For her first experience in musical comedy, Mélissa Bédard will play the role of prison guard Mama Morton in Chicago. “When I was offered it, I was really in shock. It excites me like nothing else,” confides the singer who is not afraid of challenges.
Acting on stage and playing a character larger than life: this will be completely new for Mélissa Bédard, who agreed to join the cast of Chicago, with Véronic DiCaire and Terra Ciccotosto MacLeod.
Her character of Mama Morton, a prison guard, was played by none other than Queen Latifah in the English version and by actress Kathleen Fortin here in Quebec.
“Those are big shoes to fill. Mama Morton is such a beautiful role, small, but strong, grandiose and important. She’s a rat, a completely different personality from me. It’s the prison guard who says: “You give me some and I’ll give you some in return. But I take more than you.” [Rires.] She is still endearing and magnificent,” explains the woman who is also an investigator at Masked singers.
“It’s a nice big gift, a nice challenge and another string to my bow. I take it. I’m so excited, because it takes me out of my comfort zone and that’s what I love,” says the singer, pregnant with a little man who should be born shortly before the first performances.
Having a lot of time to memorize his lyrics, meet the group and take part in rehearsals in order to prepare to go on stage allows him to calmly consider this new project, presented next summer.
“I don’t have any dance and choreography to learn at least [Rires]! I’ll be more into the game, the singing and the attitude of Mama Morton. I’m 6’1″, but in her head she’s 9′. I’m going to have to grow even more on stage and be even more imposing. I know that I will improve on stage and that it will help me in my career as a performer,” she adds.
She also enjoys having to wear costumes and makeup from this somewhat dark era that she loves.
Family and projects
After a discussion with her lover and having agreed that the family would go “live the Montreal life” next summer to follow mom in performance in Chicago, Mélissa Bédard jumped in with both feet into this great adventure. This will begin in June with rehearsals and, from the 21st, will go on stage at Espace St-Denis in Montreal.
“I’m also going to talk about it with Marie-Ève Janvier, who played in Waitress when she had just had her little baby and who was also hosting on the radio. I really thought about her when I made my decision,” says the singer, also a jack of all trades.
In addition to this first foray into the world of musical comedy, Mélissa Bédard will publish My only truth, his sixth album, next February, then plans a tour in 2025.
As if she wasn’t busy enough, she mentions another opus she’s secretly working on. “An album and a tour, a big dream project, with a big choir,” she says mysteriously.
