In Pictures: A Day in the Life with Rent’s Masini McDermott
Masini McDermott knows Rent pretty well.
And no, not just because she’s the “Seasons of Love” soloist in the Stratford Festival’s production of the rock opera. McDermott, making her Stratford debut this summer, played the same role in high school, right alongside her roommate, Nestor Lozano Jr., who’s also making his Stratford debut in Rent at the Stratford Festival this year.
“I feel like I’ve always loved this show,” Masini said in an interview. “It’s an iconic piece of theatre, and I feel like it’s even more revolutionary for me as an adult than it was for me as a teen. I’ve evolved with it as I’ve gotten older.”
Follow along with Masini as she takes you through a day in her life at the Stratford Festival!
This day was a matinee, so I woke up at 10. I usually try to wake up earlier than that, but I let myself sleep in when I have a matinee in the afternoon.
My skincare is one of my favourite things to do in the morning. I shower, brush my teeth and everything, and then I grab all my skincare. I use aloe vera gel, and the 10 per cent niacinimde gel by The Ordinary. Then I use my toner on top, and then Glow Recipe drops on top. They’re so good. They’re magic, and they smell so good. I finish it all off with a Cerave facial moisturizer.
My go-to coffee order at Balzac’s is an oat milk frappe, extra sweet. I usually go for the sugar-free vanilla flavour.
Nestor and I went to high school together, and we were best friends all throughout high school. Rent at the Stratford Festival was our first gig together. So this is something we do together sometimes before the show — we’ll get coffee. And that’s just convenient since we live together, too!
Usually we have to be signed in half an hour before our show, but I got here super early this day, like, 12:30 or so. We have to initial the call board when we arrive.
I keep a personal fan at my station, because I’m a little extra and it gets really hot between musical numbers. And because of the era of the show, I love that I get to use all these colours in my makeup. I use the James Charles palette because it has a lot of vibrant colours, lots of purples.
Backstage selfie with my buddy Andrea!
Something I love about Robert Markus is that he’s always bothering me during warmups, in these playful ways. In this photo, we’re just warming up in the rehearsal hall, which is where we do our open warm-up and our physical warm-up, as well as fight and dance call, where we go through the blocking to make sure that everyone remembers what they’re doing.
You can see how goofy Robert is. We’re supposedly warming up, but mostly we’re just laughing.
This is where it feels real. As a teenager, I didn’t know much about this business, or how it worked. Everyone in this industry seemed untouchable. They were just so good. But now, I have the understanding of what it means to audition and be part of a process. I know I’m meant to be there now. I’ve graduated to the next stage of my life, and I’m so proud. I’m not only representing myself, or my family, but an entirely new generation of artists. This has been the most inspiring, enlightening process.
My girls. We love having a good time. Sometimes we’ll joke around backstage about the show, or about how crazy this process has been. We joke and laugh all the time. It’s catch-up time, you know? We really enjoy each other’s company.
Right before going onstage!
After the show, I got to catch Much Ado About Nothing with some of my friends since I’d heard great things — and it was great! — and then headed home. On a normal night I’m in bed by 11:30 or so, and I love to watch kids’ movies before I go to sleep. Something lighthearted, something that makes me laugh.
You can catch Masini in Rent at the Stratford Festival until October 28. Tickets are available here.
Masini McDermott
Masini McDermott is the "Seasons of Love" soloist in Rent at the 2023 Stratford Festival, as well as an understudy in A Wrinkle in Time. She is a graduate of Wexford Collegiate School of the Arts and George Brown College.
LEARN MORE
Aisling Murphy
Aisling is Intermission's senior editor and an award-winning arts journalist with bylines including the New York Times, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, CBC Arts, and Maclean's. She likes British playwright Sarah Kane, most songs by Taylor Swift, and her cats, Fig and June. She was a 2024 fellow at the National Critics Institute in Waterford, CT.
