out & about /in the press/ 2001 -2005

John Chats with JohnBarrowman.com

from his dressing room at the Drury Lane Theatre

November 2003

 

Once I knew I was returning to London for a lovely week's vacation and a chance to see what has become my all time favorite musical again, I contacted JB and asked if he would grant me an interview for the website.

Gracious and generous as always, he agreed. Inviting me up to his dressing room before the show one evening. I entered into a nice, spacious room with a seperate area for dressing and applying make-up, with a seperate bathroom. (Or as you say in the U.K., loo or watercloset.)

About the room is that definite touch of Barrowman Blue. A lovely blue and white stripped loveseat.
Some recently purchased Christmas decorations for his home, all in various shades of blue of course! Nice and homey.

As John and I settle down for our chat, he tells me he's just recieved word that he's been nominated for the 2004 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards - Best Actor in a musical!!!

Voting closes the end of January 2004, with the winners announced in February.

***UPDATE 2/3/04*** - JOHN WON, Best Actor in a Musical!!! CONGRATULATIONS JB!!! ***

G: Ok, John I've got a slew of questions here. Some are ones I've come up with, others were submitted by fans. I know you don't have much time before the show so I'll just jump right in.

JB: Shoot.

G: What other career would you have gone into ? Other than your chosen one of performing?

JB: First I wanted to be a pilot, an airline pilot for American Airlines. As I grew and developed a fear of flying, I changed my mind on that one!

Next, I thought I could be a teacher. I communicate really well with people and get things across and get people to do things that will better themselves. Deep down I've always known that this (entertaining) is what I'd be doing; fear made me want to do other things. But then I took that leap of faith and said this is it. I'm doing it and I don't give a shit And I don't care what happens! And you can quote me on that.

G: You are a multifaceted performer. You have worked on stage, television and film. Looking back to when you first started out did you ever think you would have achieved even a third of the success that you have?

JB: No. I always knew I was going to be doing something in the industry. But I didn't know what it was, I always knew I would be successful.
That was just the kind of motivation and drive I've always had.

At one point as I said, I was convinced I was goint to be a teacher, but then I saw DREAMGIRLS with my Mom, when I was kind of in between high school and college. And she said to me this is really what you want to do isn't it? And I said, Yeah it is. I had always sort of known since a young age. So no, I wouldn't have guessed. But, I always knew I would be doing something in the entertainment business.

G: What led to performing? How did you come to choose that? What keeps you going?

JB: I don't know. Its just always been inside me, I've always been the one to get up and do things in front of people, in front of the class, at my parents parties, even when I was a kid. That picture of me on the website (on the Bio page) in the kilt, I was just about ready to sing.

One of the kind of catalyst moments for me was when I watched Peter Pan at a theatre in Glasgow. I saw Peter Pan flying and felt really excited about it and I looked around and saw all the other kids just as excited. And in my head I thought, Oooh! I want to be a part of this - that makes people excited! I want to be a part of something like that, I want to DO something like that.

What keeps me going? Is really just that I love doing it. And to be honest, I'm sure there are other things I could do, but there aren't other things that I wanna do. Someone asked, what happens if you ever want to give this up? And I've thought about that and I don't want to give it up!

I joke all the time, I say if ANYTHING GOES ran for twenty years, I'd be playing Elijah Whitney!(Laughs)
As, I get older, my roles will change. What keeps me going is knowing that I am always going to be involved in this business.

G: You are back again in ANYTHING GOES, in the role of Billy Crocker which was pretty much was THE big break for you back in the 1989 West End production opposite Elaine Paige. Can you talk about the role and the show - then and now?

JB: Well, they are completely different. Remembering myself in 1989 makes me smile. That was my break. That was for me - my first time on stage, living a dream. That I didn't think would happen but did. Knowing where I've come from since then and how much I've grown as an artist, just tickles me. I remember I was trying SOOO hard, but doing a nice job. Just really really giving my Allllll! I was so young! (BIG LAUGH from John)

Difference in the production? The set is different. The way we play it is different. We play it here with a lot more truth, here. In 89, we played it more for slapstick. A lot of the jokes that are the same just went over the audience's heads' in 1989. It's really funny, for some reason they're more in tune with that kind of humour now. But again, both of them were good shows. Both successful. People were different too, ANYTHING GOES in 89 was a star vehicle for Elaine Paige. Whereas, now its a vehicle for an acting company. It's one of the first times I've been involved in a show where my name isn't above the title. Because it's a National Theatre production and the National Theatre doesn't do that. Everybody's equal in that sense.

G: What were some of the challenges then compared to now?

JB: Well then, I'd never done anything like that before. I was fresh out of school. In fact, I didn't even finish school, I had six months to go to get my bachelors degree and then I got the job. I worked probably just as or probably even harder then. I'd never sung like that, eight shows - no wait..I had done eight shows a week in college. But not to that extent..it's like playing golf, all of sudden I'm playing with The Masters. Having just walked out of college. Elaine Paige said to me on my opening night, "Well Kid, you're gonna go out there and you're either gonna sink or you're gonna swim!"

G: So, it was more in a sense proving to yourself that you could to it?

JB: Well more of a sense of "OH SHIT!" This is really what its all about. This is it. This is the big time!
I proved to myself that I could do it when I got the job. But I was still nervous and scared.

But when I did it this time (at the National) I've have 12 years behind me of playing leads in the West End and television and some film work and recording. So I'm a bit more established now, when I walked in I was a bit more confident. It was a different kind of confidence I had when I was younger, probably verging more on arrogance.

Now I don't worry about it so much. I knew I could sing these songs. When I walked into the meeting, I sang them. Gareth Valentine, the Musical Director, said "Trevor, there is no one else who can sing this. We need him."

G: One of the repeated questions that came in via email was when will we get a follow up to your cd, REFLECTIONS FROM BROADWAY?

JB: Later this year. I begin recording with First Night Records, starting on January 19th. We don't know the title of it, but it's going to be completely Cole Porter. A Cole Porter songbook. *This would become the cd, John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter*

It might start off a series of things, where I do a Gershwin songbook and that kind of stuff. Larry Blank ( www.larryblankmusic.com) is going to do all of the orchestrations. He knows my voice back to front.

Beverly Holt will be playing piano on some of the tracks. So, that's the next album.

G: Do you know of any possible release date?

JB: Well, no..but it will be while I am still in ANYTHING GOES. So before the end of May it should come out.

G: Cabarets.

JB: Yes.

G: Now that you have done several of them, do they still make you nervous? Do you plan to do more?

JB: They always make me nervous. I always ask help from two people before I go on. I ask help from my Gran and my Aunt Dorothy. Who have both passed away. I take a couple of deep breaths, my Gran's nickname was Murn, and I always say (in his Scottish burr), Murn and Dorothy just pull me through it.

'Cause I hate, well I don't hate it, but I'd rather be onstage in front of 2,300 people rather then 50. The Lincoln Center was a great audience because I could barely see them. But, when I did the Stackner Cabaret in Milwaukee, that was nerve wracking. I mean, I had fun but it was nerve wracking because everyone is RIGHT there! You have to make the audience feel so comfortable that they want to react, and they will react. Because otherwise they are nervous and they think they are being too loud.

G: See that's funny. Because having been to several of the cabarets, I thought the Milwaukee one was probably the most...

JB: Relaxed.

G: Yes, the most relaxed that I had seen you.

JB: Well isn't that funny! So most of the time when I'm the most nervous, I look the most relaxed. (chuckle) How weird is that?

G: So, there will be more cabarets?

JB: There will be more cabarets. We've been talking with the Covent Garden Opera House. Also I've been asked to do a couple in Europe. I'll probably come back to do them in the States. But I'd like to come back and do the Cole Porter stuff in the States because the album will coincide with another cabaret show or one-man show.

G: Besides performing, what are your passions?

