Here’s a fun interview I did with Central Floridian and theater star Norm Lewis. I’m not saying I’m insanely jealous of him, but he’s living in my favorite city in the world right now and starring in my favorite musical:
Stage actor and singer Norm Lewis grew up in Eatonville. (Sentinel file photo)
The distinctive music of “Les Miserables” can be heard as Eatonville’s Norm Lewis answers the phone backstage at the Queens Theatre in London.
That’s because the show, in which Lewis stars as Inspector Javert, is spinning on — though Javert’s part in it has just ended.
“I’ve jumped off that bridge,” says Lewis, laughing as he refers to his character’s dramatic exit.
Born at Florida A&M University Hospital in Tallahassee — his parents lived in Chattahoochee near the Georgia state line — Lewis grew up in Eatonville. He worked in the production and advertising departments of the Orlando Sentinel before pursuing acting. Among his Broadway roles: John in “Miss Saigon” and Billy Flynn in “Chicago.”
He says he’s having the time of his life revisiting a part he previously played on Broadway.
“It’s awesome,” he says of playing self-righteous, obsessive Javert. “And to be in the original city where the show came from makes it even better. It’s an amazing honor to be in the West End, the Broadway of Europe.”
Besides his eight shows a week in London, Lewis, 47, can also be heard on the new CD cast recording of “Sondheim on Sondheim,” which will be released Tuesday.
Lewis starred in that show, a musical revue of Sondheim’s works intercut with taped interviews of the composer, on Broadway this year. Among his cast mates were Vanessa Williams, late of “Ugly Betty,” and Tony-winner Barbara Cook. He duets with both on the CD.
He also sings the showstopper “Being Alive.” “That’s a pretty big number,” he says. “I was so lucky to get that song.”
Norm Lewis was King Triton in Disney's stage version of 'Little Mermaid.' He thinks the show will swim again. (photo from Walt Disney Co.)
Although he has recorded his own CD, “This Is the Life,” there’s something special about being part of a cast album, he says.
“To be part of that original company, to be there at the beginning and say, ‘That’s my role.’ That’s pretty cool, dude,” he says with a laugh.
Lewis takes special pride in playing roles such as Javert and Ariel’s father King Triton in Disney’s stage version of “The Little Mermaid”; they’re roles that feature “colorblind casting,” meaning ethnicity is not considered when the actor is selected.
“I would love other African-American men to have the chance to do roles like that. I’ve met African-American men who would say ‘Thank you so much,’” for playing such parts, he says. “It makes an impact. It shows we can play more than Curtis in ‘Dreamgirls’ or one of the roles in ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’.’”
In “The Little Mermaid,” Lewis’ race received less attention than his six-pack abs. He got an inkling of his future when he first heard about the costuming ideas. “Ooh, they’re going to want something really tight,” he thought — and promptly started going to the gym three times a week.
“I’ve kept it up,” he says of his fitness regimen. His current role helps. “In ‘Les Miz’ there’s a lot of going up and down barricades,” he says, laughing. “That gets the cardio going.”
He has a soft spot for “The Little Mermaid.”
“It was amazing because I loved the movie. I loved the idea of working for Disney and dressing up,” he says. “Plus the fact they were going nontraditional and trusted me to be king of the sea.”
He played King Triton from the out-of-town previews through the entire Broadway run. The show closed in August 2009, after about a year and half, a much shorter run than such Disney blockbusters as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
“It was a shock for us,” Lewis says. But “we totally understood why it did close. The economy killed a lot of things.”
But he doesn’t count the show out: “It will definitely have a life. It will move on again.”
He recently caught up with actress Sierra Boggess, the first actress to play his daughter Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.” She’s in London playing Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” sequel, “Love Never Dies.”
“We had a big old family reunion,” Lewis says. “She’s a special, special woman.”
He has a group of ex-pats to hang out with in the British capital, including Patina Miller who has garnered rave reviews for her starring role in “Sister Act.”
“I’ve known her a while,” Lewis says. “There’s a lot of Americans here, and they’ve embraced me — they took me to all the cool places.”
His run in “Les Miserables” will continue until the end of January, but there’s always the chance of an extension. “Who knows what might happen?” he asks.
And while we’re speaking of “Les Miz,” duty calls. The crescendoing “Do you hear the people sing?” in the background means the show has reached its uplifting finale, and Lewis heads back to the stage to take his bows.