Norm Lewis previews NJSO concerts
The Princeton Packet writes:
When you’re talking about the most gifted leading men in the theater world today, no conversation is complete without mentioning Norm Lewis. In fact, ever since first stepping onto a Broadway stage more than 20 years ago, the versatile actor has been the talk of the Great White Way.
Over the years, Mr. Lewis has lent his powerful baritone to myriad roles, including Javert in Les Miserables, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and King Triton in The Little Mermaid.
More recently, he’s been in the star-studded Broadway ensemble of Sondheim on Sondheim, and starred with Audra McDonald in a re-imagined Porgy and Bess.
In 2014, Mr. Lewis became the first African-American actor to play the title role in the New York production of Phantom of the Opera, an experience that he calls one of his favorites.
On April 17, Mr. Lewis will be performing at the State Theatre in New Brunswick for a show appropriately titled Music of the Night. During the concert, the singer will be backed by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Thomas Wilkins.
”The show is going to be a few standards from Broadway and just some things that I enjoy singing,” Mr. Lewis says. “It kind of came at me last-minute, but I am loving this opportunity because I love singing with big orchestras — especially so close to home.”
He jokes that the selections are sort of a “Norm Lewis’ Greatest Hits” because he’s been in so many shows, and many have been recorded on his CDs, but there will be some surprises as well — things he hasn’t necessarily sung on stage before.
The largest orchestra on Broadway is currently 27 pieces — which just happens to be from Phantom, so Mr. Lewis appreciates having a full symphony backing him up on this performance.
”There’s this wealth of sound that’s with you like you’re part of an army of instruments, and you’re an instrument as well, and you get carried into this realm of euphoria,” he says. “The orchestration is just swelling behind you and I just have always loved that sound. And the audience is so receptive, because you’re getting this wall of sound and beautiful music and you don’t always get to hear that all the time.”
Reflecting back to 1993, and his first Broadway role in The Who’s Tommy, Mr. Lewis calls the experience electric. It’s a day that he says he will never forget.
”It’s almost like Michael Jackson when he was doing ‘Billy Jean’ and hit stepped on the panels and they lit up, that’s how it felt metaphorically to me,” he says. “I could just not believe that I was on what is considered the pinnacle of live entertainment to perform.”
Back then, Mr. Lewis had dreamt that he would be playing the bigger roles someday, hoping his career trajectory would lead to the Javerts and Billy Flynns of the world, but he wasn’t sure it would happen.
”It was more of a dream at the time, but I did want that to happen,” he says. “I’m living proof that dreams do come true.”
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In addition to theater, Mr. Lewis has delved into TV and film, most memorably as Senator Davis onScandal. Other recent appearances include Gotham, Blue Bloods, and Chicago Med.
”What I love about TV is there is this other medium where you can explore other skills. You still use the basics, but you have this camera focused on you and picking up every single nuance, so it’s about finding a new way of expressing yourself,” he says. “I would love to do more TV and film in the future.”
Still, if given the choice of just one, there’s no question as to what direction he would go.
”I would always choose theater and live performing,” he says.
Up next for Mr. Lewis is playing his Broadway role of King Triton in the Hollywood Bowl’s summer production of The Little Mermaid, and he’ll be traveling to Japan for the first time ever to do a live concert. For now, he’s excited about the upcoming State Theatre gig.
”I hope people come to New Brunswick to have a good time,” he says. “I’ll be dressed in formal attire but I always look at every performance as if I’m singing to them in my living room and I’m going to have a good time.”
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