Out Actor Victor Wallace Just Can't Quit 'Mamma Mia!' (And He's Fine With That)

Victor Wallace was in the cast of "Mamma Mia!" in 2015 when it closed on Broadway after a 14-year run and 5,773 performances. He was playing Sam Carmichael, one of the three men that Sophie Sheridan contacts to attend her wedding in hopes of identifying her real dad. Wallace is reprising the role in the musical's current touring production, which runs through Sunday at Citizen Bank Opera House in Boston. After this run, the tour heads out to 30 more cities through next June. (Click here for a complete list of tour dates.)

His current gig with the musical is the latest chapter in his long relationship with "Mamma Mia!" In fact, it could be said that Wallace has grown to middle age with the show, having first appeared as Sophie's 20-something fiancé Sky in 2002 in a national tour. He would return to the show in Las Vegas in 2008 on two occasions, first reprising the role of Sky, then as Sam, the role he would play in his Broadway debut. Between appearing in "Mamma Mia!," Victor has appeared in "The Phantom of the Opera," in which he played Buquet and understudied the title role; "Les Misérables," where he played the student firebrand Enjolras; and "Fun Home" (amongst others).

The out actor speaks to EDGE about how he just can't quit "Mamma Mia!," as well as what has made the show a sell-out on this tour, and his message for the LGBTQ community.
Introduction by Robert Nesti

EDGE: Could you give us a quick introduction?

Victor Wallace: I have difficulty discussing myself, but I will do my best. I am an actor-singer. I've been in theater ever since I can remember, doing it as a child. I have always loved performing on the stage. I didn't work professionally as a child, but I've always known I loved doing it, and eventually I decided to make a career of it.

EDGE: When was your first "Mamma Mia!" experience?

Victor Wallace: I have such a long history with this show. I closed the show on Broadway back in 2015. At the time, I thought that was the end of my "Mamma Mia!" journey, which was already a huge journey. It is crazy that this show is having a renaissance and coming back, and I am very excited to be a part of it again.

EDGE: "Mamma Mia!" is a phenomenon. What is it like being a part of the 25th anniversary tour?

Victor Wallace: I love it because the audience gets to see where the original version of this production started. The show's been around for 25 years, and it has such a fan base that keeps growing, and I think that's due to the movie franchise. So, a whole new generation loves "Mamma Mia!" and knows all the lyrics to ABBA's songs, which is crazy. Again, my journey with the show started in 2002, and I was playing Sky, the young ingenue marrying Sophie.

EDGE: Tell us about your role.

Victor Wallace: Absolutely! I play Sam Carmichael. He is a very successful architect. He's a proud father of two boys and a divorcee. He is also in the midst of a midlife crisis. He's come to a point in his life where he's reflecting on the choices that he's made and the paths that he's taken regarding his career and relationships. I think he's at a crossroads and struggling to find his way forward in the next chapter of life. I believe he has always had a strong sense of doing the right thing, but maybe he has done that at the expense of his wishes, desires, and wants. This character, in essence, wants to see if his old relationship with Donna is worth exploring. He hopes there's still a spark, because she's the one who got away.

EDGE: Is there a song that you particularly resonate with?

Victor Wallace: I love singing "Knowing Me, Knowing You," because that's Sam's big song and moment. I've always loved the song "The Winner Takes It All." It has always been one of my favorite ABBA songs. Donna sings that song to me, and it's such a great acting moment in the show. To me, listening to Christine Sherrill sing it every night is fantastic. Even though I don't say much in the scene, it is one of my favorites. It's all about Sam listening to Donna as she finally gets to pour her heart out to him.

EDGE: ABBA music is infectious and has the perfect sing-along soundtrack. Can you hear the audience singing along?

Victor Wallace: Oh, absolutely! The music is so infectious. I think there are a lot of people who love their music but don't admit it. For many people, it may not be cool to listen to ABBA. It's crazy, but you can absolutely hear people singing along. Sometimes, it's a little strange during a serious moment in the show, but it is still fun. I have heard the audience sing during "Knowing Me."

EDGE: Who would you choose for your dream cast of Harry Bright and Bill Anderson?

Victor Wallace: Good question. For Harry, it's a tie between Jonathan Bailey and Luke Evans, and for Bill, it would have to be an Australian actor, so Hugh Jackman. That would definitely be my dream cast.

EDGE: There are still 30 cities to perform in on this tour. Is there any particular city you're excited to visit?

Victor Wallace: Besides beautiful Boston? I've never played in Orlando, so I'm excited to go to Orlando, partly because I enjoy theme parks. Then, we're going to go to Toronto for five weeks. Toronto is a beautiful city to visit. This tour usually only does a one-week stay per city, but we get five in Toronto, so I am excited about it. We get two weeks in Boston, and that is a gift.

EDGE: What is it about the story that has stood the test of time?

Victor Wallace: I think the story's themes are so relatable. It's basically about love, friendship, family heartbreak, and forgiveness. I feel like that's what made the story and how it intertwines all the ABBA hits. It is a show that brings so much joy, but also, surprisingly, you can get very involved emotionally in this show.

EDGE: What is the message of the show for the LGBTQ+ community?

Victor Wallace: That's hard to put in a nutshell. ABBA's music, especially the song "Dancing Queen," is such an iconic gay anthem. Whenever I hear it, it brings me back to when I was younger, and I would go out dancing as a young gay single guy. It just brings me so much joy. I guess it is part of having grown up gay. There's an accomplishment when you finally have accepted yourself and found a place where you're happy, and for me, "Dancing Queen" was my celebration song. That's what that song and their music evoke in me. The show itself has always been cast with a diverse cast of races and gender identities. Over the years, I have seen more inclusivity in the roles. By now I don't think this is going to be a spoiler, but Harry turns out to be a gay man. I remember when I was first doing the show, and when he revealed that he was gay, the audience's reaction was always one of surprise. Nowadays, when Harry comes out as gay, it's a celebratory reaction. It has been wonderful to watch that evolve over the years. So, always be true to yourself, celebrate yourself, and be the most fabulous dancing queen.

"Mamma Mia!" continues through October 6 at the Citizen's Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston, MA. For more information, Broadway in Boston website.

For upcoming dates on the tour, click here.