BWW Interviews: Josh Franklin Talks Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES

Josh Franklin is a very talented actor, singer-songwriter and musician. He's most well known for playing Bob Gaudio in the touring production of "Jersey Boys", but now he's making another name for himself as Billy Crocker in "Anything Goes".

As part of their 2013 season, Mirvish is currently staging Cole Porter's musical comedy "Anything Goes".

"Anything Goes" is a musical comedy about four people as they set off on the course to true love on the S.S. American. One of the pairs include: Hope Harcourt (played by Alex Finke) and Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (played Edward Staudenmayer), and the two other people are Reno Sweeney (played by Rachel York) and Billy Crocker (played by Josh Franklin). Billy loves Hope though and he'll do anything to get her to love him back and be with him. More comedy and hilarity ensues as the gangster Moonface Martin (played by Fred Applegate) and Erma (played by Joyce Chittick) come onboard the ship trying to hide from the authorities while aiding Billy on his quest for love.

To top it all off, Cole Porter's timeless classic "Anything Goes" includes some of musical theatre's most memorable standards such as: "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top" and "Anything Goes", just to name a few.

Josh took the time to speak with BWW over the phone about his character in "Anything Goes", just releasing his debut pop album of all original songs, and what it's like being in shows on Broadway and on tour.

BWW: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me, Josh. How does it feel to be a part of Cole Porter's timeless classic "Anything Goes"?

JOSH: It's incredible. I did the show on Broadway and that experience was its own thing and it was fun to perform on the Tony Awards and [there was a] lot of excitement involved with that production. But this production is equally exciting! I mean the cast is stellar and I'm playing a great role and I'm honoured to be a part of it all.

BWW: Tell us a bit about "Anything Goes" and about the character you play (Billy Crocker)

JOSH: "Anything Goes" was written in 1934 - Cole Porter wrote the music and lyrics, songs like "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", "De-lovely", timeless classics. It's a musical comedy - a lot of Vaudeville type comedy is involved - it's hilarious. The plot is completely absurd. My particular character, Billy Crocker, who's a Wall Street employee trying to climb the ladder - a slave to his boss, but right before the play begins he has fallen in love with Hope Harcourt, and while he's bringing his boss his passport on the ship, he sees that Hope Harcourt is also a passenger on the S.S. American and he stows away to pursue her - the only problem is that she's engaged to an Englishman. So basically I'm pursuing Hope Harcourt the whole show, but I'm hiding from my boss and hiding from the captain and the purser. As a result I'm thrown into lots of funny situations with a gangster called Moonface Martin and I'm forced to dress in several ridiculous disguises and get into lots of shenanigans, which equals a lot of fun!

BWW: You were also in the revival of "Anything Goes" on Broadway in 2011 with Sutton Foster and Joel Grey as an ensemble member. What's it like going from an ensemble role to the lead male role?

JOSH: It's very different. I understudied the role [of Billy Crocker] in New York, so that sort of pressure going on every once in a while is nice to let go of that - to get into a routine of playing the role. I guess the biggest difference is having the endurance and having to be consistent and health being taken care of eight shows a week - it's a two and a half hour long show and I hardly leave the stage, so it takes a lot of stamina, a lot of focus and discipline. But it's also incredibly worth it and rewarding and to get to sing these songs and dance this incredible choreography by Kathleen Marshall eight shows a week, it's an honour and a challenge and I gladly step up to the challenge.

BWW: What's the most exciting and the most challenging part of playing Billy Crocker?

JOSH: The most exciting is the comedy, I would say. It's thrilling to have a completely different audience every single night who's hearing this comedy for the first time and we need to adjust what we do depending on the feel of the audience - some audiences take a little bit longer to have some of these jokes sink in, and others are right on top of us and sometimes quicker than we are so they're ahead of the game and we kind of have to speed it up a bit. So that's the exciting part. And the collective comradery between all the principles and the ensemble - each night we come together and find what works that night and what works best and what's landing - it's a game every night with a different audience. The most challenging but also rewarding is the music - I get to sing some soaring beautiful legato lines, great lyrics and intervals and octave jumps - it's a very challenging musically written role: "Easy to Love" and "All Through the Night" are incredibly chromatic and they'll jump octaves out of nowhere and it's exciting but it's also challenging.

