Interview: JERSEY BOYS' Barry Anderson Talks Life on the Road

Barry Anderson, an Osseo, Wisconsin native, will be appearing at the Overture Center in JERSEY BOYS in the role of Bob Crew, the quirky, but brilliant main producer and music genius behind the Four Seasons. During a well-deserved holiday break, I was able to chat with Barry about his musical theatre journey and life on the road.

Coming from small town Wisconsin, how did you become interested in musical theatre?

I was always doing church and school programs. I really enjoyed music, was a piano player, and loved performing in general. I lived for it, so was always finding ways to be involved. There was a teacher who taught English and started a community theatre program when I was in eighth grade. The whole town would be involved. I preformed all through high school, and starting at age twelve or so I started going up to Eau Claire. There were definitely a lot more opportunities there.

You attended UW Eau Claire and graduated with a Music Education degree. How did that translate to Broadway and national touring?

During that time I started performing over the summer, as well as some college shows, and thought, why don't I give this a shot? After that I performed in a lot of dinner theatre, which eventually led me to NY, where you have to be to get steady work, bigger opportunities, and find a way to carve a career out of it.

Everyone's path is so different. Some go to a conservatory. I did Legally Blonde on Broadway with a guy who made his Broadway debut at age forty. That's the cool thing about it. I always tell kids there's no one right answer. If you want to do this bad enough, you'll find a way. It's one of those careers that if you love it, you'll find ways to get on stage and keep doing it.

How did you land the role of Bob Crewe in the national tour?

It's funny because the role of Bob Crewe is not a role that I ever had my heart set on or was on my radar at all. I saw JERSEY BOYS early in its' run in New York. Initially I auditioned for Bob Gaudio because it was the closest to me. I read for it over the years and was told that this was not really going to happen, but I'd keep going in for chorus calls. Eventually they were auditioning for swings in the show, which have to cover a lot of different tracks. They gave me a packet of four or five roles to read and one of them was Crewe, and it just kind of clicked. The creatives behind the table seemed to really be interested and said they were launching a brand new tour with a younger cast.

I couldn't be happier about the role and being able to tell the story every night. I definitely have a lot of fun doing it and it's an integral part of the show. Career wise, Bob Crewe was responsible for a lot of the work and sound they created, honing the iconic sounds, and discovering Frankie. "That voice you were using being silly, that high falsetto, we can do something with that." So it's very interesting learning about Bob Crewe and his career. It's really pretty prolific.

You've been touring with JERSEY BOYS all over the country. What lead to you performing the role of Bob Crewe on Broadway?

Two summers ago, Peter Gregus, who plays the role on Broadway and has been there since day one, was taking a break. I was offered the opportunity to perform.

What's fun, too, is that in the role on Broadway, the same actor plays a few different roles earlier in the show that I don't. So I learned new stuff in a matter of a couple of days. I had just returned from Tokyo and the jet lag was intense the whole first week. It was very fun, and I miss all those people a lot. That company is actually closing in two weeks. A crazy milestone.

How long have you been on tour with JERSEY BOYS?

Since the tour began five years ago. I haven't taken a sick day. I have taken a few personal days and vacation. I've seen a lot of people through the revolving door. It's a lot of fun because everyone brings a new energy. It changes, which it should. And that's another thing that helps keep it all new and fresh.

What are some of the challenges of being on a national tour?

Doing a long run is a different skill set. Growing up, you rehearse so long and then do four or five shows and you're done. We're at over 1700 shows. The challenge is how to make it fresh. It's the first time some people see the show, or others are coming back, and you better make it as good as the first time they saw it.

The hardest part for me is the travel. If you asked most of the people on the tour that question, they would agree. The packing, unpacking, and living out of a hotel, it's different, but you get used to it, which makes going home that much more great. Touring isn't for everybody. You have to have the right kind of personality for it and be flexible and willing to pack up and move. But the payoff is great and to be able to do this show, that's what's kept me doing it for so long, the show itself, the quality--the audience just loves it.

What do you enjoy about being on tour?

This week I've been able to be home and see friends, and visiting old friends when I'm in their hometowns. There aren't too many major cities in the U.S. now that I haven't visited. It's a great way to travel and get a taste of different places. Our work is at night for the most part, so if you play your cards right, you can sightsee.

Do you have a dream role that you'd like to play?

I never know what to say for that question because it's sort of like this role. In a way it's a dream roll that was unexpected. There's pay off to it every night. I've found that sometimes the best part of this career are the surprises. Things will happen that are supposed to and that's good to keep in mind, especially in this business of instability and competition and rejection. Your turn is coming.

You can follow Barry Anderson on Twitter @4barryanderson. To learn about his song writing, check out the website www.andersonandpetty.com

JERSEY BOYS will run at Overture Center for the Arts from Tuesday, January 3rd, through Sunday, January 8th. Tickets can be purchased at overturecenter.org, in person at the ticket office, or by phone at 608.258.4141.

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