Published: February 12, 2009 08:00 am      

Dying to be an actor

Kazee talks to students about profession

SOUTH SHORE — Actor and Ashland native Steve Kazee will die next week.

It’s part of his guest starring role on the television series “CSI.”

But he made sure to explain to his fans at McKell Elementary School during a visit Wednesday that it’s all just fun and games.

“I do die, but only on TV,” Kazee, the 1994 Fairview High School graduate said, explaining how special effects created a gory scene using silicone, red corn syrup and a hair piece.

“I had to lay in the same position, something like this,” he said, sprawling on the stage he was sitting on and lying on his side. “I had to be still for four and a half hours in this position.”

Kazee said the red corn syrup, which served as stage blood, dripped down the side of his head and collected in his ear, where it hardened during the time he wasn’t allowed to move.

“For weeks, every time I took a shower I was getting corn syrup out of my ear,” he said.

Kazee will be on “CSI” next week, but tonight, his girlfriend of three years, Megan Hilty, will have a guest starring role on the same program.

“I play the manager of a fast-food restaurant,” she said. “I’m wearing a pink sweatsuit and big gold earrings. You can’t miss me.”

Kazee graduated from Fairview High School in 1994. He earned his bachelor of arts in theater from Morehead State University and his graduate degree in theater from New York University.

He and Hilty last spoke to students at McKell, where his cousin Christina Scaggs teaches fifth grade. Since then, the two have moved from New York to Los Angeles, where she starred in the stage production of “Wicked,” portraying Glenda the Good Witch.

Last week, they began a cross-country trek driving from Los Angeles to New York and making a stop for a week in the Ashland area to visit family.

“We drove 2,300 miles in four days,” Kazee said. “We saw Hoover Dam, the southern part of the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains.”

Kazee and Hilty are moving back to New York, where Hilty will play Dolly Parton’s role in the stage production of “9 to 5: The Musical” at Broadway’s Marquee Theater in Times Square.

For Hilty, it was a thrill to meet Parton.

“She’s a really, really wonderful lady,” she said, adding Parton was very involved in making the show happen by attending workshops, which are rehearsals meant to help work out details and make improvements to shows and usually end in a performance for a limited audience.

“The night of the show (from a workshop), the set broke down and (Parton) got up and led a singalong,” Hilty said of Parton’s efforts to keep everyone entertained. Hilty said she sings the title track on Parton’s latest album, “Backwoods Barbie.”

The show “9 to 5: The Musical” will begin rehearsals next week and will open on April 30. A mention of Hilty’s upcoming project to the children at McKell led to an explanation of the movie “9 to 5,” which starred Parton with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.

“Do you remember the song, ‘9 to 5?’” Kazee asked.

“Sing it,” a student shouted. Hilty launched into a bit of the chorus and Kazee joined in.

Since the couple’s last visit to the Ashland area, Hilty has appeared in several television programs, including “The Closer,” “Shark,” “Elia Stone” and “The Sweet Life of Zach and Cody.” She also filmed an episode of “Desperate Housewives,” but said she has no idea when that will air. She also appeared on Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb,” a cartoon on which she will be a “guest fish,” she said.

Kazee has been in “Numbers,” “NCIS” and “Medium” and he performed in “110 in the Shade” and “To Be or Not To Be” on Broadway.

Hilty’s plans are to work hard on her upcoming musical for at least a year; her contract is for one year. Meanwhile, Kazee will do some workshops for a couple of plays that might materialize off-Broadway.

“I hope to transition into more television and film,” he said.

Farther down the road, Kazee said he would like to stretch his wings even more and run for political office.

“When I come back to this area and see the poverty and some of the problems that don’t get solved ...” he said. “I would like to get involved and get in a position to do something about it.”

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.