New York nightspot 54 Below is set to welcome back one of its inaugural stars when Brian d'Arcy James takes the stage Sept. 5.
Though he's predominately known as a song-and-dance man, the two-time Tony Award nominee ("Sweet Smell of Success," "Shrek the Musical") will mostly eschew showtunes in favor of rock and pop songs for "Under The Influence," an eclectic "hodgepodge" show that he premiered at 54 Below to great acclaim last year, shortly after the club opened.
"I've always said this endeavor was a bit of a selfish one," James, 45, said in an interview with The Huffington Post, noting that the 2013 version of his set will comprises tunes by Billy Joel, Steve Winwood and Squeeze. "Since it was the first time I've really put together an official show of my own, I gravitated towards the music that I grew up listening to, which is predominately a traditional pop sound."
James' renditions...
Though he's predominately known as a song-and-dance man, the two-time Tony Award nominee ("Sweet Smell of Success," "Shrek the Musical") will mostly eschew showtunes in favor of rock and pop songs for "Under The Influence," an eclectic "hodgepodge" show that he premiered at 54 Below to great acclaim last year, shortly after the club opened.
"I've always said this endeavor was a bit of a selfish one," James, 45, said in an interview with The Huffington Post, noting that the 2013 version of his set will comprises tunes by Billy Joel, Steve Winwood and Squeeze. "Since it was the first time I've really put together an official show of my own, I gravitated towards the music that I grew up listening to, which is predominately a traditional pop sound."
James' renditions...
- 9/3/2013
- by Curtis M. Wong
- Huffington Post
Brian d'Arcy James admits that his performance in Shrek the Musical is influenced by Mike Myers, who provided the voice of the title ogre on screen. "It would be foolish to turn your nose away from that," he says. "We're honoring what people know and admire." Nonetheless, James is determined to bring his own interpretation to the big green guy with the Scottish accent. "My goal and challenge is to create a living, breathing version of Shrek that is theatrical and alive and has dimension and complexity," says the actor in his Broadway dressing room as he readies for the elaborate transformation. "My hope is that he has humanity, which is an interesting use of the word to describe an ogre." The director has no doubt he cast the right actor for the job. "Brian is a chameleon," says Jason Moore. "He can play a villain; he can play a nice guy.
- 12/5/2008
- backstage.com
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