Moving from from East to West, our next Pageant the Musical feature shines the spotlight on Luke Harvey Jacobs, who plays Miss West Coast, the Miss Glamouresse contestant who represents our region!

What makes your character a winner?

Karma Quinn is a winner because she is the quintessence of a wholesome, All-American girl. She is incapable of devising an ulterior motive, so the audience naturally wants to like and trust her.

How did you prepare for this show?

I’ve always been fascinated by the pageant world, so in preparation, I boned up on my Miss America YouTube research, binge-watched pageant film classics like Drop Dead Gorgeous and Smile, and shaved my chest.

What did you learn about beauty pageants that you didn’t know before?

The new knowledge is unending! My favorite pageant technique I’ve learned is to blink every time you change your focus when looking into the house. Little specifics like these are meant to convey a naturalness that is so calculated! It’s fascinating!

 What will you never do on stage?

Forget my lines. (Purely a self-fulfilling prophecy)

 Do you have a role model?

My role models are people who don’t take themselves too seriously and execute their day-to-day goings-on with grace, humor, passion, and compassion.

What inspired you to be an actor?

It was a total ineptitude at sports when I was very young. My parents didn’t know what else to do with me and a neighbor suggested theatre. I’ve been hooked since day one.

What is your favorite part of a show?

Honestly, I love every moment of being in a show. For better or for worse, great production or “meh” production… From first read through to closing show, I love it all.

What is your favorite part about working at Cygnet Theatre?

I feel incredibly supported at Cygnet. The caliber of artists they’ve hired for this production is astounding. I know I go to work every day surrounded by talent from top to bottom, and it doesn’t get much better than that.

 Anything else to add?

PLEASE enjoy the show and ignore the five o’clock shadows.

Mock pageant question:

 If you were given the opportunity to reach every single American girl, what message would you give?

I would remind each girl in the American United States that before you reach for the stars, make sure to stretch your body thoroughly. Seventy-five percent of athletic injuries occur due to not warming up enough, and the other 30% occur from not warming up at all!