Behind-the-scenes
with Cotter Smith
from "McGuire"
Cotter Smith recently talked to
Anne Broeker, Comm '96, in
Marquette's Office of Marketing
and Communication about his
role as the legendary Marquette
basketball coach.
McGuire is making a Final Four appearance in Atlanta!
Register now to attend a performance and reception with alumni, faculty and friends.
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AB: What type of preparation went into playing Al?
CS: A lot! The first thing I asked Dick Enberg (writer of “McGuire”) was for help in finding video and audio footage of Al. Thankfully, there is a lot of that. I also read a few books, including “The Colorful Warrior” by Roger Jaynes. But the thing that really helped most was talking to people who really knew Al, like Jerry Savio and Dick.
AB: What was it like working with Dick Enberg, a first time playwright and one of Al's closest friends?
CS: Dick was the most gracious, generous and enthusiastic collaborator. Both Heidi (Mueller-Smith, the director of the play) and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He listened to our suggestions and appreciated our advice to help make his play come to life. His love for Al is palpable. He welcomed us to his house in La Jolla and let us watch his home movies of Al at (Senator) Herb Kohl’s ranch.
AB: What was the response to the first run?
CS: I was overwhelmed. I was quite moved. It was different than any other theater experience I have ever had. I realized that the play was about a human connection – it helped give people a connection to Al. The love that people still feel for Al is truly overwhelming.
AB: Is there anything new about the production this year?
CS: No, however I am approaching it from a knowledgeable perspective. Last year, I was flying blind. This year, it’s like visiting an old friend.
AB: What have you been doing since the last run -- acting projects, etc?
CS: I have been doing a lot of back and forth between Milwaukee and Hollywood. I was on an ABC show, “Nightstalker,” that lasted six episodes. I have also been doing guest appearances on other shows including “Commander in Chief” with Geena Davis, “Invasion” and “NCIS”. The role on “NCIS” may be recurring next season.
AB: After a year off from the production, how long did you rehearse in preparation for this run?
CS: Rehearsal was tricky because up until a week before the play opened, I was doing a play with an English accent. About a month before, I started working on my own coming back to Al. Then I went to the Helfaer Theatre by myself just to walk through it for a few hours a day for it to slowly come back. Then we did full rehearsals for about a week before opening.
"I like seashells and balloons, ribbons and medals, bare feet and wet grass."
- Al McGuire
