The Try Guys Take on Can Can
When The Try Guys came to town, they didn’t just sit in the audience. They laced up, stretched out, and stepped straight into the spotlight with us at Can Can. Known for diving headfirst into the unfamiliar, they traded their comfort zones for corsets and choreography to see what really goes into a night at our theatre.
Want a peek behind the curtain? Read on.
THECANCAN.COM: We’re a big fan of the Try Guys here. It feels like your platform is about laughs, but it’s also about places and people who really matter. When you’re choosing a small business like Can Can, what’s that thought process? Are you thinking about how it might illuminate the company you’re stepping into?
The Try Guys: It’s really twofold.
On one hand, performances are fun. Showcasing different art forms is fun. And it creates a high-stakes challenge for us, which makes it exciting for viewers. We love a big, spectacular ending to a video.
But beyond that, our ethos has always been about getting out of our comfort zones to understand different people’s cultures, jobs, and lives. The best way to learn about someone is to step into their shoes for a day. Whether that’s eating their food, trying their hobbies, or doing their job, immersing ourselves in someone’s world gives us real insight.
If we can step into one person’s life for a day, we can share that experience with a whole lot more people.
THECANCAN.COM: Well, you’ve officially high-kicked your way through the Can Can experience. What surprised you? What are your takeaways? And most importantly, when are you auditioning to be permanent cast members?
The Try Guys: First of all, thank you for the invite!
Honestly, when we heard “Can Can,” we didn’t totally know what to expect. The stage setup, the tight-knit vibe, and how the performers interact with the audience were all surprises. We knew we’d be dancing, but we didn’t realize how layered the production would be.
We also didn’t know how rich the history is with Can Can celebrating over 20 years of original shows in Pike Place Market. Things like how it came into the new location, how Jonny’s been here the entire ride, so, that's so much more fun to learn about. I think when you come to the Can Can, you get to see a great show; but when you have the opportunity to meet and work with performers, you get to see how invested these people are.
It's their lives, it's their livelihood, and also they're providing entertainment to locals and tourists. You can tell it adds so much to Seattle and the community here.
THECANCAN.COM: Can you tell us more about your experience with performing and production?
The Try Guys: Building something like this means wearing a lot of hats. I’ve done almost every job in this company at some point.
THECANCAN.COM: Tell us more.
The Try Guys: That doesn’t mean I can do it better than anyone else. I can do a version of almost everything we do at our company. And now that we’ve finally grown, there are things I truly can’t do at all, which is actually great.
It’s a family effort. A group effort to get every show up and running. And after doing a show, I feel like I can never skip giving a standing ovation again in my life. I know how much work goes into every performance and how much that little gesture means. Even a “fine” performance is hard to pull off.
From high kicks to heartfelt respect for the craft, The Try Guys didn’t just try Can Can. They lived it. And we were so glad to share a bit of our world with them.
View the full Try Guys episode here:
