Everything Girl

Brian d’Arcy James is a lucky man, indeed. He loves what he does for a living, has a beautiful wife and daughter, and just recently celebrated his tenth wedding anniversary. James has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career on Broadway that shows no signs of slowing down. Over the past two decades he’s played a variety of roles on Broadway including Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Brendan in the brilliant, but bloody The Lieutenant of Inishmore. His portrayal of Sidney Falco in Sweet Smell of Success garnered a Tony nomination. His outstanding solo performance in The Keen Company’s production of The Good Thief earned him an OBIE Award as well as a Drama Desk nomination, Outer Critics Circle Nomination, Backstage Garland Award, and LA Weekly Award. His film and television credits include: Cashmere Mafia, Rescue Me, The Education of Max Bickford, and Ghost Town.

James was bitten by the theater bug while watching his big sis perform in high school plays. As he takes on the starring role of our favorite green ogre in Shrek the Musical, he will likely inspire a whole new generation of theater goers and Broadway performers.

Brian, tell ATG readers a little about yourself.
I grew up in Michigan with three siblings, two sisters and a brother. I went to Northwestern University and studied theater there. I have a beautiful daughter who just started second grade and my wife and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary.

How did you get started in theater? Was it always your goal to end up on Broadway?
I got started by watching my older sister do high school musicals. She was very active in the theater and through watching her I became very interested in the idea of theater. I then became active in community theater and that’s where it began.

You’ve been working in theater for the past twenty years. To what would you attribute your ability to work so consistently when others have not?

“I love what I do and that hasn’t waned over the years, so I have a genuine love for what I get to do. “

First I think it has a lot to do with my own interest in my job. I love what I do and that hasn’t waned over the years, so I have a genuine love for what I get to do. Secondly, I have had some extraordinary opportunities which have fueled my desire to continue in this business. It’s kind of like golf, you could have 90 terrible shots but have two amazing shots, and those are the ones that will keep you from throwing your clubs in the lake.

You’ve played a wide range of roles on Broadway and Off-Broadway. What have been your favorite roles thus far?
My favorite roles so far, excluding my current favorite, Shrek include The Good Thief, Burrs in the Wild Party and Sidney Falco in Sweet Smell of Success. There’s something quite fun about playing a character who’s not altogether saintly.

What do you look for in a role?
I look for a well developed character, one that has a dramatic evolution through the course of the story. I look for a structure to the story, as often times the context in which the character functions strengthens the character even more so than how the character is drawn.

The role of Shrek seems to be quite a departure from characters you’ve played in the past. What led to your being cast in the role?
I was called by my agent telling me they were interested in me for Shrek. I said, “What role?” He said, “Shrek.’” I said, “I know but what role in Shrek?”

I couldn’t fathom being called in to play Shrek. Thankfully the producers and Jason Moore were familiar enough with my work to imagine the possibility. Clearly, there’s a discrepancy between me and what’s expected visually with the big green smelly one (unless I’m completely delusional), so makeup and costume helps enormously. But the fun part about acting the role is providing the heart of the character.

“But the fun part about acting the role is providing the heart of the character.”

Were you a Shrek fan prior to getting the title role in Shrek the Musical?
Absolutely, I had seen all three films and am a huge fan of the films.

I’ve seen the photos of you in full costume and make-up for Shrek. The transformation is simply amazing. How long does it typically take to get in full costume and make-up?
We’re down to about an hour [and] forty [minutes] getting into makeup and then another ten to get into costume. Getting out takes about a half hour now. It is quite a process but so worth it, as I know how extraordinary the designers and the applicators are who allow me to walk out there as Shrek.

How much does the costume weigh and does wearing it affect the way that you perform?
I don’t know how much it weighs. But it definitely has a huge impact on my performance. Actors can be greatly informed by the slightest of costume or makeup element, so this costume for me is a constant education. I’m finding a nice trajectory of what I have to do physically inside the makeup and costume to make Shrek move and appear “natural”, but not without a lot of experimenting and physical trial and error.

Shrek is currently in a pre-Broadway run at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. Seattle’s audience has a history of providing important feedback to shows before they hit Broadway. Have there been any tweaks to Shrek the Musical in response to audience feedback?
Tons. The creators and the cast and crew have been implementing many changes to streamline the story, make the characters more clear, the story more clear. It really is all about storytelling. We’ve really used this time “out of town” to work very hard on making this show the best it can be.

Have you had the opportunity to interact with young kids while in costume as Shrek? How have they reacted?
Interesting question, because up to last night the answer would have been “no.” I’m pretty much in the chair for makeup before and after the show, so I’m relegated to that spot. But last night we had a bit of a delay before the show started so me, Chris Sieber (Lord Farquaad) and Jason Moore (the director) went out on stage to answer questions and talk to the audience to kill time. All the kids were invited down front to shake my hand and ask me questions. It was fantastic, they’re so attracted to this character, and even being ornery and cantankerous, they love him. I felt like a green, Scottish Art Linkletter.

Tell ATG readers when Shrek the Musical’s run on Broadway begins and where they can go to see you in action as our favorite green ogre.

We start previews on Broadway Nov. 8 and open December 14 at the Broadway Theater in New York City!

You have a long list of performance credits - musical recordings, concerts, theater, television. What’s should we expect in the future from Brian d’Arcy James?
I just did a small part in a feature film called Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais. I’d love to do more film and TV work, but I’m sure the future will always include the theater.

Samara Leigh is a Northeast Ohio-based freelance writer, entrepreneur and E-consultant. Her non-fiction and fiction work celebrates the triumphant spirit of women on a journey of self-discovery..

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