BWW Interviews: Jeffry Denman, Direct from Signature's Kid Victory

Thanks to the team at Signature Theatre, audiences in the DC-area are being given the opportunity to see another world premiere of a new musical, Kid Victory! John Kander, legendary composer, along with his late composing partner, Fred Ebb, of such beloved musicals as Chicago and Cabaret, and of the iconic anthem, New York, New York, is behind this new work, and Kid Victory is Kander's second offering in partnership with playwright Greg Pierce [nephew of actor David Hyde Pierce]. Their previous new musical, The Landing, premiered Off Broadway at NYC's Vineyard Theatre in 2013.

Signature Theatre summarizes Kid Victory's plot: Seventeen-year-old Luke returns home after vanishing a year ago. Profoundly changed, Luke and his parents struggle to adjust to life following his disappearance. Only finding solace with Emily, the quirky proprietor of an offbeat garden shop, Luke grapples with a past undone and a coming of age that came too late to a boy who just wants to fade away.

Kid Victory is directed by Liesl Tommy [previously in DC for Woolly Mammoth's Appropriate], and the cast of this new production includes a Broadway veteran, Jeffry Denman,[Irving Berlin's White Christmas; The Producers; Cats and more], starring as Michael, Luke's captor. Jeffry shared his thoughts with me about his journey with Michael, working with these impressive creative minds, and his own acting life.

What most intrigued you about the role of Michael?

Greg and John have done an amazing job of sculpting this piece so that there are no black and white answers, just shades of grey. That kind of play will always be intriguing to me. And Michael is very much about shades of grey. It's easy and probably comforting to write him off as "crazy" and from a certain point of view he absolutely is but he has complex issues that motivate him. Finding those motivations and creating Michael's humanity are the puzzle that made/make this role so intriguing and challenging.

Have you performed a John Kander role before? If not, has there been one you've had in mind to do?

I haven't ever done a Kander role but I've always wanted to play Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman.

What has it been like creating this character for the world premiere?

It's scary and fascinating. Liesl has given me a lot of support as I walk the path, so to speak. There was a day when it all caught up to me, emotionally. The actuality of what Michael does to Luke became very real and hit me very hard. I started to break down in rehearsal and Liesl was incredibly supportive, helped me navigate. She simply said to me, "You knew we were going to have to go here at some point, right?" I was glad it happened because otherwise I feel like I was just going to be skimming the surface, not really getting in the mud. Well, we're in the mud now.

What has the experience of working with John Kander been so far?

John is one of the kindest most generous people I've ever met. He's a legend who doesn't act like a legend. He's given me some of the greatest singing adjustments I've ever gotten as well as some of the most inspiring words of encouragement I've ever received. He's an absolute gem.

Other than your own, who is your favorite character in Kid Victory?

I love the Chorus. I think the way that Greg, John and Liesl are using them is really brilliant. They give such depth to the story in very simple ways and also add great humor.

What do you want audiences to know about Kid Victory before they arrive?

Nothing. I love when audiences see a show without any prior knowledge and they can let the story unfold without having any prior assumptions made. (That said, this is a tricky one because the subject matter is very intense and, at times, chilling. There might be people who have gone through something like this who would need to know.) But other than that I hope people can put their trust in us and come courageously to the theatre with nothing but a ticket.

You are a multifaceted theater professional (actor/director/choreographer); do you have a "job" you like best?

Usually the one I'm doing is my favorite. Acting will always be my first love but directing and choreography are great passions of mine and where I'm headed. I will act as long as they'll have me onstage.

What is your earliest theater memory?

First Grade. The Fox and the Hungry Tiger. I played the Fox. My mom made the costume.

What has been your favorite theater experience to date as a professional?

I've had a lot of wonderful experiences but Closing night of Cats on Broadway was the single most thrilling performance I've ever been a part of. You can read about it in my book (absolutely shameless plug) A Year with The Producers.

In anticipation of this year's Tony Award nominations, do you have some favorites from this season that you'd like to see recognized?

I've seen tons of great theatre over the past year. I think there are a lot of worthy folk and shows. I couldn't really narrow it down.

Have you performed in the DC area before? If so, what/when/where?Anything non-theater-related you're hoping to do while you're here?

Made my debut with the out of town tryout of How To Succeed at the Kennedy Center way back in 1995 and also did a concert with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony there as well.

Marc Kudisch and I played Signature with our Holiday Guys show in 2012. I have family in the DC area so I knew all about the DC theatre scene growing up. I've seen wonderful productions at Arena, Shakespeare, and Wooly Mammoth. (I've also done some work in Baltimore but I'm not sure if I should mention that. Is there a city rivalry I should be aware of?) .

Kid Victory begins performances at Signature Theatre on February 17, and runs through March 22, 2015. For more information and to book tickets for the show, visit the show page on Signature's website at www.signature-theatre.org/shows/kid-victory. Post-show discussions will be held after the performances on March 11 and March 17, 2015.

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