Interview: Derrick Davis of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Bass Performance Hall

If you ask a musical theatre lover to name one of their favorite shows, there's a high likelihood they will mention Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic, The Phantom of the Opera, a staple on Broadway, around the world and on tour. I was honored and thrilled to chat with actor Derrick Davis, who is in rehearsal for the national tour and will step into the role of the Phantom in Fort Worth, TX at the Bass Performance Hall, beginning October 20th. We discussed his historic ascent into the role {as only the third African-American to star as the Phantom and the first to star in the national tour}, his dream roles, tricks of the trade and, of course, his favorite flavor of cake - check out our conversation below!

Sarah: I'm so excited to talk to you about your upcoming role as the Phantom! I also wanted to chat with you about your local Dallas connection as you were just here to play Curtis in Dreamgirls at the Dallas Theatre Center. Was that your first time working in the Dallas/Fort Worth area?

Derrick: It was, and it was thrilling! It was so amazing to work with Joe Ferrell and the entire team there [at DTC]. Dallas [Theatre Center] has this way of making everybody feel at home. From the donors luncheon they gave us when we arrived, right down to the way that stage management took care of us when we were there - its just an incredible company!

Sarah: Your debut as the Phantom on tour begins at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth?

Derrick: Yes! And its only the second time The Phantom of the Opera has played the Bass Performance Hall.

Sarah: Has this been a dream role for you?

Derrick: It is kind of an out of body experience! I don't give myself too much permission during the day to think about the fact that I'm actually playing this role. I just do the work so that I don't get caught up too much in the 'thrill' - they'll be plenty of time to be excited about being in the role! I'm trying to really focus on the work during the rehearsal process.

It is beyond a dream for me to play this role! This is the first musical that my parents took me to see as a kid. The week after [I saw the show], the then Phantom, David Gaines, had done an interview in my hometown newspaper, and at the bottom of the interview was the theater address.

I took out my mothers typewriter, and I wrote him a letter. He so graciously responded with a very, very long letter that I still have today, [along with] his headshot signed and a commemorative playbill of the show-all of those things I still have and I brought with me on the tour.

Its just amazing to think that as a kid, the Phantom introduced me to theatre, and now I get to bring that to so many other audience members, and another generation that follows behind me. And to do it in such a way that is kind of historic-its humbling, very humbling.

Sarah: I love that you are doing this role, and breaking down barriers for people of color-as Robert Guillaume and Norm Lewis have done previously. What does this mean to you personally and as an actor?

Derrick: It puts a lump in my throat, it really does. The gratitude I have for Robert Guillaume and Norm Lewis-I can't really put it into words. I hope that one day, I'll be able to stand in front of both of them and just embrace them, and let the gratitude speak that way.

I hope that my performance in this legacy of African-American men to play the role does it justice. I am just so grateful that my nephew can look at his uncle, and not even have to have the thought that somebody that looks like me can't play that role.

Within Broadway as a whole, when you look at shows like Hamilton, In the Heights, Lion King, Kinky Boots, Aladdin - the color lines are disappearing. And that makes me so happy. There is still a lot of work to be done, but at the end of the day, so long as we're still moving in a forward motion, I'm satisfied.

Sarah: Can you talk about your audition process?

Derrick: It was a great audition process! I had just come from [Dallas Theatre Centers' production of] Dreamgirls. Coincidentally, the same casting director was also casting for Phantom. So I went in for the first audition and as most people are, I was terribly nervous-some things just don't change! I went in and I gave it my all.

After about five callbacks-which, in my opinion, is completely necessary for a character of this magnitude-they videotaped my final portion of my audition and sent it to Cameron MacIntosh and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber-obviously they have the final say. Thank God, they saw that I was able to handle the rigors of the role, and gave me this wonderful opportunity!

Sarah: Is your background and study in classical music and/or opera?

Derrick: I studied opera at the CW Post campus at Long Island University, and graduated with honors with a BFA in Musical Performance.