JB: Some of my other passions. I LOVE computers. I love my dogs. I love electronic stuff, I am a gadget freak! I have every gadget you can possibly imagine. You name it, I've got it. I love cars. If I could have a really really expensive hobbby I would collect cars. But I have no place to put any of them in London, nor in Los Angeles. I just have a two-car garage in Los Angeles, and both of the spaces are empty. So when I go back I have to fill 'em. I love music, I have a slew of a selection of music. I mean thats kind of vague in saying that because I am not really passionate about one thing. I like quite a few things. You could say I'm passionate about my family. I love having my family around me. I live in London and that's the biggest, hardest thing to get over. Being so far away. I can't be in contact with my family as much as I'd like to. In America, I can pop on an American Airlines flight in LA and go and see my sister and brother for the weekend. I can't do that here.

G: Well, I've obviously seen how close you all are and its just wonderful.

JB: So that's why I am flying them all over for Christmas on American Airlines. (chuckles) Their flagship service. I like doing those sorts of things.

G: How have the Dreamers workshops been going?

JB: Well they have been going really well. We have done, I wanna say six? (Looks at me - but even I'm not sure off the top of my head.) And we've been asked to do another one, er... two in Illinois and one in Wisconsin. Also one in the UK in collaboration with Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford.

G: Since starting the Dreamers Workshops with your partner Beverly Holt, have your feelings changed about them?

JB: Not really. What's interesting when I do them is the attitude of the people around. It's kind of weird that the high school that I went to now doesn't always show the greatest interest in them. To be honest with you, that's really like a kick in the balls. Because I've always promoted my high school. Anywhere I ever go, I talk about it. Because its a public school education that gave me the interest in music. And they've depleted most if not all their resources for music in the public school system. There was so much politics going on when I went back. I wanted it to be easy and simple and it was very difficult and we felt, well almost unwelcome. The people who really wanted us there was the Joliet Township School Board. The school didn't want to assist in anything. They were arguing with Beverly and being quite nasty to her. They were rude to me and to people in the community who were helping. So that's why, this past year we did it somewhere else. I STILL want to do it in Joliet. So we did it at The University of St. Francis, and they were more then accomodating. The unfortunate thing is their theatre is half the size (of Joliet West High). But we sold out and we had to turn people away. (For those unfamiliar at the conclusion of each workshop, John and Beverly stage the participants in a show, so they can present what they've learned.)

We are going to contact the High School and make sure they want to do it. If they do, I am happy to go back, but if they give us any ifs ands or buts about it, then forget it.

We've been asked by Plainfield High School. Which is the township next to Joliet. The High School I competed against when I was in school, wants me! So go figure. Also an organization in Aurora IL want us to do one there. Our performance would be at The Paramount Arts Theater. A spectacular Deco Theater.

G: Well, I wish you all the best with them. Its just so important. The arts, in public education.

JB: All we're trying to do is give kids a chance. If I were a parent, and I knew my kid was interested in the peforming arts and there was a guy or a girl who was actually doing it as a profession and making a living out of it, who wanted to come back and talk to them, teach them, do something with them. I wouldn't give any flack about that. I would say, ok go and see if you really like it and get the inside scoop on it. I can tell them things and show them things that I've learned in my experience, I'm just saying factually, but some of the teachers who teach this stuff have never done it. Ok, anyway, I don't want to get on my soapbox about it. I've just got to a point where if there is too much of barrier put up, I just say OK and go on and do another thing.

G: Well, its a shame that there is any resistance. I know you try to make it as financially possible for the kids as you can without extragvant fees. As you say, for someone with your background and experience to come in and offer what you can for so little.

JB: The money and profit from the concluding show, the ticket sales, go back into Dreamers Workshop. We then use that to give other kids, scholarships so they can attend future workshops.

G: Tell us about your feature film work. As of now, you've done three: MEGALADON -SHARK ATTACK 3, JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, and METHOD. Can you tell us more about the recent two? Any idea when they will come out?

JB: I have no idea about release dates. JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, I think has gone back to being called DELOVELY. I'm not one of the big players in it, they don't usually tell us all the details. I just know that usually from the time of finishing, wrapping production. It's about six to nine months before they come out. I think the Cole Porter one will come out in the spring or the summer. And then, METHOD, the summer or fall.

