BWW Interviews: MEMPHIS Tour Star Jasmin Richardson

From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, MEMPHIS is a TONY award-winning Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.

Jasmin Richardson joined the touring cast of MEMPHIS in September and she talked to me about what it's like to play Felicia and how she grew up in Houston, Texas.

Tell us a little bit about growing up in Texas and how you started performing.

Growing up in Texas was an experience and I say that because there are no seasons. I didn't really know what it was like to be really cold until I moved to New York. But I loved it; all of my family is in Houston. As far as the performing aspect of things, I started out a little bit later. I started in my senior year of high school because theatre wasn't considered cool in my group. I was more of an athlete. I did track and field for 3 years at my high school. I auditioned for my first show; it was The Wiz, my senior year and wound up getting Dorothy oddly enough. I have always sung. I would sing in church so that wasn't new to me. I think that role was huge and it opened my eyes to a whole other world as far as theater was concerned. I auditioned for my university, Abilene Christian University, once I graduated high school and it changed my life. It changed the way I viewed the world, truly. I found something that I was really good at and it allowed me to focus in on a craft and to really try to not only master it but really appreciate it. So that is what I did. I went off to school. I didn't have a lot of experience. I was very new and made a lot of mistakes. By the time that I graduated I had a pretty good understanding of what I wanted to do as far as theater and of course the ultimate goal of where I wanted to be, which was on Broadway. When I graduated college, I wound up doing several cruise ships and my main goal was to save up enough money so I wouldn't necessarily have to struggle but I would have my full savings sot that I could audition every day or as often as I needed to. When I moved to New York, I wouldn't necessarily have to struggle but I would have a nice little savings. It kinda worked out for me. Once I moved to New York after being on ships for two years, I sorta hit the ground running. I wound up working, not necessarily right away, but pretty quickly. I just tried to learn as much as I could. I worked with some pretty fantastic people. It was a great experience; each show I got better and better and I grew. The same goes for this experience now. I am still learning. You can never know enough about something you truly love and are passionate about. That's how I started in theater and my career.

What are some of the things you learned by working on the cruise ships?

Cruise ships really helped me find my individual style. With our show the music now like jazz, blues, rock and roll, and on the ships, it can really help you get a feel of the different genres. It helped me be more flexible. It also allowed me to see life a whole other way as far as traveling aspect was concerned. A lot of the places that I have been I never would have experienced if I hadn't done cruise ships. It really did help me as far as being more adaptable and flexible and broadening my range of course singing different styles.

What are some of your fondest memories of some of the shows, like Dreamgirls, that you have gotten to do?

Dreamgirls was very special to me because it was one of my mother's favorite shows and still is. It was a show that, I initially had auditioned for when I got to New York but I didn't get right away. So I auditioned again and got the part of Michelle. It was very excited just to be a part of something like that, so when it came along to tour, I felt like I really made it. Looking back on it now, it really was a huge learning curve for me. It taught me how to do 8 shows a week. It taught me that the show must go on. There were lots of thing that would happen each day and you would think "Oh my goodness. There is no way this show is going to happen" but it did. It was a huge learning experience and it also kinda taught me that when you do have a majority of the lines, what it takes to keep that stamina and embrace everything that happens. I apply everything that I'm feeling. I apply everything that might have happened that day. It helps you. So that's how I look at it and all of the shows that I've done in the past. It allows me to get to the point where I anticipate where I can embrace the things that are happening around me and use them onstage.

Tell us about MEMPHIS and your character.

MEMPHIS is such a blessing to be honored and it came at the perfect time. I was just finishing up Dreamgirls and lucky enough for me the creative team from MEMPHIS came to see Dreamgirls. It allowed them to see me in the actual element and I think it worked in my favor. Not that my audition process was necessarily easy, but it did allow them to see everything that I could do as far as dancing, singing and acting. When I auditioned, it was a wonderful experience. It was very open and very receptive to everything that I brought into the room. I had a great atmosphere which allows me to be more creative and be open and exposed. It really, really set the bar for me as far as getting to know Felicia in an audition aspect. When it came down to the final callback, at that point, my Huey was already cast so I came in and thought this guy's pretty fantastic and which he definitely to live up to. Coming in, I knew I needed to have chemistry with this guy because he already had the job. It worked out that getting to know Felicia when I had the time to learn the sides and the audition package together. So, when I came into the room, I knew what I needed to do to connect with him. He was my main goal at that point when I walked in. Everyone was so supportive that when I came in and auditioned with him, we just really hit it off as far as the chemistry was concerned. He was really helpful in the process of the audition because he was so open to receiving from me in that room. So it was a wonderful experience for me.

When did you join the cast?

We all started together. We all started in September. We're just getting started really.

In what ways do you think Felicia is like you and in what ways is she different?

What I love the most about Felicia is that she speaks her mind and in the 1950's especially during that Civil Rights Era, it was very dangerous especially for African Americans and especially for women. With this character as it was written, she is very vocal from the beginning how she felt about Huey being a Caucasian coming into Beale Street which is where a lot of the African Americans hung out and that's where they can relax and sing their style of music. She was very vocal about that from the very beginning. And I respect that. I'm very honest as well. I loved that right away; her strong feelings. She was the core of the show in that way and felt like she was very strong and very independent and she knows what she wants. I respect her and I connect with her on that. In ways that she's a little bit different than me (pauses); what would I say that would be different from me? I have looked for all the things that I could connect with to get to know her better. If I had to say that we are a little bit different (pauses); she wears a lot of heels and I don't. She's fantastic to portray every night and I'm honored to be a part of this cast.

If you had not gotten into show business, what would you have done?

That's so funny that you asked that question. Somebody just asked me that literally, last night. I can't even wrap my mind around what else I would be doing. My dad, when I first went off to college, wanted me to major in Business and I minored in it and majored in Theater. I couldn't do it. I couldn't be an accountant. I really tried for him, but I really couldn't do it so if I hadn't discovered theater, I would have gone that route. I probably would have majored in Business and become an accountant.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is thinking about getting into show business?

Yes, I remember went to see Little Mermaid and I got a chance to meet Norm Lewis who I greatly respect and is well known throughout the theater world. I asked him what it would take for me to get here to where he is. He told me to audition for everything and I took that to heart and I auditioned for everything. Even now, even something that I'm not really quite right for, I go in for an audition now because you can change someone's mind. I always encourage people to read a play a week if you can. I'm not saying that I'm always good at it, but I really, really try. Try to get to know shows that you would be fantastic for. I always learned the shows that I would love to be in and I always learn the music so if that ever came around, I'm familiar with that show.

MEMPHIS will be in Austin from December 10 - 15, 2013. Tickets are available by going to texasperformingarts.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jeremy Daniel

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