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"Tony & Tina's Wedding"
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Micah Spayer's lead in the 2013 Evian commercial.
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Tristan Tapscott, Cari Downing ‘08, Micah Spayer ‘09 and Julia Thurlow ‘08 in the 2007 production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" as part of WIU's Summer Music Theatre showcase.
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Bright Lights, Big City

April 5, 2018

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From the Spring 2018 issue of Western: The Magazine for Alumni of Western Illinois University

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By Darcie Dyer-Shinberger

It all started with the "Big Bad Wolf" in fourth grade.

But even before that, musical theatre was in Micah Spayer's ‘09 blood naturally as his mother, Carol, was the go-to musical director for all the musical shows in Peoria. She put her theatrical career on hold after having Micah, but returned later as the musical director to Micah's production of "The Who's Tommy," which he directed and starred in late last year.

"I really didn't know that performing was a thing when I was a kid. I thought everyone I was watching onstage or in films were from another planet—I saw them as untouchable and quietly idolized them from afar. I always had a strong skill for music and goofing around, but I didn't know the two could work together," Spayer said. "And then in fourth grade, my teacher, the late—and absolutely beautiful - Helen Ferguson, forced me to play the big bad wolf. She kind of threatened me into it, but from there, the lights turned on, so to speak. She remained a good friend to me and my family until her death a few years ago."

It was that little "nudge" from Mrs. Ferguson that moved Spayer into performing, beginning with community theatre the summer after his fourth grade play debut and continuing through high school. Spayer, a Richwoods High School (Peoria) graduate, was a member of the choir, comedic speech team and all the school's musicals. The actor/singer/comedian also played football his freshman year and dated a cheerleader.

"I was a cocky idiot with braces and acne. It was hilariously bad," he laughed. "Sometimes I wore makeup from my theatre kit to hide the blemishes."

After his 2005 high school graduation, Spayer found his way to Western thanks to WIU School of Music Professor Matt Bean, who had seen Spayer as the "Cat in the Hat" in his high school production of "Seussical" (a role he later reprised in the Broadway national tour of "Seussical: The Musical").

"I liked Matt and thought he'd be a good teacher. It turned out, he was. All of my professors at Western were good. We learned what to take from each teacher because they each had their own beneficial skill," he said. "And my parents preferred WIU because it was close to home and affordable, so we all won in the end."

At Western, Spayer performed in such theatrical productions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Me and My Girl," "1776," "Blood Brothers," "The Lion in Winter, "Little Women" and "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." Spayer was also a nominee in 2007 for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship for his performance in the 2006 WIU production of "Blood Brothers."

After graduating from WIU, Spayer got his equity card and moved to New York City. He worked for about 18 months in a clothing store, "forgetting that I was an actor."

"It wasn't until I heard some co-workers dramatically discussing an audition that I realized why I was actually in New York. For the next eight years, I worked steadily as an actor," Spayer recalled.

In 2013, four years after graduating from WIU, his musical theatre education led him to be cast lead actor in a television commercial for Evian. The commercial, which debuted April 21, 2013, garnered millions of YouTube views in a few days. The ad features Spayer walking down the sidewalk and noticing that his reflection in the mirror is the face of a baby.

Spayer was initially called in to play the commercial's role as a mustachioed cyclist, but after the audition, which included dancing and pretending to look in a mirror and see a baby looking back, the producers from Iconoclast Productions rewrote the commercial and cast Spayer in the lead role. The commercial was filmed in Buenos Aires, and the actors rehearsed with well-known choreographer Michael Rooney. Landing this role helped Spayer fund his creative freedom for the next two years.

"I spent those two years fixing up old typewriters, drinking wine, writing, teaching myself photography and becoming obsessed with antiques. I stayed true to performing and did a few productions. It's as if my mind and body needed to just explore, so that's exactly what I did," he explained.

He took himself to lunch and a movie nearly every day, became friends with artists and began studying film.
"I couldn't afford anyone to teach me, so I just taught myself everything I could," Spayer remembered. "I began directing, writing and editing my own projects and learning. And then I began doing it for other people's projects. The classroom is wonderful, but nothing prepares you better than simply just doing it. I still do theatre, but I've become a little more earthly aware of the importance of exploration with the final product."

Most recently, Spayer has edited for such clients as Redbox, "big budget" web series', short films and campaign videos. He is also the musical director and acting the role of the wedding singer in "Tony and Tina's Wedding," which opened at Chicago Theater Works in September. "Tony and Tina's Wedding" runs through May, so Spayer is spending his "free" time between Chicago and New York, completing editing work and other projects for his company, Uncle Mia Productions, and enjoying his hobbies: traveling, collecting antiques, vinyl, writing and photography.

Last summer, Spayer was back in his Peoria hometown to direct and perform in Eastlight Theatre's "The Who's Tommy." Spayer performed at the Eastlight Theatre in 2007—during his summer break from WIU—as a performer in "Miss Saigon," "Beauty and the Beast" and world premiere of "Les Miserables."
Some of Spayer's independent projects include the 2016 pilot "Playing with Balls," produced and directed by Spayer, a mockumentary style about the leadings up to the sex scandal between famous baseball player Hank Mundelson, and his former failed occupational hazard husband, Garrison Tinkley, played by Spayer (trivia from IMBD: the majority of the acting is pure improv, even though fluent and detailed scripts are written per episode). The 2016 comedy short, "The Black Tie," written and directed by Spayer, tells the story of a writer who visits her odd-ball, small hometown to fulfill her dying father's last wish: to track down his favorite black tie.

"When I'm asked to give advice to young people who want to study theatre or break into acting, I ask them the very scary question, 'What else do you LIKE to do?'. That question isn't asked to dissuade them from doing what they like, it's a question regarding the alternative, additional skills," he pointed out. "Everyone in New York is an actor. EVERYONE. So, you are an actor, great. Write something for yourself. Can you direct? Hire yourself. Success lasts as long as the checks are coming in, but growth and inspiration continues if you pay attention.

"The most intelligent artists I've met in the last 10 years are adaptable and smart. They don't really care if they didn't get the part. It's just not their time and they know that," Spayer added. "Do not get too married to the ideas of only doing one thing for the rest of your life."

Spayer has also performed as "The Cat in the Hat" in the national Broadway tour of "Seussical: The Musical," appeared off-Broadway as "Mike" in "The Austerity of Hope" at The June Havoc Theatre, and had a part in the pilot presentation of "Supers" for Comedy Central's Comedy Pilot Competition, in association with The New York Television Festival.

Spayer has created his own success - much like the advice he'd give young performers - including getting to experience what he considers his "dream job:" directing commercials and film, and being his own employer. Even if he wasn't an actor, he said he'd still be in the business.

"I'd still be an editor and filmmaker, and be able to teach, so that would be alright," Spayer said. "But performing is my first love. And it always will be."

Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing