Schyler Conaway Puts on His Boogie Shoes in 'Saturday Night Fever'

Schyler Conaway plays the lead role of Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever," the stage version of the blockbuster 1977 movie that made a star of John Travolta. The production is the final show of Theatre By The Sea's summer season and runs through September 8.

Tony lives at home and works as a hardware store clerk in his Brooklyn, NY neighborhood. The highlight of Tony's week is going to the local disco, where he is the king of the dance floor. The production is packed with disco classics including the Bee Gees' hits "Stayin' Alive," "How Deep Is Your Love," "Night Fever," "Tragedy," and "More Than A Woman."

Conaway loved the challenge of taking on the dance-heavy show, as well as the opportunity to work at Theatre By The Sea.

"I've heard about the theatre for years," Conaway told EDGE. "It was always a dream summer experience for me."

"Saturday Night Fever" has undergone many changes since it debuted in the 1990s on Broadway. The show's sociopolitical attitudes have been modified to reflect the more inclusive society we have today.

"Over the years (the creative team) has done substantial work in changing the book, changing the score to make it a little more politically correct and more acceptable for the world we live in now," Conaway noted. "I know the movie has a different impact now so I think it's great to see how the story has evolved. There's a big commentary at the end of the show about race and about what it is to be different, and to accept people who are different than we are."

The Delaware native has appeared in several regional productions, including "Smokey Joe's Caf�," "It Shoulda Been You," "Les Mis�rables," and "Spring Awakening."

Conaway was inspired to become a performer by seeing the work of other actors and singers on stage. Their work touched a nerve inside him and served as motivation to try out for roles.

"I think I had very specific experiences in my life where I was able to see art in the theater," Conaway said. "It moved and shaped my life in a positive way and it also impacted other people's lives in a positive way. That was a profound thing for me as well. We have a lot of responsibility and power in the arts and I never felt so important."

"Saturday Night Fever" continues through September 8 at Theatre by The Sea. 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI. For tickets, visit https://www.theatrebythesea.com or call (401) 782-TKTS (8587) or (866) 811-4111.