Lea Michele knows that a lot of her fans are still of the age that requires the parental pocketbook to purchase concerts tickets.
Two weeks before her joint tour with Darren Criss kicked off in May, the bright, chatty actress-singer known for her work on Broadway (“Spring Awakening”), TV (“Glee,” “Scream Queens,” the gone-too-soon “The Mayor”) and records (she’s released two albums) checked in to talk about their paired show.
But she quickly made one thing clear: She still gets nervous about live performances because she cares so much about making them great.
“The day I stop getting nervous, I should quit,” she said. “I don’t take this lightly. I know concert tickets are expensive, and I appreciate the parents of the kids who treated them to tickets.”
Michele, a native New Yorker who at 31 has already conquered every media platform (she’s also released two books) and in her spare time entrenches herself in philanthropic efforts, will visit Atlanta Friday with Criss when their LM/DC tour hits Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Here is what she had to say.
Q: Whose idea was it to go on tour together?
A: I've been thinking about it for a while; it just sort of naturally came together. Even when "Glee" ended, (Darren and I) remained friends and we get asked often to sing together at charity events and benefit concerts, so it made sense for us to make it a show and put it on the road. At Elsie Fest (in 2017), we were in the middle of Central Park, and it was the first time we did a full set together and it was really magic. Our voices blend well. Although our styles are quite different, it's two pieces that really fit, and that night we were like, we should really do this. We finally aligned our schedules, which was much more difficult than I thought it would be!
Q: How would you describe Darren as a singer and performer?
A: As a singer and a person, I'm much more structured than Darren. He colors outside the lines and I'm like, how can we make the lines as straight as possible? But those two opposite forces, when out together, it's unexplainable; it just works. He gets me to step outside the box. Vocally, we have a side that's pop, but we do have that Broadway flair. We really love to perform, too. We're both very driven people. We love working, we love performing and that really does transcend when you put those energies together. We both are still doing 100 things at once. But it is nice to remember that we started as singers, so to get to this place where we feel at home and comfortable, it's fun.
Q: What can you tell us about the setup of the show?
A: We have a great band that Darren (helped) put together. But we want it to feel stripped down, like you're hanging out with us, very organic. We'll definitely start together and do songs from "Glee," Broadway, our personal records and then split off and come back together at the end. Darren plays so many instruments, so he might accompany some of the songs that I'm doing alone. We don't want people to feel like one person goes away for too long. On "Glee," we had to spend 16 hours a day together. But when you create a business with someone else, you have to trust the other person.
Q: What Broadway selections might we hear?
A: Darren and I love "Falling Slowly" from "Once" — we've performed it together a couple of times. I know in our solo sets we're both doing Broadway songs, and how can I not have a Streisand song in there somewhere? But we both want to have moments that honor our love for Broadway. If it were up to us, our set list would be 100 songs — we had to make a 90-minute set list!
Q: Your second album (”Places”) came out last year. Are you thinking about a new one yet?
A: I had a very clear vision of what I wanted my second record to be and I didn't want to start a third one until I knew exactly what I wanted . I have an idea, so it's just about getting everyone on board and starting that process, which we'll do in the fall.
Q: I saw you ask a fan on Twitter for healthy food recommendations in Atlanta. What is your regimen for staying healthy?
A: I was a very healthy lifestyle. I do this thing on social media, "Wellness Wednesdays," that are simple ways people can incorporate a healthy lifestyle, like eating organic food. I only eat fish. I keep my home almost vegan. I work out. I have to take care of my mind as well as my body to have the energy to do what I love. It's a large process, especially when I'm performing. But it's really worth it. It does give me the strength and mental capacity to do a lot. I Learned on "Glee," if I wasn't taking good care of myself, I couldn't play Rachel (Berry). She talked a mile a minute, so the better I was and I was feeling, the better I could play that part. It's hard finding the foods that I like everywhere. Bu it's something I do even before I go places - I research. It's worth it to put a little time in. I look at menus before I go to restaurants.
Q: Have you started wedding planning yet (Michele announced her engagement to Zandy Reich in April)?
A: I'm very excited about that and will put as much of my energy and OCD into it as usual! I've had the privilege of having to balance a lot often. I was filming "Glee' and buying my first home and recording an album and writing a book. I have a brain that I find can do a lot, but I have the best support from family and friends. I go away occasionally and take my little trips with my mom and drink my wine and retreat and then come back full force.
CONCERT PREVIEW
Lea Michele and Darren Criss
8 p.m. Friday. $35-$95. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
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