recounting a chaotic (and memorable) night punctuated by a fire alarm and theater evacuation.
    • "It was the most notable experience because the fire alarm went off during that show, so we had to evacuate all five theaters and New World Stages...I had to kind of step in and be his bodyguard for a hot second. I told him. I was like, hey, you're gonna be good. I got you. But, yeah, it was just a wonderful and a memorable show, for sure." (Matt Manuel, 04:26–05:47)
  • He highlights Radcliffe’s genuine enthusiasm for theater and his connection to cast member Leanna.

5. Working with Director/Choreographer Danny Mefford

• Collaborative Leadership:
  • Matt shares high praise for Mefford’s directorial debut, emphasizing the director’s collaborative and actor-friendly approach.
    • "He is an actor's dream to work with." (Matt Manuel, 05:58)
    • "The way that he allowed us to collaborate...he brought us into his mind about these characters and allowed us to have a say."

6. The Audition Journey

• Self-Tapes & Virtual Callbacks:
  • Matt details his audition journey, starting from LA with a self-tape while hoarse, callbacks, and eventually booking his role via a Zoom audition due to logistics—a testament to adaptability and passion.
    • "I did my final callback over Zoom and I booked the role." (Matt Manuel, 06:35–07:52)
  • The show is especially meaningful for Matt, as an earlier local production was his first paid acting job and pivotal in his realizing his love for the stage.

7. Detroit Roots and Musical Theater

• Growing Up in Motown:

  • Matt’s upbringing in Detroit and proximity to Hitsville, USA (the Motown Museum) directly influenced later roles in “Motown” and “Ain’t Too Proud.”
    • "I grew up down the street from Hitsville, usa." (Matt Manuel, 08:00)
    • He shares personal family anecdotes tying him to Motown legends, including holding a Grammy as a teen.

• Landing Iconic Musical Roles:

  • Both "Motown" and "Ain't Too Proud" were booked via open call auditions in Detroit, leading to him playing Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin.

8. From Gymnastics to Music

• Serendipitous Path:
  • Matt’s journey began in competitive gymnastics but pivoted to music after costs made gymnastics unattainable. A mix-up at his first voice lesson unveiled his singing talent.
    • "Our lessons got switched, and that's how I found out I could sing." (Matt Manuel, 09:31–10:31)
    • He shares the touching moment a coach recognized his gift: "Do you have any idea how good you are? And I said, no, I don't. But it stuck." (Matt Manuel, 10:35)

9. Advice for Aspiring Performers

• Persistence Over Talent:
  • Matt emphasizes diligence and perseverance as the deciding factors in a performer’s success:
    • "The difference between that can be the diligence and the perseverance to pursue that thing...You almost have to be a bit insane. But when you know what you're doing and why you're doing it and who you're doing it for, that's the hardest part...Once you know that, if you stick with it, it really only takes one yes to change your life." (Matt Manuel, 11:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I Can turn from, you know, the comfort counselor to a bouncer at a nightclub real quick." (Matt Manuel, 02:29)
• "It's the type of thing that can only happen with live theater." (Lauren Clash Schneider, 05:47)
• "I never thought that these things would end up formulating my career." (Matt Manuel, 08:20)
• "It really only takes one yes to change your life." (Matt Manuel, 11:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:00 — Matt describes the Mitch Mahoney character
• 01:49 — Struggling to keep a straight face on stage
• 02:29 — Navigating unpredictable audience participation
• 03:46 — Story about an audience member with multiple correct words
• 04:26 — Celebrity guest stories; Daniel Radcliffe and the fire alarm
• 05:58 — Working with director/choreographer Danny Mefford
• 06:35 — Audition process and booking the role over Zoom
• 08:00 — Growing up in Detroit and Motown roots
• 09:31 — Transition from gymnastics to singing
• 11:13 — Advice for aspiring performers

Conclusion

This episode offers an uplifting, candid look into Matt Manuel’s unique journey to Broadway, blending humor, backstage stories, and practical advice for the next generation. His reflections capture both the challenges and magic of live theater, underscoring the importance of perseverance and self-discovery in the performing arts.