Students were electrified as Milo Manheim took the stage at Seton Hall for the Student Activity Board’s (SAB) SHU Speaks event on Tuesday.
Best known for his starring role as Zed on the Disney film turned franchise “Zombies,” the Los Angeles-native has also scored roles in various films and TV shows, including prominent productions like “Thanksgiving,” “School Spirits,” and “Prom Pact.”
Along with his various roles in TV and film, Manheim has had a plethora of roles in theater, which is where the actor’s career first blossomed.
Manheim acted in various theatrical productions in his hometown of Los Angeles, including 15 shows with Liza Monjauze Productions, before finally getting his big break in New York City at the 2017 New York Musical Festival, starring as Milo Reynolds in “Generation Me,” for which he won his first award, the festival’s award for best leading actor.
After his award-winning performance in “Generation Me” in 2017, the following year, Manheim’s success only skyrocketed. With the release of “Zombies” in February 2018 and his runner-up performance on “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) during the latter portion of the year, Manheim became notable not only in the eyes of younger people but also in the eyes of the dance community.
Since then, the now 24-year-old actor has been aiming to “go back and forth between film and theater for the rest of [his] life,” as he told Variety earlier this year.
After standing outside in 42-degree weather, eager to see Manheim, the “Zombies” star’s fans “rose from the dead” as they headed into the venue.
Kyleigh Ann Parker, a sophomore theater major, was one of the most dedicated fans, as she was third in line, arriving at the venue nearly three hours before the doors opened. Her enthusiasm to see Manheim was contagious.
“I want to be as close as possible,” Parker emphasized. “I got to see him in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ so I'm excited to see him again.”
It became apparent that not only were students looking forward to getting to know Manheim for who he is rather than for his fictional roles, but so was Manheim himself.
It may have been cold out, but Manheim turned up the heat as the crowd burst into applause when he took the stage. Manheim told the crowd that “[he’s] been really wanting to just be Milo and just have, like, a normal conversation,” and he did just that.
Wanting to show more of his true demeanor, Manheim said he believes a common misconception about him may be that he lacks depth.
“I'm a very goofy, silly guy, and there's another side to me that is very, you know, philosophical and political,” Manheim said. “When I'm having my conversations with my friends, you know, those are things that I rarely talk about in the public eye…that's an interesting path to, you know, navigate…what stays between me and my friends and my family.”
Those at the event got to see a little bit more of that “philosophical” side, as fans and Milo quipped about, throughout the night.
As the former Disney star began his hour-long discussion, he first spoke on his passionate love for theater.
Although he appreciates both film and theater in their own, respective ways, Manheim said, “there are a lot of things that I love about theater that you're just kind of missing in film.”
Manheim went on to say there’s something special about being able to perform chronologically, that it really allows him to immerse himself in the role, which is something he doesn’t find as much in film.
“[In film] there's lenses right in your face, there's like 300 people on set with mics in your face, and it's really a lesson of focus…being on film, it’s much more of an internal thing,” Manheim said.
One of his proudest moments in his career was his time playing Milo Reynolds in the production “Generation Me,” despite his time with the show being before he was in the public eye.
“[‘Generation Me’] was just a beautiful, beautiful show,” Manheim said. “I learned so many things, and it was a real drama…it was a great experience and it was the start of it all, and it was the first time where I realized other people enjoy watching me on stage…people seem to really resonate with it.”
More recently, Manheim played Seymour Krelbourn in “Little Shop of Horrors,” which he says was a completely different experience from his time with “Generation Me” because, after the first show, practically the whole theater was waiting for him outside.
“‘Little Shop of Horrors' was definitely a different story, because I've never really felt overwhelmed before…I kind of feed off of it,” Manheim said. “I love it, it makes me happy to know that, you know, I'm supplying these good feelings to people, and when they want to tell me that.”
