Interview: Broadway's Paul Schoeffler in Walnut Street's South Pacific

Walnut Street Theater opens its 208th season with the classic SOUTH PACIFIC with a stellar cast of Philly favorites and Broadway talent.

On Broadway he has been seen as Hertz in Rock of Ages (cast album), Vittorio Vidal opposite Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity (cast album), Hook in Peter Pan opposite Cathy Rigby (cast album, filmed for A&E), Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. Le Bret in Cyrano, Nine,Victor/Victoria and Sunday in the Park with George. Numerous Off Broadway appearances include Wintertime at Second Stage Theatre opposite Marsha Mason, the world premiere of No Way to Treat a Lady (cast album), The Fantasticks, Much Ado About Nothing and The Cherry Orchard. National tours include Javert in Les Miserables and Sheldrake in Promises/Promises.

He has also acted on stages such as Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre, portraying characters such as Don Quixote from Man of La Mancha, Javert from LES MISERABLES, and Captain Hook from Peter Pan; and Sweet Charity among others. He originated the role of the German developer, Hertz, in the Broadway cast of Rock Of Ages and returned to the role on October 26, 2009, following a 3-month absence where he played Lawrence Jameson in the Walnut Street Theatre production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical. In total Paul has played principal roles as part of seven seasons at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia (2 Barrymore nominations for best actor).

I caught up with Paul Schoeffler just prior to Opening night at the Walnut to grab a few questions.

Pati Buehler: Paul, you certainly soar in Philly! Having personally seen you in four of Walnut's iconic roles I almost think you were born to play stirring, strong roles. How do you prepare for these leading man positions?

Paul Schoeffler: "Philly has been very good to me" Every role is different and has different demands. Firstly I make sure I am in the best physical shape I can be in because it's not just a one-off, it's eight times a week and it is draining. Often I don't sleep well because there is so much material to master it's not as if your brain just shuts off when you go to bed. It can take hours before I actually drift off. I don't go out much. I don't socialize much. It is a little like being a monk. Some qualities in these roles are ones you naturally have so I try to leave that part of it alone and focus on what I need the most work on. Trust what you do well. I try very hard to connect emotionally with whatever role I am doing. I feel very strongly about an audience connecting empathetically with a character no matter how dark they may or may not be.

Regionally Paul has performed leading roles extensively, including The Count in the world premiere of Phantom by Yeston/Kopit (cast album), Flaminio Scala in the premiere of The Glorious Ones by Ahrens/Flaherty at PPT, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, a total of seven seasons at Sacramento Music Circus. Other theatres where he has performed lead roles include Papermill, Goodspeed, The Huntington Theatre in Boston and The Repertory Theatre of St Louis. Paul has also had an extensive voice-over career, having worked for NBC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, The Oxygen Network, four seasons as multiple characters on Courage the Cowardly Dog for The Cartoon Network and extensive commercial campaigns for among others, Shell Oil, Amstel Light, Campbells, Lysol and Canon.

TV appearances include Person of Interest, Law and Order, Midnight Caller, All My Children and Guiding Light. Paul Schoeffler provides the voices for many characters on the Cartoon Network animated series Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Pati Buehler: Tell us please, when and how did you break into the theater life and who was instrumental in assisting you to hone your skills?

Paul Schoeffler: Hah! I was 19 and at sea more or less about what to do with my life. I was throwing myself into everything and trying to connect with something. One of those was drama and the college I was attending in California happened to have a great department. And there were matching grants for the arts in the 80's! Imagine!! I had two teachers at the college who were polar opposites in character and temperament and they both inspired me in different ways; One emotionally and one intellectually.

Pati Buehler: I was pleasantly surprised to see your appearance in Person of Interest, a personal favorite of mine. How different is playing TV character roles from live stage?

Paul Schoeffler: A friend of mine once said "On stage you act by the yard. On TV you act by the foot and on film you act by the inch" TV is a very different animal. On stage you can control what you do (hopefully); On TV and film not so much. If you have the right thoughts the camera will pick them up.

Pati Buehler: Please, tell us about YOUR Emile de Becque and the Walnut production?

Paul Schoeffler: I had seen two productions of SP before starting this production and both times I was frankly bored. I feel REALLY strongly that everything hinges around the chemistry of the Nellie and Emile. You must empathize (that word again) with them in order to take the journey. I think most Emiles tend to be played very seriously and I decided to go in the opposite direction. He is attracted to Nellie among other things because of the JOY she brings...a sense of LIFE. He sings about it. So when I spoke to the director I said I want to bring as much humor (which I always try to do) and vulnerability to this guy as possible.....a sense of playfulness. Humor is one of the huge things that connect them. And let's face it....aren't we like that in life with the people we are attracted to?? Fortunately the uber talented Kate Fahrner playing Nellie was absolutely on the same page with me and it has been one of the best working relationships on stage I have had. Joyous!

Pati Buehler: Any roles you'd love to play?

Paul Schoeffler: Would love to re-visit Sweeney Todd. That show is the reason I fell in love with musical theatre. Anything new and well written!

South Pacific opens at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia on September 14 and runs through October 23. For more information visit www.walnutstreettheatre.org

Visit www.paulschoeffler.net for more information about Paul Schoeffler

Photos: Paul Schoeffler as Javert in Les Miserables- Capt. Hook in Peter Pan - Guido in NINE - Don Quixote in Man of LaMancha. Courtesy of Paul Schoeffler website.

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