G: Can you tell us more about your roles in them?

JB: In the Cole Porter one, I play one of Cole Porter's lovers. I sing the song Night And Day , its a fantastic sequence. METHOD, with Elizabeth Hurley. I play a Steve Kmetko-kind of character for an entertainment channel. And I'm a nasty piece of work. I won't tell you what happens. But it's interesting. (chuckles)
G: Sounds mysterious. (METHOD's basic plot line: Elizabeth Hurley plays an actress making a movie about a real life murderess, and as the title indicates things take a nasty turn.)

G: Shooting a film or tv series is a lot of "hurry up and wait". How do you pass the time in between scenes/setups?

JB: Oooh...thank God for cell phones. We eat Krispy Kreme doughnuts. In my dressing room, I have a tv. I look at lines (from the script). Because there is so much to learn, I would make sure that all my lines were down. If I have a computer, I might go on the internet and do some shopping. My dogs are with me on the set. You find things to keep you busy. There is nothing you do everyday, some days I wouldn't do anything. Just wait. Sometimes they don't like you to go back to your room. Because when you go back to your room, you sit down, you have to take clothes off, your costume. When you go on again you have to go to touchups, they have to redo your hair, your make-up and make sure your suit is pressed. So sometimes they like to keep you on set, just waiting. And THAT is when its boring.

Elke in Germany: You've acted both on stage and on screen. Can you describe the difference in the way of acting?

JB: There's not really any difference in the method of acting. There's difference in the style of the show is, what you are doing. Like for instance, TITANS and ANYTHING GOES have a similarity, because they are both a bit campy. TITANS was a little over the top situations. And so is ANYTHING GOES. It just depends on the style of the piece you're doing. CENTRAL PARK WEST was in a way more realistic. I think what Elke wants to hear, is that on film and televsion you play part of your own personality. Whereas, onstage you have to communicate to thousands. When I'm on stage, I play more of a character.

G: She also asks, would you give up the stage in favour of a movie career? (And really hopes the answer is NO!!)

JB: No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't give up anything. I wouldn't give theatre up. I will do film and television. But I wouldn't give up theatre, because it's my first love.

Marilyn Swain in London: Is curious as to who tends the "dynamic duo" (aka Lewis and Penny, John's cocker spaniels) when you're away?

JB: Well the dogs have been with me in America for the last two years. When I came back over here (UK) and they weren't ready to fly over, my Mom and Dad looked after them in Florida. When I have them here and I go away, I have a girl, (puts on a thick Irish brogue which gets a chuckle out of me) Rosemary, an Irish girl, who looks after the house and the dogs.

 

Karen Tomalin - Redditch,UK: If you could have a musical especially written for you who would it be about? Fact or Fiction.

JB: Robert Burns (the poet laureate, of Scotland).

Karen: And who would you choose to write it?

JB: Don't know. So if anyone wants to write a musical. (smiles) I know someone who has already written the music for a Robert Burns musical, Paul Alan Johnson. A composer, who lives in Seattle, Washington.

Matt from Orlando: I'm sure each role you play is special to you, but I wondered if you had any particular attachment to playing the Beast in 'Beauty and the Beast,' specifically, what was it like playing a classic fairy-tale character and knowing you were performing to a lot of children, for many, giving them their first theater experience?

JB: Well that was a thrill because the kids were enthralled by it and thought I was an actual Beast. Kids would actually scream and cry when I would roar and I was a bit meaner than most Beasts. Much more ferocious then the other ones. I enjoyed doing it. But there are also other favorites. Joe Gillis in SUNSET BOULEVARD, Cal in THE FIX, Billy Crocker in ANYTHING GOES. But the Beast, I'd always wanted to work for Disney. That was paritally why I did it, 'cause I wanted to say Mickey Mouse was my boss.

Matt also asks: Was there any extra pressure or a special feeling of responsibility?

JB: No, not any extra pressure or responsibilty on me. Because I was being hired as an actor to play the role and its up to Disney to look after them when they (the audience) come in the theatre.

