2025 Feb 04

From Stage to Screen and Back Again: Milo Manheim’s Balancing Act

Milo has a new photoshoot and interview with Our Era! Check out the photos in the gallery and read the interview below.

OUR ERA – Milo Manheim, the effervescent actor widely known for his roles in the Zombies franchise, School Spirits, and soon, Little Shop of Horrors, is a whirlwind of creative energy. He juggles a multitude of projects – film, television, and theatre – with a seemingly boundless enthusiasm. “My life does not feel real,” he confesses, a charming mix of disbelief and pure excitement bubbling in his voice. As he navigates these diverse artistic landscapes, Manheim remains grounded, deeply appreciative of the opportunities he’s given, and utterly passionate about his craft.

I caught up with Manheim just as his newest role in Little Shop of Horrors was announced. He spoke about the almost serendipitous way this dream role materialized, a chance encounter with Michael Mayer, the Tony Award-winning director of the revival, leading to this incredible opportunity. “It just happened so magically,” he marvels, a hint of childlike wonder in his tone. You can almost picture his 13-year-old self, the theatre-obsessed kid who used to make his family sit through his living-room performances, doing cartwheels of joy. While he’s still in the beginning stages of preparation, Manheim is already deeply immersed in the quirky, carnivorous world of Little Shop, listening to the iconic score on repeat, revisiting the delightfully campy movie, and anticipating the unique challenge of the show’s intricate, often tongue-twisting lyrics. “It’s a jam-packed show,” he explains, his energy rising as he talks about the production, “very high energy and the music is just so infectious.” He mentions a particular fondness for “Feed Me,” recalling the visceral impact it had on him when he saw a previous production of the show. “That song just stuck with me,” he says, “it’s so raw and powerful.”

Manheim’s journey, however, hasn’t been a straightforward, perfectly paved path. He spoke candidly about the inherent differences between stage and film acting, acknowledging the valuable lessons he’s learned in each medium. “I started with theater. I love theater. It’s my passion. I moved to film. And, you know, film is completely different, and it took me a long time to figure out those differences, and I’m still figuring them out,” he admitted. His early experiences in theatre were all about performing for the immediate gratification of the audience, feeling that live connection and the energy exchange. But stepping into film required an entirely different approach—where scenes are repeated multiple times in front of a crew, demanding him to make each take feel fresh. “I think I needed the time away first because I also think when I was younger, I was performing for the audience,” he reflected. “And I think that stepping into film where you do a scene like 20 times, there’s like 100 people watching you, and you have to make it new every time, you really gotta find a way to do it for yourself.”

Returning to the stage for American Idiot after years of working primarily in film and television allowed him to beautifully integrate these two seemingly disparate approaches. “Going back to theater now, like five years later, I could perform for me and my cast, and then anything that we got back from the audience was just like a cherry on top. And I think that I needed to go through that as an actor first,” he shared. The experience reinforced his equal love for both mediums, which he likened to playing two different sports. “But now I have equal love for theater and the film world, but they’re completely different. I consider them different sports, but I hope to play both of them for the rest of my life, right?” His return to the stage was a powerful demonstration of his artistic growth and adaptability—he learned to perform with an internal focus honed by his film work while still embracing the dynamism and immediacy of live theatre.

He spoke warmly of his American Idiot experience, emphasizing the profound and unexpected connections he forged within the Deaf community. He described the invaluable experience of learning American Sign Language, not just as a skill, but as a way to connect with a vibrant and expressive culture.
read more

2024 Feb 10

Milo Interview with DAMAN

DAMAN – Dive into Milo Manheim’s world as he reflects on working with Eli Roth, transitioning between genres and his aspirations beyond acting

Born and raised in Venice, Los Angeles, Milo Manheim delved into the world of acting since he was only six years old. School programs soon turned to musicals and eventually TV series and movies, most notably “Zombies” and its two sequels. In this online-exclusive interview with DAMAN, the American actor recounts his acting journey and talks about what lies ahead…

DAMAN: Hi Milo, awesome to have you with us. Let’s start from the beginning: What initially drew you to acting and how did you start your journey?
Milo Manheim: I’m an only child and my mom [Golden Globe awardwinning actress Camryn Manheim] is a single mom; so, growing up, I spent a lot of time on the set of her show. I loved watching the magic get made and quickly fell in love with that environment. I knew I wanted to be in the industry … I just didn’t know my place. Once I started theater, it became clear to me that acting was my passion.

DA: You’ve been quite busy throughout late 2023 with movies like “Thanksgiving” and “Journey to Bethlehem” as well as “School Spirits” on Netflix. How do you manage working on so many different projects? And how do you pick and choose roles or genres?
MM: I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to do such different roles. I love acting because of the people I meet and the new places I get to explore. And 2023 was definitely a year of new experiences. I’m grateful I got to explore various genres this year and it’s my goal to always be trying new things in the acting world. Part of the fun is figuring out how to approach each role.

DA: How do you handle the challenges of acting in so many different roles in such a short timeframe?
MM: I think having more time to prepare always helps, but there is an excitement to only having a set amount of time to figure out your character. I’d rather think about it as exciting than stressful. It’s easy to feel safe when your cast and crew are welcoming which, luckily, has always been my experience.

DA: Are there any specific character types or genres that you prefer?
MM: I love comedy at heart. But my main goal is to continue to play a wide variety of characters. I think at this point in my life, I’m curious to do some more dramatic, more transformative acting. But I’ll always find my way back to comedy.

DA: Apart from acting, are you interested in exploring other fields in the biz? Maybe directing or producing…
MM: Absolutely. I’m a producer on a project right now and I’m learning so many new things. I’m a very curious person and want to learn about all aspects of film making. Hopefully in the future I can continue to work behind the camera as well as in front of it.

DA: Let’s talk about working with Eli Roth for “Thanksgiving.” What was he like as a director and how did his style affect the way you acted?
MM: Eli is the best. He keeps it real with you. He gave me big brother energy. No matter how I felt coming into set that day, I always felt safe with Eli looking out for us. Also, I think people would be surprised to know that the vibe of a horror set is not scary at all; it was genuinely one of the funniest shoots I’ve been on.
read more

milomanheimcom_027.jpg
milomanheimcom_028.jpg
milomanheimcom_029.jpg
milomanheimcom_022.jpg
milomanheimcom_023.jpg
milomanheimcom_024.jpg
milomanheimcom_025.jpg
milomanheimcom_026.jpg
milomanheimcom_016.jpg
milomanheimcom_017.jpg
milomanheimcom_018.jpg
milomanheimcom_019.jpg
milomanheimcom_020.jpg
milomanheimcom_021.jpg
milomanheimcom_009.jpg
milomanheimcom_010.jpg
milomanheimcom_011.jpg
milomanheimcom_012.jpg
milomanheimcom_013.jpg
milomanheimcom_014.jpg
milomanheimcom_015.jpg
milomanheimcom_004.jpg
milomanheimcom_005.jpg
milomanheimcom_006.jpg
milomanheimcom_007.jpg
milomanheimcom_008.jpg
milomanheimcom_001.jpg
milomanheimcom_002.jpg
milomanheimcom_003.jpg
milomanheimcom_314.jpg