Jason Danieley - Broadway singing actor and recent blogger from the inside of show business, AMA!

Non-serious question: Do you ever wish you could get rich off sardines?

Serious question: How does it feel working on something that so many people were unsure if it would ever actually happen on Broadway (and opening in time for this year's eligibility period)?

I bet Mr. Snow raked in the dough on that idea. right?

Working on THE VISIT is exactly what I wanted to do when I started performing. It's a musical that has something to say and is entertaining at the same time. I've been lucky enough to be a part of many shows like this. FLOYD COLLINS, NEXT TO NORMAL, THE HIGHEST YELLOW (Michael John LaChiusa in DC), DREAM TRUE (Ricky Ian Gordan) and they don't always make it to the Great White Way. This is one of those unique opportunities. I'm thrilled for audiences to see this great work. I'm hopeful that it will be recognized for the great piece of art that it is now and not years from now like some other K&E shows.

I can say that I know of a few people already working on learning a few numbers from it.

Are there any other works that you've been a part of or would like to be a part of that you think deserve a run on Broadway?

Well, I think FLOYD COLLINS is a show that should make it's way to Broadway. Our sound designer for THE VISIT Dan Moses Shrerer and Mary Beth Piel also worked on Floyd and we were saying that very thing.

I've been a part of a musical called SECONDHAND LIONS based on the 2002 movie with Robert Duval and Michael Kane, we did a run at the 5th Ave. theatre in Seattle two years ago. We are doing a new workshop on it in two weeks and I think it could possibly come in next season or the one after that. It's a really fun show that the whole family will like.

And I play a role unlike any anyone has ever seen me play. The Sultan of Oujda! An evil Moroccan Sultan. Yup! that's right.

SECONDHAND LIONS

The Haley Joel Osment movie? That sounds fun.

Break a leg on the workshop. Sounds like a good idea, plus you being a Sultan and all that.

e: What's your favorite other show that's on right now?

Yes, with Haley J O.

I sent my mom and two sisters to see ON THE TOWN last night. I saw this production up at Barrington Stage Co. in Pittsfield, MA a couple of years ago and thought it was tremendous then. I haven't seen it at the Lyric but have heard wonderful things.

I made my Bway debut in Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE and have always loved his music. Such a shame we don't have more musicals from him. But the score for OTT is iconic and so much fun. I really have to get there to hear the original orchestrations played by the real size orchestra. You don't year that kind of sound much any more in commercial theatre on Bway.

Also the three guys are quite astounding at their triple threat business. Dancing, singing, acting... they are doing it all at warp speed.

In the Sondheim 80th Birthday Concert, you and your lovely and talented wife Marin are introduced as "the naughtiest couple of Broadway." How did you earn that title?

Well, DHP (David Hyde Pierce) and I had performed for over a year in the K&E musical CURTAINS. I have a penchant for dirty jokes and would tell a different one each show. He has a particular fondness for "blue" comedy and is really quite good at himself. He wrote me a birthday limerick that included the rhymes for Danieley as annually, manually and Cocker-Spanieley. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Can I borrow your Ford Festiva? I gotta pick up a new AC at Nobody Beats the Wiz.

Brian was my first roommate in NYC, actually Queens. He borrowed my car on several occasions. You don't know how rare a commodity it is to have four wheels in NYC. And Brian, NO. You can afford your own car or many cars now. :D

I'll fill up the tank!

At the least.

Besides I also looked after your car while you were on tour being a bunny rabbit. I felt like the king of Queens, before that was a show.

Yes. The Velveteen Rabbit! That's what we call "paying your dues" or maybe in all caps PAYING YOUR DUES. It got me my equity card at least.

Hi Jason! First of all I have to say that your performance in Carousel was brilliant... It was my first time seeing that show and that production has stayed with me...

On to my question: what advice to you have to aspiring musical theatre actors? I'm a rising senior at CCM (where John riddle went!), so I'm going to be moving to New York in about a year! What advice would you give to your 20 something self that had just moved to New York?

Thanks for doing this AMA!

Hi Nick,

There is so much advice to give. A quick plug for my blog might prove helpful in the long run. www.jasondanieley.com/blog I post things about the business from the insiders track. Tweet me what things you might want me to talk about specifically but here are a few things to start...

