Source: www.broadway.com
by Melissa Rose Bernardo
First, there's the matter of being a Backstreet Boy; add to that the
fact that 'N Syncer Joey Fatone already made the leap from boyband to
Broadway; top it all off with a show that's never been hotter thanks
to a smashingly successful movie adaptation. You might say that Kevin
Richardson has something to prove. But millions in record sales and
gaggles of girly fans haven't put any pressure on Chicago's newest
Billy Flynn: "I just want to follow my heart," says Richardson. "When
opportunities come, I cross those bridges when I get to them." It may
have been a while since he's trod the boards-he's been a BSB for 10
years now-but Richardson's loving his theatrical comeback: "I'm a 31-
year-old man," says the Kentucky native. "There's a lot more to me
than just singing with the fellas."
-So you probably weren't even settled into the Shubert Theatre, and
then the whole show picks up and move to the Ambassador.
-Hey, I'm used to moving around. No big deal.
-That's true. I'm sure you were just glad to be in one city for more
than two nights in a row.
-You don't get too comfortable with the backstage and everything;
it's always a new one every night for us on the road. I was kind of
getting cozy at the Shubert, though. I'm glad I got to perform there.
With all of the great names that have been here�
-You got to perform in the Chorus Line theater.
-It's an honor.
-Now, how does a Backstreet Boy end up on Broadway?
-Chicago contacted the booking agent that does all of our concert
bookings. They called me and said, "Would you be interested in
playing the role of Billy Flynn?" I said, "Are you kiddin' me? Of
course!"
-Had you seen the current production?
-No. I'd seen bits and pieces, I'd heard the soundtrack. I knew the
story from friends and from doing musical theater.
-How long's it been since you did theater?
-My last stage acting-playing a character-was about 11 years ago.
I've been with the fellas for 10 years. So I was excited to jump back
in the saddle again.
-What was that last show?
-I played an Italian gangster-it was a revue in Florida. It had songs
from Guys and Dolls, the "Cellblock Tango" from Chicago. I sang-what
was that song from Guys and Dolls?
-"I've Never Been in Love Before"? "Luck Be a Lady"?
-Yes. [singing] "Luck be a lady tonight�" I sang an Italian opera
song too. That was my last production. In high school I did stuff
like Bye Bye Birdie, Pillow Talk, Barefoot in the Park. I always
enjoyed it. Actually, before I met the fellas, I was on my way up
here because my girlfriend [Kristin Willits]-who's now my wife-was
planning on moving here.
-I read that you guys met while you were both performers at Disney
World. She was playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast?
-She was in Beauty.
-And you were playing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?
-I was playing a ninja turtle-plus other things: the main character
in Aladdin, I did the puppeteering for Sebastian in the Little
Mermaid show, I was the Beast sometimes. Then at night I did the
revue show. And then community theater stuff at the Theatre Downtown
in Orlando: It's a really edgy, small theater where new playwrights
do their thing. They do really crazy, off-the-wall productions. I was
in a show there called Monorail Inferno that a friend of mine wrote.
It was about Disney World-they had an electrical fire on one of the
monorails and they had to evacuate everyone on cherry pickers. It was
an insane show.
-And you were both planning to move here.
-I had gotten my director in Orlando and my drama teacher in high
school to write me some letters. I was going to come up here to the
Musical and Dramatic Academy, and that's when I ran into the fellas.
-So you put Broadway on the back burner.
-That opportunity came up, I put my plans to come up here on hold, my
wife later got a job on Broadway.
-What show was she in?
-She was in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She was
one of the Gemini. Now when we have our babies, we'll be able to tell
them both Mom and Dad were on Broadway.
-And how many couples can say that? You guys are definitely planning
on kids?
-I love kids. I'm looking forward to having some of my own.
-Where are you all living now?
-I've lived in L.A. for the past two and a half years; lived in
Florida for eight years.
-You pretty much had to move cross-country for this gig.
-Yeah but, I mean, I'm used to it. Whenever I'm in one place for more
than two days it's nice. I have a real nice cozy apartment. I'm
having a great time here. This cast has been nothing but supportive.
After the curtain went down at the end of the first act on opening
night, the crowd was clapping, and everybody turned around and
went "Yeah!" and started clapping for me. They were rooting for me-it
felt so good.
-How was that first night?
-I was really nervous, and excited. My wife got to come in for it;
she's in Miami shooting a movie. She was crying in the audience. It
was just amazing. I'm having a blast.
-Have you noticed a lot of BSB fans in the audience? I've certainly
seen a few at the stage door!
-My first night there were a lot. Each show there've been sections
that are a little louder than others.
-Do they shout out inappropriate things? When I saw Rent with Joey
Fatone some girl yelled out "I love you, Joey!" in the middle of a
scene.
-They don't do that. But they do cheer really loudly.
-What's the latest with BSB?
-We're supposed to record another record right after I get off my run
here.
-Now, have you seen Chicago the movie?
-I thought it was great. I thought it was done very well. My favorite
is the "Cellblock Tango." I thought Catherine [Zeta-Jones] was great,
all her dancing, the way Ren�e [Zellweger] played Roxie, I thought
Queen Latifah did an incredible job. I liked the way Richard played
Billy.
-How's your Billy different from Richard Gere's?
-Mine is kind of a young hotshot; his is older and wiser. But I'm
playing him the way I was directed, and I want to be true to [the
revival's original Billy] Jim Naughton and the way it was meant to
be. It's exciting to be involved in it with the movie out at the same
time-to sit there and watch it in a theater while I was in rehearsal.
-Are you enjoying New York?
-I love it. I used to fly up here all the time to see my wife; she
lived on the Upper West Side. I used to come see her every chance I
got. It is a little chilly [laughs], but it gives me a chance to wear
all those sweaters I never get to wear in L.A.
-It's nice that you've been able to take some time to do your own
thing apart from the group.
-We all kind of took a break. Brian had a baby; AJ and his fianc�e
are planning a wedding. It's been nice chilling.
-So in the spring�
-We're supposed to hit the studio. We'll see what happens. [Laughs]
You never know with the five of us!