You’ve probably seen Eric Swanson even if you didn’t know it. His alter ego, Miss Bouvèé, is a well-known entertainer in South Florida. Now he’s taking on another well-known persona, Edna Turnblad, in Hairspray at Slow Burn Theater from April 11-26. OutSFL was lucky enough to catch up with the exuberant Eric backstage at Slow Burn and ask him a few questions.
Eric, most people know of Miss Bouvèé. Tell us something about Eric.
I’m a lifelong performer and arts educator. I’ve worked across regional theater, appearing in productions such as La Cage Aux Folles, Hairspray, Hair, Chicago, and Simply Gershwin, including more than 400 performances as Frank in Forever Plaid. I served as a choral director in Michigan and later co-founded the Detroit Actors Theatre Company. I’ve also directed nationally touring productions, including Pray the Gay Away and Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue.
How did Miss Bouvèé come about?
She is a COVID-born lady! She debuted on March 7, 2020, and then the worldwide shutdown would soon follow. I did live streams every Friday to help entertain people, and myself. Those weekly shows allowed me a space to grow, experiment, create, and build something I was fully invested in. She also saved me from severe depression and anxiety in a time when the arts had nowhere to prosper. She is my armor and, in a way, a vessel for me to thrive in.
What made you decide to take on the role of Edna for Slow Burn’s production? What was that process like?
The key is to make her your own. Inspired by legends before me like Divine (the original Edna), Harvey Firestein (original Edna on Broadway), and tour legends like Bruce Vilanch and Nina West (Andrew Levitt), I am taking on the heels of a massive role with an incredibly supportive team at Slow Burn. The cast has been incredible, and they truly make you, as an artist, rise to the occasion.
What are some of the challenges in a scripted show vs. your typical Miss B live show?
Memorization! Making it up on the fly with situational comedy is where I feel at home, like my resident weekly shows. The challenges of memorizing have always been something I have to tackle. This show, in particular, is a beast, and we are all putting it in our bodies and minds in roughly three weeks, which is insane! Beyond the lines, music, and choreography, there is a traffic pattern in each song and scene. One wrong move and you will trample a dancer or get run over by a set piece!
What else would you like our readers to know?
I cannot express enough how starstruck I am by everyone in the cast and on the creative team. They make you want to do better each day, each run, each moment we run a scene. This show is pure joy, and this cast will absolutely uplift you in a time when we all need a little escape. I encourage folks to have fun but also listen to the story and take note of its timeliness, its relevance, and its message. It’s a powerful message wrapped up in humor and delivered with an infectious beat; you can’t stop the beat!
The Lion In Winter (July 8 – Aug. 1).