(Knock on the door, as the sound girl - Julie, has come to hook up his body mic and get him ready for the show. Seems my interview is running a bit over the time I thought. But John tells me to keep talking. He'll talk with me as he gets ready.)

G: What would be a dream vacation for you?

JB: A dream vacation. oh my God...

G: Anything. No limit.

JB: Necker Island (www.nolimitscharters.com). Which is Richard Branson's private island, with my family. For two weeks and use all the facilities. It's an island with a house built on it and that's it.
You have a a private helicopter. You have jet skis, everything at your disposal. Scuba diving, you name it. It costs 25,000 per person a week. THAT would be my dream vacation. And I wouldn't pay it! I'd have someone else pay it! (Big Laugh had by all in the dressing room.) To be sitting there on Richard Branson's dime, that would be dream.

G: What would you say are the top three things you've learned from your parents?

JB: Be nice to people. Always do things because you want to do them. Whatever you're doing, do it with 100% total conviction. Well, four things. It goes into respecting people. Treat others as you'd like to be treated. No matter who or what they are.

G: The best practical joke you've pulled?

JB: Oh my God, there are SO many, George! I've done (another big laugh)...

Julie: NUMEROUS!

JB: I don't know if there is just one but..but...

G: Ok your most recent.

JB: I farted, during BLOW GABRIEL BLOW. Sally Ann went, 'Do you hear that playin?' (Makes a raspberry-fart effect) Yes I hear that playin. That's not even a practical joke, thats just me being stupid.

G: Most recent practical joke done to you?

JB: My god, those are the things that catch me off guard - I really don't know George, off the top of my head. Um, can you think of anything? (Turns to Julie.) 'Cause no one did anything to me the last day at the National. I've had things done to me like, somebody put something in a drink onstage and I had to pretend its whisky. And its actually whisky. Stuff like that. Oh! That was the other one, because I farted, Martin Marquez and I do some little things to keep each other going, As Moon and Billy. But one of the things he did to me , that made me laugh, was he farted. But in perfect tempo!!! Which I was amazed at! I went, "All through- DOC! She loves me! (rasberry-fart effect) the night." And I had to sing it and all I could see was him shaking, shaking trying not to laugh. He couldn't compose himself. (Huge laughs all around).

April from Los Angeles asks: What do you sleep in?

JB: I sleep in pyjamas. (chuckles) I don't like sleeping in the nude. I know that's what April probably wants to hear. But I don't sleep in the nude, because I don't like the feeling of my skin touching. That sounds really weird, but, I don't like it. It makes me sweaty and hot. And she'll probably like hearing that.

Julie: Yes I was just about to say! (laughs)

JB: Depending on the weather, like right now I sleep in a pair of grey and red checked flannel pyjamas. And in the summer, I sleep in Ralph Lauren stripes with a tshirt. And, uh, I have a pair of GAP snowflake pyjamas for Christmas, very seasonal. (chuckles)

G: I 'borrowed this next one from INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO. what sound do you most love?

JB: What SOUND do I most love???

G: Yes, what sound.

JB: My own voice! (The room erupts into huge gales of laughter.) No! no, no seriously, the sound I most love. I love the sound of silence when you're on stage and its a moment between you and another character. And you've said something that really impacts them and you can't hear a thing in the audience. You know you've impacted them as much as you're impacting the character on stage. That silence is the best sound you can ever hear.

Julie: Then you know they're with you.

JB: Yeah, you know you've got them.

G: What about the flip side to that question? What sound do you most hate?

JB: (Without hesitation) Uh, CELLUAR TELEPHONES, ringing in the middle of a number. And people are still ignorant enough to do that. It drives me FU**ing crazy!!! How many time do you start singing "I KNOW TO WELL...and (John imitates a cell phone ring) doda loodoo doodle loodoo . One woman actually ANSWERED and started talking!

 

Well, thank you so very much for taking the time out to chat with us John. Hope everyone enjoyed reading this as much as I did doing it!

George/webmaster