BWW: What did you do to prepare for the role of Billy?

JOSH: For the tour I had the advantage of having an entire rehearsal process in New York a couple of years before and I ended up playing the role on tour. So I did most of my homework back then - you know, typical actor stuff: clarifying your relationships with the other characters, developing character background, history, just creating this person so it's not just a role that you're playing but you're a person on stage living these moments. I think the big thing for me that I wanted to accomplish - the comedy's there, it's in the script, you don't have to work very hard for it, and the choreography just takes a lot of work and discipline - but I really wanted to make him a human and I wanted people to care for his objective which is to have this girl that he's fallen in love with return the love that he feels - that she feels what he feels. With all the fun and choreography and music and all of that aside, I really wanted an honest story and I think I accomplish that.

BWW: When did you decide you wanted to be an actor?

JOSH: Well, I always was a musician. I was always in bands or choir - a music nerd: I played piano since the moment I was born. And then kind of separately I discovered acting when I was a teenager, probably like thirteen or fourteen. This is one of my favourite stories to tell: I just transferred schools - it was in junior high and I was out for like recess or whatever it's called - maybe lunch hour, and I found this piece of paper on the ground that literally was a casting notice for a play called "Runaways" in downtown in Colorado Springs, where I'm from. I was like "well, this is strange... This is something kind of interesting..." and I just happened to find this piece of paper - maybe it's a sign. So I went down and auditioned for the play and I ended up being cast and it was just the first time that I felt that feeling of completely losing yourself in a role and living this emotional life based on the information you have in the script. And for that particular part, I was a runaway kid living on the streets of New York City the same age as I was, which was thirteen fourteen, and there's so much that I connected with and it was so thrilling to - even at the time I think I worked through some adolescent issues through the eyes of a different person that I was portraying - so then I was hooked.

BWW: Did anybody inspire you to be an actor?

JOSH: There are too many to name really as far as other actors and performances I've seen that have stuck with me through the years. But I think as far as the constant inspiration is definitely the teachers that I've had. There is still incredible voice teacher, Ulises Solano in New York who's like the best kept secret, and he's not just an incredible voice teacher but like kind of a spiritual guide. And there's people that are with me throughout this whole crazy journey who are incredibly supportive and believe in not just my talent but in everything that I have to offer. I think that constant inspirations have been my teachers of acting and voice and directors - like anybody that gives you a shot and that pushes you to places that you sometimes can doubt yourself. You know, I had doubts with this job, but I saw it as a huge challenge and I accepted it because people believed that it was something I would be able to do.

BWW: From all the great parts you've played so far, do you have a favourite role?

JOSH: Definitely Bob Gaudio in "Jersey Boys" - that was crazy! That was my first role and it was just a wild experience, and such a well-written piece of theatre. And the role that I'm playing now I have to say! I mean they're the two that I have the most fun with and the most challenge with and they're both really great written roles in very different ways obviously. To be able to be handed material that you don't have to make good is already better than good - it's fantastic. Then you really just get to have fun - you just have to show up and be present and the material's there doing all the work for you.

BWW: What would be your dream role?

JOSH: Oh I have dreams! Really I would just like to be given something that I can create from scratch, which is a huge reason why I write my own music and lyrics. And I did this album because there's something really rewarding in creating material and creating art. I think the acting roles will hopefully keep coming and I'm keeping surprised at what comes my way and I'll discover dream roles that I didn't know were out there. But I think the bigger dream for me is to keep creating things on my own and to keep getting my music out there and exploring that venue and that genre. Keep trying every angle I can to be a creative artistic force.

BWW: Congratulations on just releasing your debut pop album of all original songs! Could you talk a bit about the album and your inspirations behind it?

