Q&A with David Schwimmer

Best remembered for his starring role on the television series "Friends," for which he earned an Emmy nomination, David Schwimmer is getting ready to make his Broadway debut in a revival of Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. He will be playing military lawyer Lt. Barney Greenwald. I had the opportunity to sit down with Schwimmer during rehearsals.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. It first premiered on Broadway in 1954 and featured Henry Fonda, John Hodiak, and Lloyd Nolan. A film version, starring Humphrey Bogart, was also released in 1954. "The play itself focuses on a section of the novel, toward the end, which is the actual Court-Marital trial of a lieutenant, who is accused of an active mutiny on board a DMS (destroyer minesweeper). This is World War II. A trial takes place a couple of months later in early 1945 and I am the defense attorney. I am a pilot for the Navy and in civilian life, a kind of 'hotshot' lawyer in Washington/>/>. I am asked by the Navy to represent the accused. This is supposed to be a kind of open and shut case; at least that's what the prosecution believes. It's really a court room thriller," says Schwimmer.

Over the years, he has played many different characters. Most will remember his geeky character, Ross Geller, on the '90's hit sitcom "Friends." This time, Schwimmer will be acting in a different era. "First off, it's another time; it's wartime. The atmosphere is of a country at war. My character is an attorney and his passion for the law drives him. He has a need to defend those no one else will defend and give voice to those who have no voice. I think he's a volatile, passionate, incredibly wicked sharp, wicked smart, young lawyer. He is fighting for what he believes in."

Coming from a family of attorneys (Schwimmer's grandfather, parents and sister), this project interested him for a number of reasons. He loves the World War II period of our country's history and what the war meant for Western civilization. "I really feel humbled by the effort of that generation which many of my relatives were [a part of]. I love the law and the courtroom. I grew up with a kind of love and appreciation for the law," adds Schwimmer.

Schwimmer made a name for himself on television and in movies, but he says that acting on stage gives him the most satisfaction. "I think that, if the experience is positive, I would say acting on stage is my first love. I say a positive one because a lot of my joy comes from the team I am working with. If everyone is on the same team, it's a great ensemble, great director, great team of designers, etc., it's really the best of all experiences. A lot of my pleasure comes not only from great material, a great role, a great audience that night, but a great rehearsal process. I am all about the process. I am really lucky right now. We have an amazing director, Jerry Zaks. There is no ego in the room; just a great bunch of guys."

Between working on "Friends" and other projects, Schwimmer has worked with many different actors. "I made many friends in the work atmosphere. I just made a movie ["Big Nothing"] with actor Simon Pegg, and I learned a lot from him. I never have done something where I have not come away with at least one good friendship from a project."

Schwimmer keeps in touch with the cast of "Friends," but says "it's rare for all six of us to be in the same room at the same time because our lives are so different, both personally and professionally." And when asked what he misses most? "I miss the process; working with those five actors and the team of writers. The cast members were able to try things and see how something works." When first attempting to break into this business, Schwimmer had experienced tough times, but giving up was not an option. His parents gave him the most confidence, attending every play he has done. Before landing a role on "Friends," like many actors, Schwimmer was waiting tables.

While in high school, Schwimmer was encouraged by an instructor to attend a summer program in acting at Northwestern/> University/>/>. "I decided to try drama for the attention and making my family laugh. There is no greater joy then hearing your parents laugh. I enjoyed being the guy who made others laugh. As I became older, and more mature, I realized that there was a lot more to acting and there is a whole craft behind it. I love story telling! I love listening to stories and I love telling them," he says.

Not only is Schwimmer an actor, but he also writes and directs. He has directed numerous episodes of "Friends," "Joey," "The Tracy Morgan Show" and is slated to direct a romantic comedy in London/>/> this fall, called "Run, Fat Boy, Run." In terms of theatre, Schwimmer says that he has been speaking with Neil LaBute about directing his play Fat Pig in Los Angeles/>/>. In addition, he's working on a play for his theatre company, Lookingglass, in Chicago/>/> about sexual predators on the Internet.

Want to know more about Schwimmer? He was born on his mother's birthday and graduated from Northwestern/> University/>/>. Both of his parents, Arlene Coleman-Schwimmer and Arthur Schwimmer, had small parts in the 1998 film "Since You've Been Gone," which he directed. I asked Schwimmer if they made him nervous or if he made them nervous and, laughingly, he answered "No!" Although Schwimmer was raised in Los Angeles/>/>, he is a native New Yorker and is happy to be back in the Big Apple. "It feels pretty amazing. I have visited [New York/>/>] a lot over the years and a lot of my family and friends are here. It's like a homecoming," comments Schwimmer.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial begins previews on Friday, April 14^th at The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Tickets are available through Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.  The show officially opens on Sunday, May 7th at 7pm/>. For more information, visit: www.thecainemutinycourtmartial.com.