“My father made me a list of movies when I was a teenager that I had to see,” Lucas Hallauer told me over the phone from Hartford, Connecticut, where he was starring as Marty McFly in the hit Broadway musical “Back to the Future.”

“Back to the Future” was at the top of the list.

Hallauer wasn’t even born when the movie came out, but he has been “transported back to the fifties” to play the coveted Michael J. Fox role.

The young, talented actor/singer/dancer/athlete was born in New Orleans, moved to Virginia and attended Coastal Carolina University, where he earned his BFA in Musical Theatre.

After appearing in college and community theatre productions, he got his first break as a member of the traveling cast of “Mean Girls” and then went on to understudy the role of McFly then taking over the lead in the touring cast.

“I enjoy watching the audience reactions to both cool musicals from a different generation,” he said.

“It is such an iconic role,” Lucas said. “The director has given me the freedom of developing my own character, making my own choices as to how to play Marty.”

“We’re on stage for two and a half hours and spending our days rehearsing with new actors joining us on the road.”

Lucas keeps in shape by working out on the road, eating correctly, and skateboarding and dancing while on stage.

“My weaknesses are milk shakes and cookies. I search for the best milkshake everywhere we play.”

I told him he had to try Rhode Island’s famous coffee shakes.

“I’m a southern boy, and I am enjoying traveling north, east and west,” he said. “We’ve been in San Francisco, LA and Seattle, and now I’m seeing the northeast for the first time.

“Back to the Future” is at the Providence Performing Arts Center June 10-15. The famous DeLorean, featured in the show, will be parked in front of the theatre for 90 minutes before each show.

For tickets to the show, visit the PPAC box office or go online at
ppac.org.