Coby Getzug Talks Western Film Musical ‘STEAM!’

Officially premiering at the 2020 SCAD Savannah Film Festival where it was honored as “Best in Show,” the short musical film STEAM! is now available to stream on LGBTQ network Revry and other digital platforms.

The debut release from new movie musical company The Barn, STEAM! is a contemporary Western about the conductor of a tourist steam train named Lance who deserts his boyfriend for a wild night with a real-life outlaw known as Neil. The quick, 18-minute film takes several unexpected turns as it speeds towards an adrenalin-stoked ending.

Written and directed by Jeffrey Simon, who also wrote the music and lyrics, he understands the appeal of Westerns. Although, as a gay man, he feels he has a “complicated relationship” with the genre.

“I love the sexy ruggedness of the cowboy/outlaw archetype, the phallic power of pistols, and steam trains, but I have always felt unwelcome within the culture of masculinity perpetuated by the genre,” he says. “By making this a musical, I’m hoping it will be more inclusive to a queer audience without sacrificing what makes Westerns so exciting.”

STEAM! stars Liam Cronin, Barrett Riggins, and Broadway actor Coby Getzug, who OFM had the opportunity to speak with. In addition to the film, he talked about playing gay roles, his passion for acting, and starring in the National Tour of The Band’s Visit.

Can you begin by telling us what you enjoyed the most about being a part of STEAM!?
There was just something joyful about being part of a group telling a queer story with so many different people with different backgrounds and identities. The whole experience was such a joy. It was a bunch of us working hard to create this thing that seems sort of impossible. This short train musical movie. It seems sort of impossible, but we all really banded together, and the two weeks that we spent shooting it out in New Mexico and Colorado were some of the most fun I’ve ever had. Working together and collaborating with this group, it’s rare to find a group this cohesive. I think that was the best part for me.

What makes STEAM! worth checking out?
I think it’s fun! It’s a serious piece that doesn’t take itself too seriously. This story does deal with some heavy subject matter, but I think the essence of it is unique. It’s rare to see that in a queer story, and it’s really cool that Jeffrey Simon, the director, writer, composer, etc., was able to create a clear story that was about a train conductor, took place in the wild west, and is a musical. I hope that it leads to more queer entertainment that covers the spectrum. Serious stories, comedic stories, we contain those multitudes.

Were you initially a fan of Westerns or has STEAM! given you a newfound love for them?
(Laughs) I am from the West; I’m from California, so I guess a lot of us have that sort of nostalgia for this idea of the wild west, but obviously, it isn’t that accurate. I’ve loved westerns; I wouldn’t say I was a huge fan before, but I definitely have an appreciation for them now. Especially those old trains and railroads. That railroad, which is an active tourist train, people can go take the train, that was a special experience. It really transports you to a different time, so that sort of renewed my interest in that genre.

Do you have any memorable, behind-the-scenes moments you would like to share?
We did a couple nights shoots, and those were pretty memorable because we were shooting up at 10,000 feet in Colorado. It was freezing cold, and we were live singing, so we would do a take and then get in the car with the heat on. We would take a huff from the oxygen canister we had in the car and warm up together, then scurry back out to do another take. It was definitely challenging, but when in my life will that happen to me again?

We were also filming one late afternoon, and the train came up with some tourists on it. They had this big dinner for everybody, and they let us stay and participate. There was this incredible mariachi band and a whole buffet, and afterwards, they let us ride the train back down. It was nighttime, all the lights were off, so all you could see outside was the stars, and all you heard were the rickety train tracks. It was amazing.

What can you tell us about your character, Lance?
I relate a lot to Lance. He is somebody who has worked hard to get where he is but knows that there’s more out there, and he doesn’t quite know what it is. I think he cares a lot about his job and about what it means, and he cares about the people in his life. He gets swept up in this fantasy that come to life in front of him, and I think that’s relatable.

If you’re stuck in a situation and you’re looking for a way out, I think it’s easy to get swept up by the shiny thing that passes by, but ultimately, he is kind of forced to make changes that he needed to make. I think that’s a pretty relatable thing for me, and for a lot of us, especially after being in the same place for almost two years. People are hungry for some sort of change and excitement.

You said in another interview that you haven’t played many gay roles before. Is that what initially drew your interest to this production?
Yes! I have a background in musical theatre, and I love singing and musicals, so that definitely my initial draw, but then the more I thought about an opportunity to get to play a queer character and tell a queer story, especially this kind of queer story, that was really attractive to me. Like I said earlier, the bigger the plethora of queer representation there is, the better for everybody. It was an opportunity that I felt I had to take.

Ultimately, what did you take away from this experience?
From a filmmaking standpoint, it really solidified how important teamwork is. Everybody on that set showed up every day wanting and willing to work and make this piece the best it could be, and I have such a profound respect for everybody involved in front of the camera and behind the camera. That was a major takeaway. Art is collaborative, and if you want to create something special, you really have to say yes and can go forward.

I also took away that you don’t necessarily need two and a half hours to tell a story or move people. If you only have 18 minutes, you can make it work, make people feel, and tell a story that people will remember. I think that was a good lesson too. Art and storytelling come in all different shapes and sizes.

How has the audience reception been?
It’s been great! I’m excited that more people are getting to see it now that it’s streaming on Revry. I’ve had a couple screenings for friends who have been really into it, and they’ve been playing the soundtrack in their car, sending me videos about it, so that’s been funny. It seems like people are enjoying it, and who knows, maybe there’s a full-length feature in the future. That would be cool.

Have you always had a passion for acting and performing?
I have. I grew up in L.A. and was sort of surrounded by the entertainment business. I’ve always loved performing and creating stuff with people, so it’s a love I’ve had since I was a kid. I went to an arts high school, then went to college for theatre. Right now, I’m on tour with The Band’s Visit, and I feel very fortunate to be able to perform and do what I love, especially at a time when so many people aren’t able to do that.

How much fun has it been to play Papi in The Band’s Visit, and how meaningful has this show become to you?
It’s been a blast. This is a fantastic group of people, and the show is very special. It’s not often that you get to hear Hebrew and Arabic being spoken on a Broadway stage or music of the style, and I think that’s really important. My mom’s mom’s side is from Israel, so it’s been really cool to be able to play my heritage, which hasn’t really happened yet. I encourage people to come check it out if we’re coming to a city near you.

What are some future goals you would like to accomplish as an actor?
I’d love to keep doing more television and film projects, and I’d love to keep performing on stage. Maybe direct or produce someday. I’m open to all of it. I’d love to do as much as possible, but mostly, I’d like to collaborate with cool people and make things that not only my friends and I care about, but art that speaks to people.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention our plug?
Nothing other than The Band’s Visit. We’ll be touring through the end of July. It’s a great and very important story, and I hope that people will check us out. Support live theatre!

Stay up-to-date and connect with Getzug by following him on Instagram @cobygetzug, or visit his official website, CobyGetzug.com. STEAM! is exclusively available on Revry via Samsung TV, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, etc.

Photos Courtesy of Matt Andrews