Sarah: I'm so interested in the new approach to the direction of this tour, as it relates to you working on your portrayal of an iconic character like the Phantom. I'd love to hear your approach as an actor to finding your characterization. Are there other favorite Phantom performances that have influenced you, or are you finding a new take to the character?

Derrick: With my [acting] process, if its a show that's already up and running, like Phantom, I'll watch the show a few times, just to get the bare bones of what the through-line of the character is. But after that, I love to bring my own spin on a character, and bring what I have amassed in life as a human being and as an actor to the character.

Our director, Lawrence Connor, and [associate director] Seth Sklar-Heyn - they've both been so gracious in allowing myself and everyone around me to find our own character. They don't pigeon hole us into a pre-conceived idea of what a character is supposed to be.

Obviously, there are certain guidelines to keep true to the story line, and the script is very clear as to what the character's experiencing and what the scene is offering. But within those parameters, there's so much room that we're given to express what we feel the character is experiencing in those moments.

Sarah: Its so interesting to get to talk to an actor who is still in the rehearsal process. In your preparation and rehearsal, have you found any aspect of the Phantom that has surprised you?

Derrick: When I first was introduced to [the] Phantom, he was so mysterious and magical and untouchable.

But in Cameron Macintosh's spectacular new production - the one being performed on tour - I have found so much humanity in the Phantom, and so many parallels and similarities with my own life. I'm realizing at a much deeper level why people connect with this show so deeply.

Everyone has something in them that they feel is a deformity-something that other people look at and laugh at, scoff at, or make fun of-something that they'd like to hide from plain sight, you know? In thinking about the Phantom's character almost like a metaphor for my life, it's given me the opportunity to understand him. I didn't think I was going to relate to the Phantom as much as I did, so playing him is very cathartic.

Sarah: I'd love to hear about your process as a performer in a long running show - what are your tricks of the trade to keep your process fresh and maintain your voice and physical stamina?

Derrick: [In regards to] physical stamina, you just have to know your body. I know that I have to go to the gym at least 4 times a week to keep my stamina up. But I also know that I have to be able to eat cake!

Sarah: I love that!

Derrick: It sounds crazy, but I am a bit of a 'cakeaholic', and I just know that my soul has to have a slice of cake every now and again, and so I have to allow myself to do it. Its all about balance, in keeping your stamina and your entire self happy.

As far as keeping the show [performance] fresh, there's two things that I constantly have in my mind.

The first thing is that onstage the audience gets the same show but backstage, there's a whole company. In this show alone, there's at least 52 cast and orchestra members, not to mention the crew-they are human beings with lives that are constantly happening-so backstage it is completely different every show. That gives the show life, [so as] to not be monotonous as some might think [it can be].

The resident director at Lion King once told me, "Every time you do a performance, some people are seeing theatre for the first time, and some people are seeing theatre for the last time."

I always think of that - I know that I'm bringing a brand new experience to somebody.

And then for myself - I'm creating art, and getting to do what I love. So I have to pinch myself every time I get on the stage, and remind myself, "You're living the dream!" Not everybody gets to, so enjoy every single second!"

Sarah: Do you have a list of favorite roles to accomplish in your career?

Derrick: You know, I have this philosophy [that is] actually a Biblical philosophy.

"Write the vision, and and make it plain, so that he that reads it can run with it."

I've only had three dream roles that I've written down. One was the Phantom, one was Mufasa [in The Lion King] and the last one is Coalhouse [in Ragtime].

The other [dream] is to originate a role. I'd love to not be compared to somebody at some point. I would love to just be able to create a role, and go through that whole process with a team, and make a character come to life.

Sarah: By the way, in case your fans are wondering, what is your favorite flavor of cake?

Derrick: Carrot Cake! If I go to a restaurant, and they offer me a carrot cake that's sub par, the whole experience is a disaster! Texas has some great cake places!

Sarah: Absolutely! It was such an honor to talk with you - I look forward to your performance!

Derrick: Thank you so much!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Phantom of the Opera plays the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas October 20 - 30th, 2016.

To post a comment, you must register and login.