Miku Godfrey, a student at Lulea University of Technology in Skelleftea, Sweden, is now hard at work building the set for the next production at Olympic Theatre Arts.
He’s made himself at home in our fair community — as well he should. Sequim is his second home. Miku is the son of Eric Godfrey, a local contractor, and the grandson of Nan and Rick Godfrey.
Miku was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., and lived there until he was 4. That’s when his parents, Eric and Swedish native Lissa Lotte, decided to give Sweden a try.
“It was good, so we stayed,” said Miku.
Eric moved back to the U.S. in 2007. Since then Miku has made Sequim a regular summer stop.
While attending school in Sweden, Miku discovered a passion for art. He soon blossomed. To date Miku has completed more than two dozen personal art shows and exhibits in Sweden.
Somewhere along the way, one of his teachers pointed Miku to the “theater arts.”
That’s been his driving ambition ever since. There is only one “prop school” in Sweden, so Miku took off to America to see what could be found. During a visit to Laguna Vista, Calif., he picked up the phone and called Paul Pearson, a Hollywood props mainstay for more than 30 years. He hoped for a few-minutes chat, but the call resulted in a 2½-hour visit to the master’s studio.
When Miku returned to Sweden he applied for and was accepted into Lulea’s master’s degree program. He admits that was no mean feat: only eight are accepted for each new class, with 400 filing applications.
He’ll complete the coursework in 2014, when he anticipates entering the industry full-time.
His resume already is impressive, with credits including work on two movies and several TV shows.
At home in Sequim
Miku said he’s had a great time at the OTA, calling it “just the greatest experience.”
He noted that he previously hadn’t engaged in stage work, but said OTA provided him with plenty as they prepared to stage “God of Carnage,” which closed two weeks ago.
A small theater isn’t “like a union,” he noted. “They’ll let you try everything.”
Olivia Shea, who directed the play, said Miku was “just so helpful,” applying his talents to a multitude of tasks. That included building a table for the set, creating the lighting and manning the light board. He created snazzy “art book” covers from materials found online.
But that’s not all. He also volunteered to provide the food and drink for the cast party, turning in another stellar performance.
“He’s just a great guy,” Shea said.
The crew struck the set for “God of Carnage” in early May. Now Miku is hard at work on the set of OTA’s next production, “Crimes of the Heart.”
The future holds
Miku has high hopes for his future, pointing out that his international upbringing provides him with certain invaluable advantages.
Because he holds both American and Swedish citizenship he can work anywhere in the U.S. and, under the rules of the European Union, anywhere in Europe.
He grew up speaking Swedish, but with help from his dad retained his English. He speaks American English with virtually no accent.
And then there are his industry connections: Following his Sequim internship, he’ll head to Hollywood where he will complete four additional short-term internships on film and stage settings. His old friend Paul Pearson is lending a hand in the young man’s efforts.
Reach Mark Couhig at mcouhig@sequimgazette.com.