Don't make theatre the ONLY thing you do. Have some outside interests. You can't be a fully realized human being if you are only focusing on the latest Jason Robert Brown musical, although they are great. You need to have other things that inspire you and get you going. I, for instance, am active with the Alzheimer's Association. I have a personal experience with my grandmother who suffered and succumbed to it. I'm also a runner so I ran the NYC Marathon with them this last Nov.

I sing cabaret, concert hall concerts as well as master classes to express my creativity all the time not only when there is an audition or a show to do. You have to create opportunity for yourself. That's the only thing that is within your control. All the other stuff is dependent on so many outside elements that it can drive you crazy.

OK, real question: When you perform a complicated character eight shows a week, how much does the emotional life of the character affect you when you are off stage? "Next to Normal", for example, must have been a tremendous mental challenge for you and Marin?

actually, both Marin and I really try and leave it all at the theatre. Marin had the lions share of the drama in N2N. She began her day by getting depressed so that at curtain time she was primed to have her major mental breakdown at the top of the show. But at the time the curtain falls, she's grabbing my ass as we walk off stage. Gotta leave it all out there.

Hey Jason! Do you have a favorite theatre or space whose stage you've performed?

Depending on the type of work I'm doing but I really am loving the Lyceum theatre where THE VISIT is playing on W45th St. It is the PERFECT size for this show. It's intimate but allows the show to feel as epic as it is. There's not a bad seat in that house. You can see every glaring glance that Chita and I exchange as rivals (sort of) in the story.

How long does it take you to get ready for The Visit? How long after the show?

It takes me at least a full hour to get ready for the show, especially if my dressing roommate Rick Holmes come in in a particularly talkative mood which is ALWAYS! I love him and he keeps me laughing the whole hour we are painting the very detailed makeup design on our faces and talking about the line readings he's going to try... which, thank God, he never actually does.

Paint the face, put on the 7 layers of wool clothing, say hello to all the cast, crew and orchestra then head to places. I need to connect with everyone I can before we start the story.

What's your favorite movie?

I guess it may be THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE. I know that may seem random and it kind of surprises me that I say that but I adore that kind of humor (French/quirky/dark) and the hot jazz of that era is fantastic. Not to mention the incredible animation. No big Disney eyes. :D

If you could star in a movie remake of a musical which one and why?

This wasn't a movie musical but there is a musical of this movie that I think deserves much more attention that it has been given. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN was one of my favorite shows to do.

It's about a father who loves his family tremendously, especially his daughter, but because of his own demons he's never able to rise to the occasion. It speaks to the fatalistic romantic in me. I guess it's the German/Irish in me.

The score by Arthur Schwartz and Dorothy Fields is stunning. I had the great good fortune to do this at Encores at City Center in NYC back in NYC. I've always wanted to record it.

Jason, you are so talented and turning in such a brilliant performance in THE VISIT. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this AMA!

What is it like working with John Doyle? Could you elaborate a bit on his process or elements of the rehearsal period of THE VISIT that you found effective or unique? I’m an aspiring musical theatre director and am fascinated by his work.

Thank you for your kind words about my performance in THE VISIT. John Doyle is quite an extraordinary director. He works in a very relaxed and efficient manner. He's wonderfully trusting of the actor and their process. He makes you feel like a true and equal collaborator. Often his most informative way to direct is telling us stories of his grandmother in Scotland that seem random but somehow wrangle us all in the exact same direction without trying to "tell" us what to do. He's the best

Since the best theater stories are always about things that go wrong, what is the worst thing that has happened to you on stage?

Well, I've told this story many times, but I guess it bears repeating. During the finale of THE FULL MONTY just as we tear off our g-strings and throw them high in the air along with our hats we are backlit by a giant sign that says The Full Monty leaving us only in silhouette. One night the lighting board got ahead of us and instead of being backlit the lighting cue for the curtain call came up. That is the hottest most lit up the stage is at any time during the show. So needless to say we were all screaming a little bit but maybe not as much as some of those really surprised people in the audience that night.

Nice! At least cell phone cameras weren't a big thing yet. Do you think it was really an accident, or did someone pay off the light board operator?

