Friday March 26, 2006 Times & Transcript | Dance & Theatre As published on page E1/E2 on January 14, 2006 Born to perform He's established himself as a respected stage performer and now Fredericton native Derrick Paul Miller is ready to take on new artistic challenges HE'S ALWAYS FOLLOWED HIS HEART (SUBMITTED PHOTO) Derrick Paul Miller, who grew up in Lincoln, has spent years performing in New York, Toronto and throughout the world. LAVERNE STEWART The Daily Gleaner Derrick Paul Miller has played many roles. And now, this singer, dancer and showman plans to star as himself in the next phase of his entertainment career. Miller grew up in Lincoln. From his family home, while on hiatus from the Canadian Opera Company, Miller talks about what's brought him this far and where he wants his varied and interesting life on stage to head next. From the time Miller saw his older sister at a step-dancing class, in 1978, he knew he wanted to lace up his dance shoes, too. He discovered his vocal abilities in grade school. "I always sang around the house and along with the radio. Then I started singing in church and in elementary school." He entered the Maritime Open Country Music Contest and placed third among dozens of contestants. It was a real boost to the young performer's self-esteem. Then he joined the Bonnie Kilburn/YMCA Dance School. At a time when most of his friends were into hockey and other sports, Miller says, he was hesitant to disclose his passion for dance. He laughs as he recalls the moment he spotted one of his friends at the YMCA just as he was about to go into the dance studio. Immediately he turned on his heel and ran out the front door in an attempt to not be seen. ENTERTAINMENT IS HIS LIFE (SUBMITTED PHOTOS) A photo of Derrick Paul Miller in costume and makeup, ready for the stage. But when his friends discovered what he was up to, he recalls, he was surprised at their support. "I didn't play hockey. I went to tap and jazz class but it didn't end up being an issue at all." In 1989, the Grade 10 student joined Characters Incorporated. He describes the experience of singing and dancing in front of large audiences both at home and across the country as invaluable. He fondly remembers performing, at the time, with his good friend, opera singer Measha Brueggergosman. Many high school students struggle over what to do after they graduate, but Miller certainly didn't. "I've always known what I wanted to do. It never occurred to me not to do this," he says. Knowing the importance of education, Miller went to Acadia University where he earned a bachelor of arts in English and music. He then moved to Halifax for more vocal studies at the Halifax Conservatory of Music. It was an intense couple of years. He studied during the day and worked at night with the Halifax Feast Dinner Theatre. By 1997, Miller knew it was time to try something new. He applied to several graduate schools. He could have gone on to audition for roles in professional musi cal theatre compa nies, but Miller was willing to take the time to study. Most casting di rectors, he says, want to see what a performer's training is before they are willing to hire them. (SUBMITTED PHOTOS) One of Miller's publicity shots. Miller has recently recorded a demo CD and looks forward to recording and doing concert tours. With dreams of being closer to Broadway and New York City, he chose to do his graduate studies at the nearby University of Hartford in Connecticut. After he graduated, he immediately got work with the Hartford Stage Company. Then, he needed a steady income to help pay his bills, from graduate school. He signed a seven-month contract with a cruise line. He performed with several other singers and dancers and wowed passengers with nightly Broadway-style song and dance routines. "I had an incredible experience. We saw 34 countries, from Copenhagen to Hong Kong." When his contract with the cruise line ended he decided it was time to work on land. He was hired by a theatre company in upstate New York, where he was cast in La Cage aux Folles, Camelot and Cabaret. Then, in September 2001, he caught the attention of the casting director for the national tour of the musical Funny Girl. The show was scheduled to start rehearsals on Broadway in New York on Sept. 11. He has unsettling memories of the panic and shock that took place the morning the two passenger jets slammed into the World Trade Centre's twin towers. "It was chaotic. Storefronts were closing. People were running in the streets," Miller remembers. Rather than stop the show, the producers decided more than ever the country needed something good to focus on after the tragedy of the terrorist attacks. The show toured parts of the U.S. for four months. Just when Miller felt he was on the road to a successful performing career south of the border, his visa ran out. Because of 9/11, he was unable to renew the documentation which would allow him to continue working in America. "It was awful. I was heartbroken. It was like starting from square one again." It meant coming home and starting over in Toronto, where he was unknown to casting directors and producers. In that city, he says, it's not what you know, it's who you know in the theatre world. He credits his old pal Brueggergosman for helping open all the right doors for him. While he worked at a call centre, she invited him to parties and introduced him to industry movers and shakers. "She played a big part in getting me out there," he says. It got him an audition with the Canadian Opera Company. While working at the call centre, he received the best possible news he could hope to hear. He was offered a placement in three out of the six operas for the 2003 season. He's now back in Toronto and is in rehearsal for the opera company's production. It has been a thrilling experience and one that has lead to other opportunities. Now when he auditions for roles, casting directors take notice and are willing to hire him. But Miller is always looking for new artistic challenges. He prefers to be himself on stage rather than playing a role. "I'm looking to get out of the theatre scene. I want to record and do concert tours now." He likens what he wants to do somewhere between the music of Josh Groban and Bette Midler. He envisions a show with beautiful ballads along with dance routines and lots of big, show-stopping numbers. He's just finished recording a demo CD which is now in the hands of record companies and tour managers. The producers of this summer's 10-day Nova Scotia Tattoo have hired him as its soloist, where he will sing nightly in front of an audience of 6,000. The CD demo arrived at his mother's home over the Christmas holidays. When he played it for his family and friends, he was pleased with their reaction. "The opinion of friends and family is very important to me, above anyone else," says Miller. What's Miller's idea of success? Working steadily as a performer in this country. But the ultimate success for Miller will be a time when he can sell out venues under his own name. He doesn't want to look too far ahead and isn't willing to give himself a deadline. He feels now is the time to work as hard as he can to make this happen. These are a few of his favourite things * Full name: Derrick Paul Miller * Birth date: Feb. 14, 1974 * Favourite food: Donairs * Favourite colour: Blue * Favourite book: I Know This Much Is True, by Wally Lamb * Favourite TV shows: The Amazing Race, Canadian Idol/Americal Idol, Desperate Housewives * The last movie you saw was: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe * The last book you read was: Christ the Lord, by Anne Rice * Favourite music: Easy listening/adult contemporary * Favourite place visited so far: Copenhagen, Denmark * Trait you most admire in a person: Honesty and a great sense of humour From those who know him well "Derrick and I met 15 years ago through performing. He is such a dedicated friend. He doesn't lose sight at all of what's important and his roots. There's not an ounce of arrogance about him. He's very down-to-earth. That's one of the things I absolutely love about him." Michelle Lockhart Miller's long-time friend "I've known Derrick since he was 17. He is a unique guy. He makes friends wherever he goes. He has a certain quality in that people love him and connect to him regardless of their age. He and I have remained good friends. He is fun-loving, he is caring, he loves the people around him. Everyone who knows him is extremely proud of him. "He is extremely committed to his singing. He is so talented. He is very giving with his talent and with his singing." Pam Fogarty Miller's long-time friend "He's the kindest man you'll ever meet. He's forever doing things for others. "He's the type of guy who, no matter if he met you 20 years ago or just out on the street, he'd have to go say hello. "We used to fight as kids. Now I cry every time he goes back to Toronto." Sharla Clark Miller's sister Copyright 2006 Brunswick News Inc. All rights reserved.