BWW Interviews: Joshua Waldrep, A Life in the Theater

Pay no attention to what Joshua Waldrep tells you when you ask him what he thinks about his voice. The man is a master of understatement (no, really, he is...well, sometimes) and for some untold reason doesn't realize that he has an absolutely gorgeous voice. Seriously. At last fall's First Night, the Nashville Theatre Honors, he very nearly stole the stage out from under the estimable (read "lovely and talented") Linda Sue Simmons Runyeon and Jenny Norris-Light when he joined them for Les Miserables medley that featured the very handsome and talented Mr. Waldrep (after he'd already stopped the show with Darin Richardson in their duet of "The Proposal" from Titanic) doing a rather stunning version of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." Take it from me, the man has some very serious pipes on him.

And that may well be the only serious thing you'll find in Joshua Waldrep's make-up: He's an inveterate clown, always cracking wise and making people blush with off-color jokes and his ribald sense of humor. Which can only be part of the reason he's been in such musicals as Evita, Titanic, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors, My Catskills Summer, Jekyll and Hyde and Chess in Concert. A resume like that certainly indicates he's a very talented man - and Nashville audiences are very lucky when they see his name in a playbill when they're about to see a show.

Find out more about the charming and talented Joshua Waldrep in this week's offering of "A Life in the Theater." Read and enjoy...

What was your first taste of theater? So my first taste of theater was in my hometown of Gallatin, where in second grade I played the role of Roy Acuff and sang "Wabash Cannonball," while wearing suspenders and yo-yoing in our Salute to Country Music. I made the local newspaper and it was my first glimpse of "stardom." I have been in a choir and involved in music since I was a child, but it wasn't until I got to high school that I got involved in theatre.

What was your first job or responsibility in the theater? My first "big" role was playing the Teen Angel in Grease in our freshman choir production at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, under the direction of Brenda Gregory. She was the first person who really introduced me to the magic and wonder of theater. I don't know what it was, but I am sure it was the ladies in rollers and with capes on, singing lalala's while being surrounded by dry ice smoke - but I knew I was hooked. After I graduated high school, I never performed for years. I figured no one would ever want someone with my look or sound. But one day I saw an audition notice for Evita and I knew that show front-to-back and figured why not? What do I have to lose? I never thought I would ever be asked to be part of the show. During the first read-thru, we all went around and introduced ourselves. I said, "Hi, I am Josh and I cannot dance and I am fat and never thought I'd ever make it, but I am excited to be part of this show." The room filled with laughter, so needless to say I was a hit.

Why do you like doing theater in Nashville? I pursue a career in theater and the arts in Nashville because it is my home and there is so much talent in this town. I have made some lifelong friends here and couldn't see myself ever doing what I do without them. They make it all worth it!

What's your dream role? Or is there a show you'd like to direct or maybe produce? My dream role is to play Jean Valjean whenever they finally release the full rights to Les Miserables. I mean, come on...it's been 25 years! The role and music is amazing and give me a good ballad and I am a happy man. How many roles are out there where I can keep my beard and play young and old in the same show and not be Jewish for once? I would love to direct Children of Eden by Stephen Schwartz, because the story is well known and it is a wonderful ensemble piece. The music is so moving and the costumes are spectacular! If you love Wicked, Pippin, Godspell and such....then you'll love Children of Eden. Some sort of marketing plan like that is how I'd promote it. Either that show or The Who's Tommy. It is a wonderful rock opera which hasn't been done here and I am afraid that people don't want to touch it because of some of the subject matter. But it is an amazing piece of theater!

Who would play you in the film version of your life story? Gosh, well if Ryan Reynolds is available or someone with an delicious physique. Who am I kidding? I would love to be played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman mainly because Jaime Janiszewski said I reminded her of him. Everytime we see each other, we always quote lines from Cold Mountain. Especially the scene where he has been constipated for days and finally has to poop: "Hallelujah, the Israelites! The tribes of Israel are about to flee from the banks of Egypt!" is our favorite line.

What's your favorite musical or play? My favorite musical is Ragtime. The piece has so much history intertwined in it and the score is absolutely amazing. It shows us that our everyday decisions do have effect on others whether we know it or not. Everyone of the characters are all connected in someway. I like to think of it like Crash, the movie. I look forward to auditioning for the concert version of Ragtime for Street Theatre Company at the end of the year!

If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead, real or fictional) who are a part of the theater, who would you invite to share a meal with you? Wow, this is difficult. Probably Nathan Lane, Julie Andrews and Kristen Chenoweth. Nathan, because I have always adored him and his role in The Producers made me go out and audition for that show. It ended up being my first starring role and the best experience I have ever had on the stage thus far...and the hottest! I probably sweated about ten pounds off during that production and caught Swine Flu '09 the closing weekend. Or at least that's what it felt like! Julie, because she was in the first musical I ever saw: The Sound of Music. In elementary school, all my friends would make me sing "The hills are alive with the sound of music" because I could sound like her. Even though my voice has changed, I can still do it! And Kristen, because why not? She is fabulous and it would be the most interesting lunch ever!

What would you say to a young person - who's seen you in a show, or been in the audience at a show in which you played a major role onstage or offstage - what advice would you give them? There was a time where I was feeling pretty beat down by always landing in the ensemble. I know, I know...I cannot always be the "star," but sometimes theater in Nashville seems very political. All the roles seem to go to the same folks (who are equally talented and great). I know that I cannot play certain "skinny" roles but the ones I can play, I don't even make it to the callbacks. I cannot even compete for a part that I know I can do and that is right for me. This so far has happened with the last two shows I have landed in. It makes me upset that I am not even given the chance. They just want my voice for the chorus and tiny solos and high notes. Don't get me wrong, I am not in love with my voice or anything, because there was a time when I hated how I sounded. It took many years and many talks with friends to realize what I have and take ownership of it. I love being part of ensembles anyway because that is the glue of any show but just give me the chance. So, anyway...was about to just take a "break" from theater for a long while and maybe go back to school. Susan Walsworth Arnold's son, Sevon, overheard me while doing I was doing Titanic. On their way home in the car, he told her that if I gave it up that he'd be very upset. She told me the next day and it touched my heart in more ways than that kid knows. He is an amazing young man who is going to be one to watch out for in the future. I am truly blessed to have what I have and do what I do in the theater. I work with some of the most amazing people on the face of this Earth and wouldn't have it any other way. I have come a long way from the shy guy who hated his voice and look but I have a long way to still go. But I know, I am still growing and learning. Who knew I used to be shy? Especially with my inappropriate comments and humor nowadays! Laughter and humor are what fuels me to continue...maybe if the whole theater mess doesn't work out, I could moonlight as a stand-up comedian?

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