LEARN MORE
iPhoto caption: Photo by Trudie Lee.
A Christmas Carol makes a triumphant return to Theatre Calgary
“It brings me a lot of joy to know that the generations of Calgarians who saw this show when they were a young person are now, 37 years later, bringing their sons and daughters,” says artistic director Stafford Arima.
iPhoto caption: Photo of Mark Crawford courtesy of Theatre Aquarius.
Mark Crawford returns to Theatre Aquarius as A Christmas Story’s nostalgic narrator
“There’s a beautiful song that Ralphie’s mother, who’s played by Jamie McRoberts, sings to her boys in act two,” said Crawford. “I almost started weeping [when I first heard it] — the tenderness of a mom taking care of her kids in this moment, and [me] standing there as the adult version of one of those kids. I think that’s so identifiable for people: those moments of tenderness and love between this family.”
iPhoto caption: I Don't Even Miss You photo by Eden Graham.
Factory Theatre welcomes new audiences with shows that explore human connection
“I feel like I’m really looking to theatre for joy right now,” says artistic director Mel Hague. “I don’t mean works that are specifically funny or happy. I’m talking about something deeper where you can feel connected to the art on stage, the space that’s hosting it, the other people in the audience, and yourself.”
iPhoto caption: J. Kelly Nestruck headshot courtesy of The Globe and Mail.
An exit interview with Globe and Mail theatre critic J. Kelly Nestruck
J. Kelly Nestruck has left the building. (Or at least the aisle seat.)
iPhoto caption: Photo of Gary Reineke courtesy of Allegra Fulton.
Remembering Gary Reineke, the man who knew how to enter
Gary couldn’t abide a bad show. This was a man who looked imperiously down his nose. You knew judgment was surely there at the tip, and that it would not be forgiving. He couldn’t stand a bad actor.
iPhoto caption: The cast and creative team of Cinderella at Lighthouse Festival Theatre. Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Festival Theatre.
Lighthouse Festival’s holiday pantomime returns for a second year of family-friendly fun
As per panto tradition, Cinderella will feature audience call-and-response, topical zingers, and loving nods to the local community, framed by an irreverent retelling of a classic fairytale. Playwright Ken MacDougall will once again pen the script for the show.
iPhoto caption: A Christmas Story production still by Dahlia Katz.
REVIEW: A Christmas Story feels fresh at Theatre Aquarius
If you want to catch A Christmas Story before it closes, good luck — the show is close to sold out, and with the talent on that stage, it’s not hard to see why.
iPhoto caption: Madame Minister production still by Dahlia Katz.
REVIEW: Madame Minister is a star vehicle for actor Laura Condlln
Laura Condlln and Cyrus Lane offer performances that are worth the drive to Barrie — the two have terrific chemistry and timing.
iPhoto caption: Production still courtesy of The Bee's Knees.
REVIEW: The Bee’s Knees falls short of its timely premise
The Bee’s Knees might evolve into a stronger project down the line, but at present, the play and production feel swept away by the spangled allure of the 1920s setting.
iPhoto caption: J. Kelly Nestruck headshot courtesy of The Globe and Mail.
An exit interview with Globe and Mail theatre critic J. Kelly Nestruck
J. Kelly Nestruck has left the building. (Or at least the aisle seat.)
iPhoto caption: Photo of Annemieke Wade courtesy of TAPA.
TAPA appoints Annemieke Wade as new executive director
Wade steps into the position with an extensive background in theatre, with past roles including executive director of Roseneath Theatre and Theatre Direct and company manager of Tarragon Theatre.
iPhoto caption: Beowulf in Afghanistan graphic courtesy of GCTC.
Beowulf in Afghanistan to make world premiere at GCTC
As part of its 50th anniversary season, Ottawa’s Great Canadian Theatre Company will program the world premiere of Laurie Fyffe’s Beowulf in Afghanistan, in a production directed by Company of Fools artistic director Kate Smith.
Comments