December 8th will be a big day for Cheyenne Jackson. At that time, he will stand on the legendary stage of Carnegie Hall with his mother.
“This is a little scoop,” he confessed during a recent Zoom call. “My mom and sister will also be joining me on stage and singing as a trio. They haven’t sung together in years. My mom is a retired widow who lives in Southern California, and she’s going to be wearing a gown and getting her hair done. It’s going to be a family event, so we’re really honored that they’re going to do it. It’s going to be very emotional.”
Jackson says the show will have an “incredible setlist, something daunting and challenging,” but it will also be deeply personal and reflect “a lot of themes from my life.”
He thought for a while.
“I’m from this tiny little town in northern Idaho. I grew up without running water, without a rented barn, very poor, very Christian. And really, this show is about how music saved me and took me out of this small town where I felt like I didn’t belong and took me all the way to Carnegie Hall.”
But before Carnegie Hall, this mellifluous-voiced singer’s Broadway credits included: xanadu and finian’s rainbowand is well known to television fans for his chilling turns american horror story — I will first visit Washington DC to perform with the American Pops Orchestra.
This powerful concert will also feature the vocal talents of Broadway star Justin Guarini. evil and American Idiot” and James Monroe Iglehart, who originated the role of “Genie.” Disney’s Aladdin And it won him a Tony Award. “Three Tenors of Broadway” will take to the Atlas Performing Arts Center stage next Thursday, November 6th, under the direction of APO Maestro Luke Frazier.
“What I love about playing with an orchestra is that this wall of sound supports everyone and everyone is at their best,” says the strikingly handsome 50-year-old, who looks at least 10 years younger. “It reminds me of being on a movie set. Everyone is working toward the same goal at the same time. All parts have to work for the finished product to be successful.”
When I asked him what kind of music he would be playing, he shyly laughed. “To be honest, I don’t know if I should say that.” He quickly reconsidered. “But I don’t know if they care either. I’m going to do ‘Something’s Coming.’ west side storyand ‘Old Devil Moon,’ and…” He stopped short, leaving behind his teasing of these two.
Our conversation is wide-ranging but friendly, touching on everything from his current work in hit Broadway comedies. Oh Mary! — where he plays Mary’s teacher opposite Jane Krakowski — in director Tina Romero’s hilariously creepy queer zombie film queens of the dead.
“I can’t tell you how obsessed I am with this,” he says. Oh Mary! “I’m so happy. I think I needed it right now mentally because of the times we’re living in. I’m truly having the time of my life.”
About queens of the deadhe said, “I saw the movie for the first time on Saturday and I’m very happy with it. It’s a much better movie than any business–Tina made it for about five dollars–and it’s got a lot of heart. You care about the characters. I’m sure it’s just the first of many movies for her.”
Some of the past projects we discuss include those from Netflix. julie and the phantomsa charming and imaginative 2020 musical series from producer Kenny Ortega, was unfortunately canceled after just one season.
“Almost every day someone tells me about that show!” exclaims Jackson. “I don’t know why it was cancelled, I think it was just cost, but it was short-sighted thinking on Netflix’s part. Of course, I don’t know the numbers or what the costs were, but judging from the amount of random people who still come up to me about it, it seems like it had an overwhelming audience.”
He reveals that his first mentor in New York City was stage legend Jerry Orbach.
“He was the one next to me at 53rd and 8th,” Jackson recalls. “He always told me, ‘Try to say yes to everything, even if it seems like a small, insignificant part.’ I always think of my career as this long, winding road, and try to look at it on a macro level. Even if it’s a sitcom that’s making a lot of money and is close to home, I don’t get too attached to a project because I know it’s going to end. I just enjoy it while it’s there and move on when it’s done.”
APO’s “The Three Broadway Tenors” by Cheyenne Jackson, Justin Guarini and James Monroe Iglehart will be held Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Ticket prices range from $61.25 to $137.75, including fees. Call 202-399-7993 or visit us. americanpops.org.
Cheyenne Jackson will perform at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, 881 Seventh Street, New York City, on Monday, December 8th at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $29 to $146. Call 212-247-7800 or visit us. carnegiehall.org.
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Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