Yes, thank God cell phones weren't as advanced as they are now. I know it was an accident as the Stage Manger who was calling the show that night was reduced to a liquid blob of blubber because she felt so bad.

Needless to say the very next night we had a master kill switch on the board to ensure that would never happen again. I personally didn't have too much of a problem with it but that could be me remembering things a little differently 14 years later.

I love the FLOYD COLLINS recording, and only wish I could have seen the original production. I did eventually see the 1999 mini-tour of regional theaters, which shared much of the same creative staff. Are there any memorable moments you have from that show?

I remember almost everything about that show. It was my introduction to the NY theatre scene. How luck am I? I was instantly introduced to the entire Richard Rodgers, Mary Rodgers Guettle and Adam Guettle family and all that that family of theatre royalty is connected with.

Business side aside... It was a very creative process. Tina Landau who wrote the book/addl. lyrics and directed it works using The Viewpoints. It was the most freeing and total collaborative way of working I had ever worked.

I still have very close friends from that show. Martin Moran was my best man in my wedding and best friend. Theresa McCarthy was my sister Nelllie and has sung with my band The Frontier Heroes...

My favorite moment on stage possibly EVER has to be singing "The Riddle Song" with Chris Innvar. Total theatrical magic. I also love that when Stephen Sondheim was interviewed some years ago about the songs he wished he had written he included "The Riddle Song" in that list. It is good to have confirmation that it is indeed one of the greatest songs written for the music theatre.

Thank you so much for the response. I also saw the 1999 production of DREAM TRUE and one of my friends was in the cast, so it's nice to hear more about Tina Landau and viewpoints work. I love her stage tableaus. (Yet another cast album where I've enjoyed your work.)

"The Riddle Song" always makes me smile. If TPTB are reading this, yes, please bring back FLOYD COLLINS.

Amen!

How's Oscar? ;-)

Oscar is great! He's keeping me company in the den as I answer these great AMA questions.

how does he adjust with all your travel?

He's a very sensitive boy. When we are simply vocalizing he gets anxious as he knows we are leaving. He has an incredible dog walker, Ana, who takes him to her home while we are on Symphony or concert tours and he has a second home.

A couple of months ago, my wife and I were at a show at 54 Below where you, Christian Borle, Celia Keenan-Bolger and a few others performed. We saw your wife at the back of the theater sitting with Roger Rees - my wife and I were just star-struck by all of you. My question is, how do you feel about fans coming up and talking to you? We were hesitant to, and I've regretted it since, though of course if it is a big deal, we're glad we didn't. At any rate, the show was hugely enjoyable.

That's so nice of you to say, that you are a fan, but I am always happy to meet people. I guess my caveat on that is as long as they don't ramble on about this and that. I have a feeling, based on your comment, that that wouldn't have been the case with you.

I find I meet so many very interesting people that way. Some real friendships come from such encounters.

My good friend now, Jennifer Levy, was a friend who has ended up working with Marin and me on our websites and keeping other fans up to date through our email list. I must say all of that was her suggestion. we don't put our fans "to work" Ha Ha!

so, when are you coming back to Key West? How about March 2016?

As soon as we get an invitation! :D

when did you discover your love of musical theater??

I started singing when I was very young, 4, in my dad's church (he was the preacher). I loved storytelling but didn't really know what music theatre was. When it all came together, watching Gene Kelly and Howard Keel MGM musicals and going to the MUNY in St. Louis, where I grew up, I saw Sweeney Todd on PBS and it changed my life. I have Sondheim and George Hearn (the actor playing Sweeney) to thank for catapulting me into what I do.

Can you describe your Visit co-stars using one word for each?

Wow that would be a task. Chita - Salty Roger - Sweet Rick - Sardonic David Garrison - dry Mary Beth Piel - Regal Aaron Ramey - solid Tim Shew - hammy George abud - Shooting star John Riddle - surprising Michelle V. - look out! Diana DiMarzio - Stalwart Chris Newcomer - Likeminded Matt Deming - devious Elena Shaddow - Surprising

What is the hardest thing about working on The Visit?

My particular physicality for my character. John Doyle's inspiration for the look at approach of the show is based liberally on Classical Greek theatre and the Yiddish theatre. There is an exaggerated walk and facial features I've made a part of Schoolmaster Kuhn's life. If I don't stretch properly my back and knees suffer. I also have a permanent frown and furrowed brow that requires some relaxation after a performance. I use the Alexander Technique to help me from getting too tense and causing any bad and long lasting habits.

