Take Ten with Cian Coey
When did you develop your interest in music? Was it always your passion to perform?
When I was 2 1/2, I started taking dance lessons because my doctor recommended it to my parents to help me with my being pigeon-toed. From the start, I always loved music and performing.
Did you ever have any anxiety about a music/performing career, which is notoriously a risky business?
I started performing at a really young age, and I was exposed to the reality of the business quickly. I think it helped that I had parents who were pretty open with me, and even as a kid, I felt that if they had thought I didn’t have a chance at all in this business that they would have been honest with me to tell me that. But they were always really supportive of me, and they really gave me a chance to explore my dreams and also helped me gain confidence.
How did you become part of “We Will Rock You” and “Raiding the Rock Vault” casts?
After graduating from college, I did three national tours of musicals in the United States, and the last one, “Saturday Night Fever” was picked up at the Sahara Casino in Las Vegas for five months at the end of our tour. Around the time that our show was closing, I auditioned for “We Will Rock You” and was hired for that production.
For “Raiding the Rock Vault,” I was originally hired as an understudy, and was bumped up to the lead role. I’ve learned to be very grateful for any and all gigs, and I always try to do my best, because you never know when you’re going to be the one who gets bumped. And then sometimes you’re the one who gets bumped up!
Did you have any takeaways from working with Meat Loaf?
I took something away every show that I got to work with Meat Loaf. I loved getting to do a great blend of rock music and acting. He always kept me on my toes. It was an amazing experience. Because we had to do so much improvisation, especially during “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” I always tried to be ready for whatever he was going to throw at me. It was different every night. Some nights would flow better than others. His tip to me was always, “Don’t think.” Once you start thinking too much in an improv scene, your reactions just don’t come out as naturally. Sometimes, that’s harder than it sounds, though!
More recently, you were on tour with Dweezil Zappa, performing his father’s music. Given that Frank Zappa was known for his jazz-rock fusion, was that a major departure from what you had been performing?
Throughout my life I’ve done a lot of different kinds of shows, from doing standard musical theater to rock/metal to country, etc. I’ve been able to pull from experiences throughout my life and use many of them with the Zappa music, because I really get to use all different kinds of singing in Dweezil’s shows. That is one of my favorite things about being a part of this band. The styles of singing that I get to do are all over the place in just one show.
The Zappa show toured Europe and is touring Australia. Was that or will that be your first exposure to both?
I toured Europe with Dweezil Zappa just a couple months ago, but I had been to Europe about eight years ago while singing on a cruise ship. I haven’t been to Australia yet, but I’ve dreamed about it since I was a kid. We are heading there with the band in February, and I’m so excited!
In your opinion, are audiences similar throughout the world – or are they more reserved or rowdy, depending on the location?
I haven’t really noticed them changing that much from one place to another, at least from the places I’ve been. In general, sometimes the venue determines the energy as well. It makes a difference when people have to sit in seats or whether they can stand and be up close to the stage.
8. Were you ever intimidated working with Meat Loaf and/or Dweezil Zappa?
I wouldn’t really say intimidated, but I definitely was nervous at first. When I first worked with Meat Loaf, I hadn’t met him much before we really had to start doing some very dramatic scenes and songs together. And I was a little nervous with Dweezil at first, too. I want to make a solid first impression, and once I feel like I’ve accomplished that, the nerves go away.
How much preparation/practice time is there before a show’s opening?
I’ve done shows where we do a month of rehearsals for just a few performances, and I’ve done shows where we’ve never made it through the entire show or set before opening night. Those can be a little nerve-racking, as I’m sure you can imagine!
You sometimes perform two shows a day. As a singer, is that exhausting? Have you ever lost your voice?
Thankfully, I’ve never lost my voice. The only times I’ve been unable to sing is when I have had a bad cold. Singing long shows or several sets of hard rock for several days in a row can be taxing, but usually I’m pretty good about staying quiet during the day and drinking a lot of water and resting when I need to. What I learned in my voice lessons growing up taught me a lot about how to take care of myself and save my voice. I would definitely recommend lessons to anyone seriously considering singing as a career. The techniques that you learn can really help you become a more powerful singer and a healthy singer who will be able to use their instrument for a very long time.
Bonus Question: What is the story behind the name, Cian Coey?
Well, for those having no idea how to pronounce it, it’s pronounced just like “Shawn.” My last name is a little easier … sounds like “Ko-ee.” My parents found my first name in a book of Irish names. It’s usually pronounced “Kee-an,” but they loved the spelling and made their own sense of how it is pronounced. My mom likes to tell people it’s like the C-I-A-N in “musi-CIAN,” and I’m OK with that.
Cian, the daughter of Jeff Coey of Penn Hills and Steve and Barbara Lemonakis of Canonsburg, received her BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan, and once sang with her father and his band, Harombee. She currently lives in Las Vegas.