Published 2011-11-28T13:55:00Z”/>

Brittany Comas

Mikey Perdue is all over Chico State’s art scene. From theatre productions and musicals to choreography and fitness classes, Perdue has become a triple threat.

“I’ve always been a little ham,” he said.

The musical theatre major won karaoke contests as a child, but chalked it up to the fact that he was a chubby little blonde-haired, blue-eyed child, Perdue said. He thought he had to win by default.

“I was a little nervous to invest in the arts thing, especially because I knew people thought all theatre guys were gay,” he said. “The last thing I needed growing up was another reason to be bullied for what people thought my sexuality was.”

In high school, Perdue decided he didn’t care what other people thought and he chose to

get involved in the arts.

“As long as I was doing something I loved, no one else’s opinion would matter in the long

run,” Perdue said.

As a high school student, Perdue found a mentor in his performing arts teacher where he was able to experience responsibilities other than acting, said Cassie Garofalo, Perdue’s mother.

He has experience in directing, lighting, sound and stagecraft.

Perdue brought his talents to Chico State in 2009 and has become an active participant in the Chico State arts scene.

“I’m involved in the theatre department where I do both musical and non-musical shows and events,” Perdue said.

Perdue is also a third-time choreographer with the university’s choreography club, Momentum.

“As a choreographer, I like to push the envelope and the audience with some different ideas,” he said.

Perdue’s day begins with six straight hours of theatre classes. He begins with auditions, musical theatre acting and jazz. Then he choreographs Momentum for a couple of hours and heads over to rehearsal.

“I usually pick him up at 11 p.m. if I’m not in the rehearsal or in the theatre working already,” said McKenna Perry, a junior theatre arts major. “I tell him over and over, I don’t know how he does it.”

Since Perdue has been at Chico State, he has been in five shows, four of which he held the lead role.

“I just got through working with the tremendous Katie Whitlock on the ‘Revenger’s Tragedy,'” Perdue said.

He acted in the role of Vindice, the blood-lustful revenger.

“It was an incredible experience, especially with such a beautiful talented cast and crew,” he said.

Garofalo recently watched her son in his latest role in “Revenger’s Tragedy.”

“He has always been wonderful and talented, but I’m so happy to know that he’s receiving a fine education in what he loves to do,” she said.

Perdue also teaches a group fitness class at the Wildcat Recreation Center called Fuego.

It’s a high-impact, Latin-inspired fitness class.

“It’s a hard class and an incredible workout,” he said. “I’m so blessed to have so many people to be able to share in what I love to do.”

With packed classes and more than 30 regulars, Perdue’s creative spirit carries over from the theatre to the gym.

No matter what he does, he does it to the best of his ability, Perry said. When he works, he works hard. When he plays, he plays hard and when he fights, he fights hard.

“It’s a very cool thing to see someone discover who they are right in front of your eyes, and I’m lucky enough to see someone like Mikey do that now,” she said.

Perdue isn’t sure what he’ll do after graduation, but his goals are to move to New York and continue dancing and auditioning for productions.

“I have to be as good as Neil Patrick Harris when I leave here, because I’ll be competing against him,” he said.

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<strong>Brittany Comas can be reached at</strong>

<em>[email protected]</em>