In August, Manheim took on the role of Peter in Hollywood Bowl's production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” This experience was “surreal” for Manheim, as he got to work with “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo, yet he said his time at the Hollywood Bowl was actually “less nerve-wracking” than “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“You walk out and your brain can't even really comprehend the amount of people that are there,” Manheim said. “It just looks like a sea of people and it really made us as a cast connect, because it's like… the factor of the audience isn't really as big.”
Although not religious himself, Manheim took time to read the Bible as he prepared to get into character.
“When I was getting ready for this thing…I read the Bible, and I was, like, really trying to get [into character] and then Cynthia walks in,” he recalled. “Like, that is, that is Jesus. Her aura is ridiculous.”
Like Jesus taught his disciples, Erivo taught Manheim not to dim his light and not to be afraid to be cringe or to try something new.
“She said something like ‘there’s nothing enlightening about dimming your light,’” Manheim said. “Her whole thing is ‘doing me whether you like it or not,’ and it was just admirable to watch.”
On the topic of Erivo, Manheim also noted that he is looking forward to the second installment of the “Wicked” films, “Wicked: For Good,” releasing Nov. 21. Manheim said that he even sang one of the “Wicked” songs for his “Zombies” audition.
“I had spent a lot of time away from [“Wicked”], and I went to see the movie, and my whole childhood just hit me like a truck in that theater,” Manheim said. “I’m very excited.”
Manheim briefly touched on his time competing on the dance competition show DWTS, commenting on how getting second place isn’t that bad when, seven years later, people are still debating about who should have won.
“Getting second place was, like, the best thing that ever happened, because every day someone's like ‘you were robbed!’ which is the best,” Manheim said.
One of whom was Keira Martinez, a sophomore nursing major, who “loved” the actor on DWTS, and made sure to make it clear that “he was robbed.”
The current season of DWTS is almost complete, and there’s a wide debate about who is winning this year’s mirrorball trophy. Manheim even told the crowd who he’s voting for this season, saying, “I’m rooting for Robert [Erwin].”
“He’s great,” he added. “I’ve never met him, but I do love him.”
Manheim also encouraged the crowd to vote; not just for DWTS, but for other matters too.
“Let my loss be a reminder to vote,” Manheim said. “Outside of [DWTS].”
Social media has a great influence on people’s perception of celebrities. For Manheim, all of the noise on social media hit him as he was graduating high school.
“Getting out of high school, going to college…I was depressed because I felt like I was losing [my younger self] and I think that social media played a huge part in that,” Manheim said. “Seeing all of the judgment just made me so afraid to play and imagine.”
Despite the negativity online, Manheim bounced back after coming to the realization that people at the shows are there because they love theater and want to see his show, not to spread hate.
“What you see [online] is not a reflection of what people are like in the world,” Manheim said. “We are just fighting those stupid, judgmental comments that really stem from insecurity.”
Rainbow Wedell, Milo's close friend and costar, sitting in the audience with students at SHUSpeaks | Photo by Lianna Cruz
To keep him grounded, Manheim also said, it helps him to speak with his family and friends, like his friend Rainbow Wedell, who tagged along with Manheim to support him at the event.
“With [Wedell], I will talk to her about everything that's very important to me when other things are really clouding my mind,” Manheim said. "It's a really tough balance…just remind yourself who you are...surround yourself with friends that challenge you in good ways, and if they're going to criticize you, it better be constructive.”
Showing less of his “philosophical” side and more of his “goofy” side, Manheim made his most controversial statement of the night. He said, “You guys are gonna hate me for [it].”
“[I love] 6-7,” Manheim stated. “I like it because it's just a stupid thing that just makes everyone laugh…it makes me feel still young and like I’m not growing out of that.”
Before the event, SAB had asked students to submit questions for Manheim on their Instagram. A handful of students were chosen to ask their questions directly to the star at the event.
One of these students, Kaela Zabala, a junior communications major, reflected on her “surreal” experience after the show, still on a high from her brief interaction with Manheim.
