THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- Bruce Dow!

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As With Your Favorite Broadway Stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on!

In this next edition, we caught up with Bruce Dow who is starring as the outrageous 'King Herod' in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR- currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre!

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

My first Broadway play was the now famous/infamous production of ON THE WATERFRONT at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where I would later make my Broadway debut in JANE EYRE. My first Broadway musical was the - oddly prophetic again - amazing Des McAnuff production of H2$ (How to Succeed in Business...) with greats Matthew Broderick, Megan Mullally and Victoria Clark.

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

Right now, I'm doing a lot of "talking" (not literally) - to the ghosts in our theatre. From its days as The Alvin to its days as The Neil Simon, so many great performers have played this stage in so many historic productions.

I just like to sop up some of their energy before hitting the boards. (Okay... literally. Just not out loud! Ha!)

What is your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?

Years ago, doing LES MISERABLES, the "barricades" malfunctioned, sending all the props for the wedding scene careening towards the then open orchestra pit. Without missing a beat or a note, we all keep singing and acting, but dropped all semblance of blocking and ran all over the stage to catch the flying bits before they got to the pit.

What is the one role you want to play before you die?

"Gloucester" (or "Lear") in KING LEAR or "Timon" in TIMON OF ATHENS. Sounds odd for a guy playing "Herod" in JESUS CHRSIT SUPERSTAR, but I've been very lucky being "the actor who can sing".
I've shared most of my stage time between plays and musicals... one of the most recent was playing "Trinculo" in THE TEMPEST, starring Christopher Plummer - so to me it's not so strange.

Musical roles? Too many to mention! Everything from "Sweeney", to THE MOST HAPPY FELLA - and I'd love to work on ASPECTS OF LOVE. It's a fascinating piece and I'm jonesing on ALW these days. His REQUIEM is simply stunning.

Who is your Broadway crush?

My Broadway crush WAS the entire cast of FOLLIES. There was so much expertise up there on that stage - veterans who know their stuff. It was a masterclass in itself.

Now? It's a three-way-tie between Eric McCormack (THE BEST MAN) -- we did MUSIC MAN together at the Neil Simon and he is the kindest, nicest guy, and the most generous,
wonderful actor you could ever hope to work with; David Allen Grier (PORGY AND BESS) whom I've admired so much ever since I saw his "Pseudolus" in FORUM on Broadway; and Raul Esparza (LEAP OF FAITH) whose "Bobby" in COMPANY was simply the finest piece of acting-with/through-music I have ever seen.

Where can people stalk you on the web (twitter/fb etc.)?

www.brucedow.com and @DowBruce - but I'm just learning!