All of the physical work pays off for the audience. Every scene looks like a painting.

Thanks Brian!

What do you think will be the panicle role that you could play that you haven't touched yet ?? Are there any other shows you see yourself doing with Marin in the near future ?

I am always looking for a new musical and new role to tackle. I'm hoping that there is a pinnacle role for me that is still stirring around a composer and writer's head.

I had the wonderful opportunity to play George in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre a few years ago. That was a dream role and I had the opportunity to act with the most talented cast of Chicago actors it was a real honor. I think that particular production could have a life on Broadway... a boy can dream.

Never sang a day before in my life. What is one piece of advice you could give me if I wanted to improve my voice beyond the raspy, flaky embarrassment I currently have?

Well it sounds like you might want to drink some water to begin with. :D I also think if you find some favorite singers whom you really like and that have had a good and long career and just start singing with their recordings and trying to find some of the things you like about their voice and emulating them that's a good start.

I personally did a lot of that as a kid with singers like Mandy Patinkin, Colm Wilkinson, Brent Barrett, Howard McGillian, Luciano Pavoratti, Russ Taff, Larnell Harris... found things about each persons voice and tried to sound like them while singing in the bedroom. Eventually I took voice lessons and started melding the best of each in my style. Then with the help of a good teacher I made all of those technical choices for myself and now I have my own style and voice.

Good luck!

Do you think that theater can be saved from its continuing plunge from mainstream popularity? Many observe that theaters are mostly filled with actors and old people, while the rest of the majority prefers TV/Movies.

I don't know that theater will ever go back to the golden days of Broadway. That way of living no longer exists. TV and film made it very easy and convenient to be entertained on your own schedule.

There isn't the mindset of a community anymore. You have to plan your evening or afternoon around going to the theatre. I personally really like that communal activity of watching something.

I think theatre will always be here and will continue to evolve but there is no going back to before.

I consider theatre to be a similar entertainment as classical music and opera. We'll always have it and there will always be young people who appreciate it and will go but the masses will no longer be the norm.

Hi Mr.Danieley,

I am a huge fan of your work. Your performances in N2N and Curtains were so beautiful, and they really left an impact on me. I'll be seeing you in The Visit next month and I can't wait!

My question for you is about where you see the future of theatre heading. I am relatively young (19) and as much as I love and see the value in musicals that deal with darker subjects and teach really valuable messages, I know that less and less young people want to see that on stage. Do you see there being room for these musicals to thrive in the future? It scares me that shows that changed my life and taught me so much (like N2N and Sunday in the Park) will simply not be able to make it to Broadway 10-15 years down the line as Broadway becomes more and more commercial in nature. To add on to that, what can I do to make a difference in the space and make sure young people see these shows short of producing them myself?

Thank you!

P.S I think you would be a badass Hedwig. Thoughts on that?

Thank you for your kind words about N2N and Curtains. I enjoyed each, for completely different reasons, tremendously. I think, given your question, that you'll REALLY like THE VISIT.

I sort of answer this question in the previous person's question. I see theatre being around forever and theatre that "makes a difference" will always have it's place. Wether that is on Broadway or Off-Broadway always depends on the men and women who are in charge of getting the money and how much of a risk they are willing to take.

You say "short of producing them" yourself but that is possibly THE way to make a difference. Not everyone who performs or writes can truly make a change it's the brave producer who wants to see something like N2N, SUNDAY, THE VISIT on Broadway who makes the real difference.

As well, the theatre owners are the people with most, if not all, of the power to make things happen. They decide what will and won't take up residence in their theatre. So grooming theatre management who are intelligent and savvy is paramount.

Off-Broadway is a very viable alternative to this. Theatre can thrive here and does. Off-Broadway sometimes carries an inferior connotation with it. Somehow it sounds not good enough to be on Broadway. It just means there are less seats in the theatre it has nothing to do with quality.

The best that you can do is GO to the shows you like and let your friends know why you like what you do. Have conversations about the content, the quality and be discerning. Pay the money for what you want to see. Money talks.