JOSH: Sure! I've been writing music for several years and I've played with great musicians in New York - I have a band and we've played several times up in different venues in New York. It was just time - time to record an album. I had enough people requesting that these songs be recorded. I couldn't be more proud of the album itself and the songs - I think they are really well-written, they're great music - it's not what you would expect from a Broadway performer. It wasn't a vehicle for me to show off in any way - I truly wanted to create an album of really great music that's fun to listen to and have the lyrics and great musicians playing. I think I accomplished that. I have tons of musical inspirations: from Elton John to John Legend to Frank Ocean - you know, all over the map - Rufus Wainwright is a fantastic artist - I think some of his music and lyrics are like high art. If you examine musically, some of his songs are all in the format of Mozart - just with the arpeggios for the major to minor - really clever musicianship. But I listen to pop music too, like Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga - I kind of listen to everything. Just lots of different musicians - John Mayor, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz - and I think this album kind of covers a variety of different styles - there's some jazz in there, definitely pop, and just a really honest beautiful music with honest lyrics. At this point I can't wait to record my second album! I'm well on the way - I have enough material! It's pretty much a matter of narrowing down which songs to put on the second album. I've been writing songs for so long that I have plenty of material - it's just deciding which ones to go with. And I'm still writing! I just wrote a song for my friend's wedding in a couple weeks and I'm going to sing the song I've written for them at their wedding which is exciting. And I wrote a theme song for my hometown - I was commissioned by the mayor to write a song for Colorado Springs, so writing is definitely a huge part of my future and my present.

BWW: Do you think you'll be writing a play or musical anytime soon?

JOSH: I would love to! I actually have written a couple things that were in the works right before I got "Jersey Boys" and left town for a year and a half. So it's kind of hard to do both so when I'm not in a show I'm definitely writing. We'll see what happens next! I rarely have a plan - things just tend to happen and I go where the work presents itself.

BWW: Every theatre actor dreams of being in a show on Broadway - but you've been in not one, but four musicals on Broadway: "Grease", "Legally Blonde", "Anything Goes" and "Ghost". What's it like being in a show on Broadway?

JOSH: It's its own thing! It's vastly different from working anywhere else. It's a wonderful community of actors - it's kind of like being a part of a club. The great thing about working in New York is you have your job and you have your show and it's a lot of fun, but you also have a life, so it does become like a job that you go to eight times a week. Whereas on tour, everything is kind of all-encompassing and it's all about the show that you're doing - you're only in the city because of the show and you're with the same group of people and you're travelling together and everything has to do with this production. But in New York, you have your life and your apartment and your friends and you go do your show and then go home. So it's definitely unique in that way. It's thrilling - the first few months of being in a Broadway show is one of the most thrilling things imaginable! The rehearsal process and the costume fittings and things being built for you and the preview process of trying it out in front of an audience for the first time and then opening night - I mean all of that is just so incredibly thrilling. And then if you're lucky enough to be performing on the Tony Awards - it's a really really exciting thing to be a part of, and completely unique. There's nothing like a Broadway show obviously and there's nothing like being in one! I look forward to doing it again.

BWW: What makes this show ("Anything Goes"), particularly this cast, so great to work with?

JOSH: Rachel York, first of all, is such a star - she's incredible. She really makes the role her own and brings really clever choices to the table - really great for 1930s comedy and she just has that star quality about her. Fred Applegate - incredible performer and comedian. I've actually learned a lot working with Fred because when the material's there you literally don't have to work hard at all - you just have to say the line and sometimes the least amount of work gets the biggest reaction. And Alex Finke is incredible to fall in love with and dance with eight times a week - I couldn't have asked for a better ingénue. And Joyce Chittick - Broadway legend - I've worked with her a bunch and she just nails it every night. But also the ensemble - I remember when I saw the show when I was first being put into the show in Vegas and I sat down and watched the show - obviously coming from the production with Joel Grey and Sutton Foster and the whole experience - I honestly had low expectations for the tour just because I had come from such a great cast, I didn't know how it could get any better, and they blew me away! I mean obviously the principles were fantastic, but the ensemble was so tight - I mean the choreography was so tight - and I don't ever remember it being quite as good in New York. I was just so thrilled to bring me into the equation - it's just a great dynamic and it works! All across the board, there's not a weak link.

