BWW Exclusive: John Owen-Jones Reflects on Working with Boublil and Schonberg Before the New York Pops Gala

On Monday, May 2, 2016, The New York Pops presents its 33rd birthday gala, celebrating the revolutionary collaborations of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the songwriting team behind LES MISERABLES, Miss Saigon, and more. Serving as Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are musical theatre legends Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Patti LuPone.

The event begins at 7:00 PM with a concert in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, featuring a spectacular lineup of guest artists under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke. The performance will highlight Boublil and Schönberg's tremendous four-decade partnership. Guest artists Jesse Tyler Ferguson,Montego Glover, Robert Marien, Laura Osnes, and Kyle Scatliffe join the previously announcedStephanie J. Block, Jon Jon Briones, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Patti LuPone, Eva Noblezada, John Owen-Jones, Hugh Panaro, Lea Salonga, and Marie Zamora. The concert will also feature Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA, as well as students from The New York Pops' Kids on Stage music education program and Camp Broadway Kids.

In anticipation of the big event, BroadwayWorld is checking in with some of the performers. Today, check out what John Owen-Jones had to say...

Do you have a favorite memory from working with Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg?

I have a very fond memory from when I was performing as Valjean at The Barbican Theatre in London during the 25th Anniversary production in 2010. (I was the first person to play Valjean in this version of "Les Miz", now on Broadway.) Famously, The Barbican is where the show was first produced in English back in 1984 and was the place where the show as we know it now truly began. One afternoon, I was rehearsing "Bring Him Home" with Claude-Michel in one of the rehearsal rooms backstage. I was singing along with him quite happily when all of a sudden he stopped playing the piano and slowly looked around the room. I stopped singing of course and asked him what was wrong. "It is not you" he said. "It is zis room. Zis room... is where I WROTE zis song!"

Do you have a favorite song or moment from a Boublil & Schönberg show?

There's an extensive list of course but I think my absolute favorite is "I Dreamed A Dream". I think it's a beautifully structured piece of musical storytelling.

Is there a(nother) role in a Boublil & Schönberg show that you'd like to play someday?

If they ever revisit "Martin Guerre" maybe Arnaud du Thil? Or Kim in an all-male version of "Miss Saigon"? Or perhaps Claude-Michel and Alain would like to write a show about a burly Welshman...

This year's gala will feature music students from The New York Pops' extensive education programs. What single piece of advice would you give to any young, aspiring performers?

Get as much practice in as many different theatrical and musical styles as possible. One of the most important aspects of being a professional is being flexible in what you can do and any experience in different styles can only help in the future if you plan to make a career out of performing.

What projects do you have coming up that you can share?

I will continue to perform as Valjean in "Les Miz" on Broadway until September 4th and then I will head to the Far East for a solo concert tour. After that I head back home to the UK. I have released a number of solo albums in the last few years - all of which feature Boulbli/Schönberg songs - and later this year I will be releasing a "Best Of" album which will feature songs from my earlier albums along with some newly recorded bonus tracks. (One of which is "Why, God, Why?" from Boublil and Schönberg's "Miss Saigon"!)

Advance benefit tickets to the concert-only range from $65 to $160 and can be purchased at www.newyorkpops.org.