An Engineer, a Killer and a Barber! Quiz

Answer: Maryland

Michael Cerveris was born in 1960 in Bethesda, Maryland. He grew up in Virginia, however. His father taught music and his mother was a dancer. Each of the Cerveris children was required to learn an instrument.

Answer: Sweeney Todd

Cerveris saw "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway when he was 18. He liked it so much that he went to see it again and again and again, for a total of seven times! Cerveris later starred in the 2005 revival of "Sweeney Todd". The original production ran from the first of March 1979 to the twenty-ninth of June 1980.

Answer: Guitar

At first, Cerveris tried the cello. He soon ditched that instrument to follow his love of rock and roll, and taught himself guitar mostly by ear. He only had formal guitar lessons for about a year.

Answer: Yale

Cerveris studied voice at Yale. Studying under Blake Stern, he soon found himself singing German and Italian songs. After graduation, he continued studying voice, as well as waiting tables and being an extra on several soap operas.

Answer: Ian Ware

Being in "Fame" gave Cerveris an opportunity to showcase his singing talents along with his talent for acting. Also in the "Fame" cast were Eric Pierpont and Olivia Barash. "Fame" aired from 1982 to 1987, but Cerveris debuted on the show in 1986.

Answer: California

"Tommy" debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse in California in 1992. "Tommy" is the rock opera about a pinball genius who is also autistic. Involved in the production were several members of the band "The Who". "Tommy" ran on Broadway from 22nd April, 1993 to 17th June, 1995.

Answer: There She Is

The role of Thomas Andrews is one where Cerveris and noted stage actor Victor Garber have identical roles. (Garber played Andrews in the 1999 movie with Kate Winslet.) Furthermore, they have both played Booth in Sondheim's "Assassins". They played different roles in different productions of "Sweeney Todd" and "A Little Night Music" as well.

"Titanic" ran from 23rd April, 1997 to 21st March, 1999.

Answer: Jane Street Theatre

The Jane Street Theatre is located on 113 Jane Street in New York City. Some shows that have also called the space home are "Lifegame", "tick, tick...BOOM!" and "Debbie Does Dallas". "Headwig and the Angry Inch" ran there from 14th February, 1998 to 9th April, 2000.

Answer: Gary Forbush

Cerveris' band "Retriever" was also cast as the band that Cerveris' character belonged to. Although six episodes were ultimately made, only four of them were ever aired. "The American Embassy" aired in 2002 on the FOX TV network.

Answer: Chicago

Cerveris starred along Audra McDonald as Dot/Marie and Patti LuPone as Yvonne/Blair. Each actor plays one role in the first act, and another one in the second, which takes place nearly 100 years after the first act. LuPone and Cerveris would go on to star in 2005's revival of "Sweeney Todd". The production ran from 3rd September, 2004 to 5th September of the same year.