Mekonnen “MK” Knife is currently entertaining fans of all ages across the country as part of the cast of Disney‘s Worlds Collide tour.
The actor-singer-dancer, who plays Vargas in Disney’s Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires and is returning for the upcoming fifth installment, joined forces with fellow stars from Disney’s Zombies, Descendants and Camp Rock franchises for a high-energy, three-hour show that’s traveling around the country before going global later this year. His tourmates are Malachi Barton (Zombies 4, Camp Rock 3), Liamani Segura (Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, Camp Rock 3), Dara Reneé (Descendants: The Rise of Red), Hudson Stone (Camp Rock 3), Swayam Bhatia (Zombies 4), Kiara Romero (Descendants: Wicked Wonderland) and Alexandro Byrd (Descendants: Wicked Wonderland). The show features songs from each of those franchises along with some surprises.
Amid tour dates, Knife recently took time out to talk to The Hollywood Reporter about the show, his favorite songs to perform, the fans and his hopes for what’s next.
What’s your favorite part of the show?
Honestly, there’s so many moving factors in the show that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one specific part. I also enjoy the routines that I’m not in, being able to watch everybody. I think that’s one of my favorite parts, is being able to see it from a different perspective and watch everyone else and the routines that I’m not in. I think that’s a special thing. Everyone has a time to shine.
The show is three hours long. You have to be tired after that!
I mean, it’s just high energy the whole time. I’m exhausted — and doing it back-to-back, my body’s feeling it — but the energy we get from the crowd is that extra 1 percent of it, you know? It keeps us going.
The audience is comprised of families who brought their kids of all ages, from toddler to teen. Why do you think this appeals to such a wide range of fans?
There are people that have 18-year-olds, adults, and they grew up watching these movies. I think it’s built for all demographics. Even if you haven’t watched any of the movies and you’re walking completely blind, you would still have a good time. There’s so much going on in the show. There’s not really any chance to just sit down and kind of doze off because there’s so much happening. You can’t not have a good time.
The show incorporates a lot of messages of positivity. Can you talk a little bit about that and why that’s so important to share those types of messages with the fans?
With this kind of impact and the impact that these movies have, there are a lot of messages and motivational quotes in these films. We wanted to implement that into the show. It’s just a good way to be able to speak to lots of people on such a big stage, to share positivity and kindness, and there’s no better way to do it than on a stage in front of 10,000 people.
The fans also love how the show incorporates pictures and videos of you all when you were younger. You speak onstage about your dream of becoming a dancer, and now you’ve fulfilled that. You’re performing at some of the biggest arenas in the country.
It’s wild. We’re all living out our childhood dreams. I love the montage of us as little kids and then seeing us now. It’s a really cool feature to add and to be able to see our growth and our careers.
What’s your favorite song to perform during the show?
I really enjoyed doing “It’s On” [from Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam], “Like the Zombies Do” [from Zombies 2], and “Chillin’ Like a Villain” from Descendants 2]. Those three mashed up together are really fun. It’s a fun transition from the opening.
You go through a lot of quick costume changes during the show. What’s it like backstage during all that?
It’s intense. [Laughs] It’s just a lot of moving people. It’s like The Matrix. Everyone’s coming in and out and in and out. It’s mayhem, but everyone makes their quick changes and everyone gets there on time. Everyone works together as a team. It’s like a real community; everyone kind of helps out. I had to do a quick change where I have to finish my solo and then I run to the other side of the stage. I have to put on my jacket while I’m running and someone’s there waiting, holding it. I literally am running through the darkness with my arms chucking on my jacket on trying to make my cue.
You’re touring around the U.S. and then you go global. What is the fan interaction like as you travel around the country and beyond?
It’s special. Every city has a different kind of energy with the fans. No city is ever the same as the one before. One of my favorites parts of the show is being able to see how different cities react.
Of all of the three movie franchises that are represented on the tour, do you have a favorite?
Oh my gosh, putting me on the spot. [Laughs] I mean, I have to go with Zombies because I love Zombies and that’s my career. But honestly, I grew up watching all these. I actually grew up watching Camp Rock before any of them. I grew up watching Camp Rock and High School Musical, and then I ended up transitioning to like Descendants, and I found Zombies after Descendants. All of them are special.
The first Camp Rock was out almost 20 years ago, and there are more Descendants and Zombies movies in the works. Why do you think that these movies endure?
It’s the positivity, and people love being able to connect to music and dance. That’s what I connected to when I was a kid, dancing in my living room with these songs and singing karaoke. It’s an atmosphere where everyone’s friends and just having fun. That’s a special thing, and being able to put that on a stage is really cool. Having like a new generation of fans who didn’t grow up with it, it’s their turn to be able to experience what we experienced when we were younger, which is really special.
Some of these franchises are five movies in, and still going strong.
Yeah, they’re gonna keep on coming. It’s like a sushi [conveyor belt]. [Laughs]
Do you feel like the cast has become a second family for you?
For sure. It takes a lot to be on tour. It’s different from filming. I’m from Australia, so I’m on the other side of the world to my family. It’s a big sacrifice, but I think we really bond with each other. We spend so much time with each other on the bus, and it’s really become a community. Everyone becomes like a family because we’re all away from our families.
Has your family been able to come to any shows?
Yeah, my dad’s been with me for the whole rehearsal process of the two months that we had, and he was there for the first couple of shows. He’s probably got two more shows, and then he’s heading back to Australia. And then my family will come back for the New York shows. I’m really grateful they get to see it.
What advice would you give to a young performer who wants to pursue singing, acting, dancing, etc., professionally?
Don’t compare yourself to other people. Every person’s journey is different from the next person. Try not to get overwhelmed with how much there is out there, and don’t compare yourself to wherever another person’s at, the level that they’re at or what they’re doing in their career or their journey. Just because this person’s taking it this route doesn’t mean that your route’s going to be the same. Every single person is different in the way that they bloom and flourish in their journey. Take it at your own pace. And really stick to your village and hold your people close because this industry is really big and can be very scary and overwhelming. So when you have your people, just keep them close.
What’s next for you after the tour wraps?
All I can really do right now is the tour. I’m down for anything after the tour, whatever opportunity God brings my way, I’m happy to do anything. I’d love to tap into the live-action space and do some films in that world, and also do some stuntwork. But I’m open to anything.
Is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans?
Thank you for coming to the shows and thank you for supporting us. We all appreciate it. There are days where it’s physically exhausting to put on this much of a scale, but the energy that [fans] bring, it gives us a lot of love. So I just want to say thank you for giving us that. We appreciate it. It does not go unnoticed.
The Worlds Collide Tour is scheduled to run through February.