“I was freaking out when I got the [message] that I was chosen and I just can't believe that I saw him, like, right in person,” Zabala said. “It just went by really fast, and it was awesome to have the opportunity to speak to [Manheim].”
Zabala credits her friends at the Filipino League at Seton Hall (FLASH) for introducing her to Manheim.
“I just recently became a fan because my friends at FLASH got me into 'Zombies,' and then got me to be interested in [‘Little Shop of Horrors’] because Milo was in it as well,” Zabala said. “Krista Hoo introduced me to Milo Manheim, and she actually saw Little Shop for Milo, but he wasn't there…she was all supposed to be here, but she couldn't come, so I felt like I was kind of asking the question for her.”
As she was about to speak into the microphone, Zabala was telling herself, “Please don’t stutter,” repeatedly.
Don’t worry—she didn’t stutter. She asked Manheim if he would act in a music video for another artist, as he previously took part in Sabrina Carpenter’s music video for “Feather.”
“Totally,” Manheim promptly replied to Zabala. “I think the first person that comes to mind, just because we've been super close lately, is Lizzie McAlpine…[Conan Gray’s] been reaching out about doing a music video.”
Zabala was thrilled by his responses.
Going back to his “philosophical” side to wrap up the night, Manheim gave some advice to students. Manheim attended New York University (NYU) for one year, and told the crowd that he wished someone had told him how difficult college is to navigate emotionally.
“Reach out to your friends because they can make you feel better…they might need to hear that as well,” Manheim said. “Y'all are in the same boat, and everyone's feeling the same way and if you're not, if you're one of those confident people that is just living it up, then reach out to somebody else.”
Manheim also reminded the audience to “follow the thing that you are passionate about…don't try to do the things that you think the world wants from you or expects from you, do the things that you are truly curious about.”
After Manheim said his goodbyes to the audience, a good portion of fans lined up along the street to wave him goodbye as he departed campus.
One of these students, Liani Guzman, a junior social behavioral sciences major, said she left the event feeling “refreshed.”
“I feel like I was talking to him face to face…it just felt really relatable,” Guzman said. “I love how he kept it real, and, you know, he didn't sugarcoat anything, and that just felt so nice because [it makes] you appreciate him even more, because you see a different side to your favorite actor…he really is a humble king.”
Guzman said that if Manheim reads her interview, she wants him to know “I love you, and just keep being humble because that’s so beautiful to see.”
Another student, Brianna Martinez, a sophomore elementary education and theater major, said that the event was "very informational” for her.
“I am a theater major, so he's doing what I want to do,” Martinez said. “It was really…nice to hear about him not getting [auditions] and his advice that you have to be passionate to keep doing the career.”
Echoing Martinez’s comments about Manheim’s helpful advice, Kendall Waters, a sophomore visual and sound media major, said his advice “got [her] to think.”
“I feel like he mentioned a lot about his philosophical side and it definitely did come out today,” Waters said. “I think he is wise and very experienced, obviously, in what he's done…it really got me thinking.”
Another student waiting to grasp a glimpse of the star before he departed campus was Olivia Howard, a sophomore public relations major, who said she was most surprised that he actually had a personality.
“I feel like a lot of people kind of just have, you know, not much depth to them, but he actually thinks, you know, he has creativity,” Howard said. “He reinvests back into himself…so I like that he was actually thinking about who he is as a person, not just kind of, like, how he might look.”
All four students are looking forward to SHU Speaks next year, and Waters recommended who she would like to see next.
“I think [social media influencers] like Quenlin Blackwell would be good, someone along those lines,” Waters said. “I feel like she's been on so many different sides of the internet… and she also acts…she does everything, she even models and was in the Victoria's Secret fashion show.”
SAB’s event had students lined up for hours before the show, and waiting for a length of time afterwards to see their guest. The students thoroughly enjoyed this year’s SHU Speaks and are looking forward to more SAB events like this to come.
Lakyn Austin is the head editor for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at lakyn.austin@student.shu.edu.