BWW: Do you have a favourite song or musical number from "Anything Goes"?

JOSH: "You're the Top" is always fun to start with - that's the first thing that I get to do. And just the fact that it's between Rachel and I - it's always different, it's always so much fun. It's a challenge to make these list songs natural and interesting and nightly to find a different way to kind of one-up each other. And have it make sense with the plot and the story and it's just a lot of fun to discover different ways to do that. Also, one of my favourite numbers in the show, especially the verses that were chosen in the way that it was crafted by Kathleen [Marshall], was "Friendship" - I love watching that. I think it's so clever how they start off literally saying that they're the best friends, and then it takes this turn halfway through and they start trying to be the bigger star, one-upping each other, and by the end they're screaming at each other that there's nothing like friendship, and then the hook at the end when they're dragged off stage by an enormous hook, I mean it's just so great - it's so clever.

BWW: It's like classic Vaudeville.

JOSH: It is! But it's fascinating to see how well it works and how funny it still is in 2013.

BWW: Pursuing a career in acting is a little like chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What keeps you motivated?

JOSH: That's a really good question actually! I think my motivation kind of comes and goes. It helps when you're offered a role that you're passionate about, like this one. And you're reminded of how magical theatre can be and you see the results of how it can touch peoples' lives and make people laugh and cry and forget about something that they might be going through for a couple hours and just sit back and enjoy great entertainment. It's great to be reminded of that. And I think that's a huge motivator. And also just, I don't think there's anything else I could do with my life - I think I was kind of born to be a creative person. And I think there are many other ways in which I can be used in this industry and I'm excited to see where things take me - I would love to keep writing obviously, I'd love to direct, I'd love to keep playing great roles, so it's kind of the unknown that keeps me motivated. Not really knowing what comes next but making sure that I'm prepared for it.

BWW: Since being a part of "Anything Goes", have you learned anything new about yourself that you didn't know before?

JOSH: As a performer, definitely. This voice teacher I mentioned completely changed a lot of things for me - this was a huge challenge vocally for me, this role, and I was terrified. It was just a style that I wasn't comfortable with - I've been singing pop music for so long that I kind of lost touch with classical singing, and to bring that back into my life and constantly be working on it - I think I've grown a ton with this role because of the different musical challenges. Also, anytime you work with pros like Fred and Rachel, you hopefully are smart enough to steal things and to let some of their experience and talent rub off on you, and I think I've experienced that quite a few times in my career - I'm lucky to work with incredible performers and legends, and I would be a fool to not constantly have one eye on them and be able to soak in as much as I can. And I think that can really separate some people in this business. It can be very dangerous to think that you already know everything and you can miss out on watching people that you're working with and realizing that they have a lot to offer, and it's not always the stars of the show - I'm travelling with a huge group of very talented individuals and I learn a lot from them every single show. So yeah, it's definitely a gift.

BWW: What do you want the audience to come away with after seeing "Anything Goes"?

JOSH: It's pure fun entertainment! And if we get a little bit of a storyline in there that they care about, that's fantastic, but at the end of the day, I think the goal of this show is to just come to the theatre and have a complete absurd fun time. It's just one of those shows that there's a huge problem if you're not laughing throughout most of it! And so far the audiences have just loved it and the critics have loved it and it's been a very smash hit and that makes it all the more fun for us.

BWW: Do you have any advice for actors who want to get into musical theatre professionally?

JOSH: Keep training. I mean even when you get out of school I think some of the best growth I've had as an artist has happened after getting out of your training program. You find teachers and you keep working on it and it takes a ton of focus and discipline and hard work. It's not an easy thing to do by any stretch of the imagination, and especially when you're first starting out, it takes a daily commitment to show up for every audition and present yourself in the best way possible. And if you're not willing to do that I certainly wouldn't recommend choosing this career because you'll have a major wakeup call if you're not interested in working hard. Hopefully the harder you work the more benefits you receive. That's what I'm hoping for at least.

"Anything Goes" is playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre now through August 25th.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416 872 1212, or online at www.mirvish.com/shows/anythinggoes

Photo Credit: Ronnie Nelson

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