'Buddy Holly Story' actor returns to his suburban roots for role

When actor/singer Michael Gerhart graduated Northwestern University in 1986, he believed he would soon have to move to New York City to make his way as an actor. So in 1989 he moved to the Big Apple because that's how it was always done. Young actors who wanted careers in show business simply had to move to New York if they had any hope of starting one.

Today, the Libertyville-based Gerhart, who plays record producer Norman Petty in Drury Lane Oakbrook's revival of "The Buddy Holly Story," knows better.

"I was in New York for 14 years," Gerhart says, "I got a lot of work. I was in revival of 'My Fair Lady' with Richard Chamberlain, I did 'The Phantom of the Opera,' spent three years on the road with that show and then was on Broadway. My wife was a Rockette for a while."

Things were going well for Gerhart and his wife. And then 9-11 happened.

"We had some friends we lost that day," Gerhart says, "And we had a family we had started. Suddenly I felt like I was living on a bull's-eye."

Gerhart and his wife decided they wanted to come back to Chicago. Gerhart had grown up in Glenview and went to school at Glenbrook South.

"I had been doing a lot of national tours of shows anyway," Gerhard says, " 'Chess,' 'Mama Mia!' 'South Pacific.' I like to say I lived in New York for 14 years and was at home for nine of them."

Gerhart realized that he didn't need to live in New York to get those touring gigs. Increasingly, the people who cast actors for national tours were auditioning actors in Chicago.

Returning to Chicago, he also found that the local scene had become a lot busier; there was a lot more work for a singer/actor who thrived on new challenges.

Gerhart just came off a stint in Marriott's much praised production of "Les Miserables" and his next gig is a part in "The Full Monty."

"I love shifting gears," Gerhart says.

For his current role in the "Buddy Holly Story," for example, Gerhart sings and plays guitar on stage.

"I never considered myself anything more than a casual guitar and piano player," Gerhart says. "But when I was auditioning for 'The Buddy Holly Story,' they said, 'I see you play the piano. Can you play something for us?'"

He did and landed the role of the small time producer who first discovers Buddy Holly and gives him the space to grow as an artist. And then tries to keep lightning in the bottle.

"To prepare for the role, I went to the library and got a lot of books on Buddy Holly," Gerhart says. "He was before my time. I also made some calls to my mom about Buddy Holly.

"The thing that is interesting in this show is that as an actor, you are making a character on stage, but it is a character based on a real person," Gerhart says. "This is nonfiction, a nonfiction musical. There is only so much license you have to play the character."

Does it bother Gerhart that Petty's legacy is mixed? He helped Holly, but he also played lots of games to keep Holly and his band in his control - and keep their money.

"Okay, I don't like the fact that Norman Petty was a little shady sometimes," Gerhart says, "because I am not shady, but he clearly was. It is interesting to play someone who is. I mean I think of it this way. I am a small time producer in Clovis, New Mexico, and suddenly I have a gold mine that just walked through my door. What would I do in that situation?"

The Buddy Holly Story" runs through July 27 at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. For tickets call (630) 530-0111 or call TicketMaster at (312) 599-1212. You may also visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.