Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddie Voyce.
Hi Eddie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been performing in some capacity pretty much all my life, whether it was in church skits and musicals, or elementary school musicals, band, and choir. Once I reached high school, I discovered actual theatre, and have been performing in those ever since. At the same time I started really getting into rock music. My friends and I began learning to play guitar, and played some cover songs for a family member’s birthday one year. Soon after high school, I started writing music with my best friend at the time. We created an original band, called Blatant Innuendo, and wrote 9 songs together. Before we were able to really get an album put together, we had a falling out. Since then, I’ve been going back and forth between performing in musicals, singing in a choir, and singing and playing in cover bands. Where musicals are concerned, I’ve had the immense pleasure of playing dream roles such as Roger in RENT!, Cosmo in Singing in the Rain, Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Nostradamus in Something Rotten, among many others. I led a 90’s+ cover band from 2010-2012 called One Headlight, and more recently through 2024 an 80’s & 90’s+ cover band called Learn to Fly. Over the last year I’ve been working with some past bandmates and new friends to create some new cover band opportunities, with the possibility of writing new material as we work. This coming year I’m hoping to start hitting the local circuits with these bands. In the meantime, I’m keeping my eye out for my next big theatre opportunity. My dream is to be able to do these things on a larger scale, and my current dream roles include Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, and Dewey Finn in School of Rock the Musical.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It really has not been a smooth road. In theatre I feel like I have made a pretty good name for myself in the local scene, and I do feel “in-demand” at times. At other times, dream roles have slipped away from me for one reason or another, which has been difficult to overcome sometimes. But I continue to perform great roles, and form meaningful relationships with the folks I work with.
It’s difficult to pursue professional theatrical opportunities at this point in my life, as I would basically have to quit my well-paying current job in order to do so, and each “job” is so temporary.
In the music scene, it has often been quite difficult to keep a good thing going, and/or to find the next step up from where we’ve been. As basically a side job, personnel tends to change rapidly. When I joined One Headlight, it was because the band could not continue with the original singer. Then over the 2 years, other bandmates had to move on to do other things, whether it was medical or professional By the time it ended there was only one remaining original member. Learn to Fly had quite a sudden collapse as discussions on our direction led to an unfulfilling performance. Over the last year, I started playing with a couple new groups, but before we got around to our first gig, it all fell apart as well.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Theatrically, I am generally a comedic performer. I can act, sing, and dance well. I am a very physical performer as well, which leads to the more comedic roles. Most recently was Nostradamus in Something Rotten. He’s a Soothsayer in Shakespearean times who doesn’t always get the predictions QUITE right. The director, Staci Arriaga, and I go way back, and she very much trusted my instincts a lot for this show. It was terribly thrilling to be so free to make up as much silliness as I could. My costar Peter DeMarzio, with whom I did most of my scenework, was also very open to my ideas, and willing to play a lot. I had just the most fun.
I also got the chance to play the titular Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo, which was an absolute dream. This character is a lot less (purposefully) comedic, and gave me the chance to really sing out, and portray a range of emotions. The standing ovation we received every night was unbelievably fulfilling. He is also a very physical character, which helped me stand out. The entire cast and production crew really gave this show so much heart, I’ll never forget it.
Musically, I sing mostly. I’m a tenor, and I prefer 90’s rock over most things. I do play some guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, piano/keyboards, and a little harmonica and accordion. But those things mostly come into play when they’re needed, and parts are not already covered by other band members. I can also play rhythmic instruments, and early on started on the drum set. That just never took off, as my foot control is not what it needs to be. In Blatant Innuendo, I was the lead singer and the bassist. I have accompanied myself on acoustic guitar in some solo work, as well as in the later bands. With Learn to Fly, I was given the opportunity to learn more electric guitar to fill in the gaps, and that learning continues.
My favorite bands are Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morrisette, Elbow, and currently Daisy the Great. But I have a vast catalog of music that I listen to on shuffle. All kinds of rock/grunge/alternative, etc. My next hopeful ventures include a focus on grunge, and a tribute to Radiohead.
When I’m performing with bands, I move with a lot of energy, and each part of the music moves me. I’m told that you can really tell that I love what I’m doing, and that I love the music.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I feel like one of my most important lessons has been to be willing to fail. My confidence levels earlier on were really what was holding me back. Once I found the confidence to really show what I know I’m good at, things started changing pretty quickly. There’s a ton of rejection in both industries, and that’s something I was already basically ready for. But in order to be considered, it’s important to give it your all, even if you feel like a fool. It can be very difficult in an audition, or first meeting situation, to commit to the emotion of the character, or to play out fully. But taking that step with confidence will show that you’re serious, and will make them feel like you know what you’re doing, even if you make mistakes.
Another lesson is to try to be open to opportunities as possible. Change is scary, and the unknown even more-so. But sometimes you have to be willing to at least give a new thing a try in order to see if it could take you in the direction you’re hoping to go, or at least a little further toward that goal. There were some opportunities in the past that I passed up on, because I was afraid to take that risk, or afraid the process would be weird or too difficult. Recently, I’ve said yes to some excellent opportunities, and even though they ended earlier than I would’ve hoped, I believe they’ve helped me progress in my goals, and my confidence.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddie.voyce
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eddievoychez6665
Image Credits
Josh Wheeler
Kelly Lynn Jordan
Kevin Graft – KG Rokfoto
