BWW Interviews: Ben Vereen Comes to Toronto

Broadway legend Ben Vereen is returning to Canada to play one night only at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts this Thursday, October 20th. Perhaps best known for his role "Chicken George" in ROOTS, Mr. Vereen has had a long and distinguished career on Broadway, including being part of the original Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and winning a Tony Award for his appearance in Pippin in 1973. More recently he was seen in Wicked as The Wizard of Oz and has just released an album of Broadway hits entitled Steppin' Out.

Ben Vereen recently did a show that the CD was based on entitled An Evening with Ben Vereen at The Town Hall in NYC, and has plans to bring that same show to Broadway this Spring. Toronto audiences are getting a special sneak peek at what Mr. Vereen has in store for the Great White Way, and BWW sat down to talk with Mr. Vereen about his show, the Jesus Christ Superstar Revival, social media and more:

First, welcome back to Toronto! We are thrilled to have you! Can you tell us what to expect at your show on Thursday night?

Well first off, I'm excited! It's great to be back to perform in Canada. The solo show that I'm going to be doing is called Steppin' Out and it is a collection of songs that are from my new CD Stepping Out Live. The CD is based on a show that I'm bringing to Broadway in the Spring, likely to be called "Steppin' Out on Broadway" It's a show I did at Town Hall and now we are going to put it on Broadway so we are bringing it up to Canada to continue working on it. So I'm excited to bring it here because I haven't performed in Canada for many years and can't wait to share it with you guys. When I first started out in 1904 (chuckles) I performed at The Royal York hotel - and I'm excited to check out this new venue.

What made you decide to come to Toronto now?

They called me! That's all it took, I was so excited to get to come back to Canada - so thank you to the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

What will you be singing?

Songs from Broadway that I've done, songs from various artists that I love such as Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra, it's one of those types of shows. Also tributes to those artists and to other spectacular musical theatre types like Bob Fosse and Stephen Schwartz. A true celebration of Broadway and music in every sense imaginable. A tribute to those who have brought me along this far and an autobiographical story of my journey.

One of the big stories for Canadian musical theatre right now is the Stratford Festival's production of Jesus Christ Superstar going to Broadway. As someone who was part of the original Broadway cast of that show, what do you think of a revival happening now?

I think it's wonderful! I'm so happy to hear that it's going to Broadway and have heard some wonderful things about it already. We have got to fix the way we work so that artists go back and forth between our two countries more. We want to see what you guys have got and want to show you what we have! Let's start a movement, just you and I. Sharing the arts...what do you think? *laughs* I think it's wonderful that the show still has power and has wings and I think it's at a time when people need to see a show about the sacrifice of love, and if it's a great production that makes it even better. It makes it even better for Tom O'Horgan who originally did it on Broadway, it is a true testament to his work.

Do you think Broadway is ready to see the show again?

Of course! Broadway is open for anything as long as it's good!

What are you most looking forward to this Broadway season?

Me! It's all about me *laughs* Is there anything else? I'm actually looking forward to seeing everything, I just saw a wonderful production of Martin Luther King's last night on earth called The Mountaintop with Samuel L Jackson and Angela Bassett and it is a must-see.

You've embraced social media, you have an active Twitter account and we often see you online. How do you feel about social media as a way of promoting our art form?

I'm learning more and more about it and how to communicate that way every day. People online inform me of a lot of things and what is happening and its great. I'm looking to expand my Twitter and Facebook family so I try and talk to them every day. In fact, I let my Twitter fans pick my Steppin' Out album cover. I was told that I'm being honoured on January 3rd with the theatre hall of fame award in NYC - via Twitter! Pretty exciting stuff! I'm still pinching myself because I don't really believe it's true.

Speaking of social media, we actually have a question for you from Twitter. The year you did GRIND on Broadway the Tony Award category for Best Actor in a Musical was eliminated, leaving only featured actor up for grabs. What was that experience like for you?

Well that was a long time ago and I don't think it will ever happen again to anyone who has worked so hard. We were shocked at the time of course, it was a hard time for all of us. Lester Wilson wasn't even nominated which was tough for us, but mainly I just hope a lesson was learned so that nothing like that happens again that causes people to be unfairly overlooked. I don't think there should be room for that kind of mentality - only for growth and creativity.

And finally, a lot of our readers are from a younger generation and might not be familiar with your work. What would you say to them to get them to come and check out your show on Thursday?

I'm Usher's god-father - so come see The Godfather!

When and Where?

Ben Vereen Live in Richmond Hill

October 20th at 8PM

The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts

Tickets range from $26 to $52 and can be purchased by phone at 905-787-8811 or online at www.rhcentre.ca

For more information on Ben Vereen please follow him on Twitter @benvereen. His album Steppin Out is also available for purchase on iTunes

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