You might have seen him emcee a local event or elicit laughs in one of his acclaimed comedic roles. Actor, singer and freeFall Theatre staffer Matthew McGee has become a familiar face in the Tampa Bay theater scene, bringing Southern charm — and sass — as well as an impressive range to his roles. McGee has appeared in some of the area’s most acclaimed productions at freeFall, American Stage, Stageworks and other local theaters. He has won Creative Loafing Best of the Bay awards for being “the most joyous comic presence” and for his cabaret act with Scott Daniel, The Scott and Patti Show, in addition to other honors. Garry Breul — “the John Waters to my Divine,” says McGee — was the first director in Tampa Bay to cast McGee in a drag role, in a Suncoast AIDS Theatre production. The shtick has become an annual tradition, helping raise thousands of dollars for local AIDS charities. “I like where I am right now,” says McGee.
Life is indeed good for McGee. He lives in a quaint Sunset Beach cottage, 10 minutes from work, and says that for the first time in his life he gets what the Florida-beachy fuss is about. Before last year, McGee spent 12 years commuting more than an hour from Spring Hill, “where there’s neither a spring nor a hill.” Along with his work onstage, the 40-year-old Georgia native has an office job, too — as community outreach director at freeFall. Open for less than a decade, the church-turned-theater in west Central St. Pete has risen to the top of our region’s professional companies. McGee praises boss Eric Davis and his small, tight-knit staff for working long hours, looking out for one another and putting their all into every production. It’s a loyal, passionate and familial community that jibes well with hard-working McGee. The fact that freeFall lets McGee bring his 8-year-old Westie, Brian, to work helps make the hours pass quickly — and the patrons love Brian too, he says.
Family life has been important to McGee. The oldest of three, he’s close to his parents — his mom is an English teacher and his dad is a veterinarian. He visits his parents’ ranch and horse farm in Washington, Ga., as often as he can and vice versa. During one Mother’s Day visit, McGee brought his mom onstage for “The Time Warp” — when he starred as Frank N Furter in American Stage in the Park’s production of Rocky Horror. “I’ve never been more proud,” McGee’s mom told him afterward. Contrary to what some might think, growing up gay in a small Southern Baptist town did not scar McGee for life. “I used humor as my salvation, but I did leave as soon as I could,” he says.
His gig with cabaret partner Scott Daniel — the flamboyant son to “bitter, boozy, has-been-showgirl” Patti — is a family-friendly show that is more “clowning around” than risqué. Daniel, an accomplished costume designer, decks McGee out in full-tilt drag, and the pair sing their hearts out between jokes. Even with all the corsets and make-up, McGee doesn’t consider himself a drag artist. “Drag artists take their illusion too seriously,” he says. “I’m a 40-year-old man in a dress. Have fun with it because I am.” Speaking of his many roles as ladies, McGee will come full circle as the titular grande dame in Mame, freeFall’s final production of the 2014-15 season.
Where to buy wigs: 6S BOUTIQUE. Everything needed by anyone who’s trying to look like someone or something else. Run by Andrew and Sasha Citino, the shop has wigs, makeup, nails and those ridiculously long eyelashes McGee uses in his show. “I always say if my eyes look like a Venus fly trap I’ve done good.”
Best booze and bar food combo: GEORGIE’S ALIBI. “Tropical Long Island in a mason jar and the spiciest wings we can get” at Georgie’s Alibi, 3100 Third Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Where McGee takes his Westie for a walk: WALTER FULLER PARK. “Brian chases the ducks — it gives us both a little exercise. It’s super nice.”
Where he takes Brian to be groomed afterward: TWO POODLES AND A MUTT.
Best place to get his own shave and a haircut: CHAGO’S BARBER SHOP. “Chago is the best. He takes care of you, makes you laugh, and uses a Sea Breeze astringent he calls [McGee shifts into a New York accent] ‘the sauce.’”
Where to buy art: BLUELUCY. “It was one of my favorite places to go.” He has a Chad Mize pop art painting of Dolly Parton that Eric Davis bought for him for his birthday. (The St. Pete gallery is now closed but operates online at bluelucy.net.)
Best place to take the parents when they’re in town: CADDY’S ON THE BEACH. “Whenever my family comes, I take them and gives them that beach atmosphere visitors love. It’s bar food but well executed.”
Where he eats light after seeing a show at the Straz: THE BUNGALOW. He likes the steak salad. “It’s the perfect late-night meal — not too heavy.”
Where he eats heavier: DAILY EATS. He likes the lox bowl and the watermelon mimosas. “I need a side of Lipitor when I go there.”
Where he goes for meatloaf: TAMPA BAY BREWING CO. He’s fond of the onion straws on top.
Favorite Ybor Bar Crawl: BRADLEY’S on 7th, HAMBURGER MARY’S and G-BAR.
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2015.