If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? I’ve been fortunate through my work to be able to hit 49 out of 50 states, so I would definitely travel outside of the US. I think my first choice would be to go to Bali. I’m a beach bum, and since I’ve already frequented many North American, Italian, and Grecian beaches, I think Bali would absolutely blow my mind.
He’s been in numerous Broadway and off-Broadway shows, but Corey Mach said he is thrilled to be on the road in the national tour of “& Juliet,” in which he plays William Shakespeare. “It’s not just a biographical jukebox musical. Even though it’s inspired by ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ it’s an original take on what happens next,” Mach said in a recent call from Charlotte, N.C., where the musical was being performed. It will be at the Citizens Bank Opera House Nov. 5-17. “The songs are weaved into the story in a way we’ve never heard before in a jukebox musical,” Mach, 37, said. “They fit so seamlessly … and you don’t need to know the songs to enjoy the musical.” The score features songs that are the brainchild of Swedish songwriter and producer Max Martin and were hits for a variety of performers including Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, and The Weeknd. “& Juliet” reimagines a future for Juliet where she does not die but instead takes a road trip to France with her besties on a journey of self-discovery. The book on which the musical is based was written by “Schitt’s Creek” writer David West Read. Mach is no stranger to Boston, having performed in several national tours that stopped here, including “Wicked,” “Rent,” and “Flashdance the Musical.” He also spent several months in Cambridge in 2015 when he performed in “Waitress” at the American Repertory Theater. In addition to his busy schedule as a stage and TV actor, the Cleveland, Ohio, native is the creator and director of the popular Broadway Sings concert series ( broadwaysings.com ) in New York City, where since 2012 Broadway performers who are between shows stage concerts featuring reimagined and rearranged songs (scored for a 14-piece orchestra) of pop performers — from Taylor Swift to Olivia Rodrigo to ABBA. We caught up with Mach, who lives in New York City with his husband, Marco D’Angelo, who owns Platform Public Relations, and their 6-year-old Goldendoodle, Louie, to talk about all things travel.
Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own? I actually love booking trips on my own. My husband usually takes care of the flights and wherever we’re staying, and I usually take care of everything else — restaurants, adventures, hikes, beach clubs, etc. We make a great team that way.
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Thoughts on an “unplugged” vacation? I don’t think I’ve ever taken an “unplugged” vacation — or even an “unplugged” day. With my job, 50 percent is acting, but the other 50 percent is producing the Broadway Sings concert series, which isn’t really able to function without me. But on vacation I’m pretty good about confining my work to 30 or 60 minutes in the morning and then just leaving it be the rest of the day.
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What has been your worst vacation experience? Two friends and I decided to vacation to Disney World a day before the disastrous Hurricane Sandy in October of 2012. By the time we were supposed to fly back to NYC, all flights were grounded, so we were stuck in Orlando for about 10 total days, having exhausted every park multiple times. Haven’t been back since.
What is your favorite childhood travel memory? Just about every year as a family, we would spend a week vacationing in Hilton Head Island. My parents got engaged atop the famous lighthouse there in 1984, so it’s a very sentimental spot for our family. Hilton Head is extremely family-friendly, too, with tons to do and beautiful weather.
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Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all? This really depends on where I’m headed. If I’m headed to a serene beach, expect a lot of relaxing, reading, and crossword puzzles. If I’m going to Rome or Paris, there will be museums, tours, wineries, and some aspect of learning throughout. If it’s a trip to Denver, upstate New York, or anywhere “outdoorsy,” I’ll have my hiking shoes ready for an adventure.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation? Usually, my reading time is crowded with looking over scripts or line memorization if I’m in audition mode — which is … most of the time. So, when I read, I prefer nonfiction. I just purchased “Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World” by Naomi Klein, so I’ll be bringing that along on my vacation next month. I also have done The New York Times crossword puzzle every day for about seven years, so that will always take up a chunk of my reading time as well.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be? I’m a very efficient traveler. I research the best spots and make sure my time is equally filled with relaxing and sightseeing. It would definitely have to be someone who knows all the secret, special locations and is well-informed and cultured about traveling the world. Since this is a hypothetical question, I’m going to give a hypothetical answer and say Anthony Bourdain.
What is the best gift to give a traveler? Anything easily packable. This is my fourth almost-year-long tour, so I’ve become quite an expert in knowing what materials travel well. I’m packing and unpacking just about every single week on this tour, so you start to learn what gets annoying to always have to iron. There’s also something magical about a set of beautiful carry-on-size vessels for liquids, like shampoo, face wash, hair matte, etc.
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What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip? I’ve been digging Clif Bars as of late. They travel well, they fill you up, and they’re relatively healthy.
What is the coolest souvenir you’ve picked up on a vacation? Whenever I visit my brother in Austin, Texas, I stop at my absolute favorite store called STAG Provisions on South Congress. They have an authentic yet accessible selection of beautiful products for men — Texas-style clothing that could also be worn in New York City. My favorite purchase there is this beautiful, bulky wool sweater that I refused to leave at home when I was packing for this recent tour.
What is your favorite app/website for travel? I tend to use Expedia for flights and hotels as well as Airbnb. There’s also a great app called Hotel Tonight that will show you last-minute, cheap hotels if you’re looking for something on the week — or even day — of. I also fancy myself to be a Google sleuth, so a simple search can land you in the perfect blog for travel tips. I love Eater for restaurant recommendations.
What has travel taught you? There’s always more to see.
What is your best travel tip? Pack lighter than you think. That will save room for new clothes you’re absolutely going to end up buying.
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Juliet Pennington can be reached at writeonjuliet@comcast.net.
The VIP Lounge with Broadway performer Corey Mach of
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