Interview: Jarrod Spector and THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK at NJPAC on 10/25

"The American Songbook" performances continue at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, October 25th at 7:00 pm with Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector of the Broadway hit, Beautiful. The evening will also include cabaret great, Marilyn Maye and Defying Gravity: Stephen Schwartz & Friends.

Host, Ted Chapin will talk with the stars after their performance in the intimate Victoria Theater. The American Songbook sessions are taped before a live audience for future broadcasts on NJTV, WNET and WLIW21.

Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Jarrod Spector about his career and the upcoming performance of American Songbook at NJPAC.

Spector was a 2014 Tony Nominee for "Best Featured Performance in a Musical" and he is currently starring as Barry Mann in "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical." He played "Frankie Valli" in Broadway's "Jersey Boys" for 5 years/1500 performances. In addition to his concert collaboration with Jessie Mueller, Tony Winner for her role as Carole King, Jarrod continues to tour in his solo concert show, "A Little Help From My Friends." His solo concert traces the sound that Frankie had..... from Caruso, The Beach Boys, Little Jimmy Scott, Wham, Little Richard up to Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars and Queen. The evening includes some of pop's greatest songs. His "Friends" concert will be aired in January 2016.

Who have been some of the people that have inspired your career?

There are any number of performers I've looked up to over the course of my career (and I use the word "career" loosely enough to span the time from now all the way back to my six-year-old self on Star Search), but the constant in my life has always been my parents. They have been unconditionally supportive every day that I can remember and they have always instilled in me their belief that I can do anything I set my mind to. That is, perhaps, not entirely true but I approach all of my endeavors with a measure of confidence that is due in no small part to their encouragement.

What style of music do you personally enjoy listening to?

Motown, classic rock, soul...it's really hard to choose. If I have to choose a favorite singer it's unquestionably Freddie Mercury.

Why is the American Songbook at NJPAC such a crowd pleaser?

If the artists are interpreting the music of the American Songbook--and as far as I'm concerned, that title applies to an ever-expanding catalogue that includes artists like Carole King & Gerry Goffin and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil--the songs should engender a combination of nostalgia and surprise. We all want the warm feeling of hearing music that we love, music that instantly recalls memories of times and places, and then hearing the songs done in new ways with unexpected twists keeps them alive and exciting. Of course sometimes a song is just right and you don't mess with it--Jessie and I definitely cover a few of those--but we also like to try to play with the music and give it a fresh take.

Tell me a little about the challenges of juggling such a busy performance career.

It's just a matter of finding and managing time and energy. There's a great Shaw quote about wanting to be thoroughly used up at the end of life, and I think about that when I'm exhausted and there simply don't seem to be enough hours in the day to fit in rehearsals, planning, writing, practicing, performing and, you know, laundry. That's just the way it goes and I admit I very rarely say "no" because I want to take every opportunity to share and create...you never know when things are going to slow down and you wish the phone would ring or an e-mail would come through. I rely on my wife to help tell me when my plate is too full!

For more information on "The American Songbook," visit, http://www.njpac.org/events/detail/njpac-and-njtv-present-american-songbook-at-njpac. Tickets can be purchased at the New Jersey Performing Arts Box Office, by calling 1888-GO-NJPAC or visit their web site at, http://www.njpac.org/.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJPAC

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