Photo credit: David Scheinmann
“I got into theater a little bit in a round about way,” Jerome Harmann-Hardeman who plays Tito Suarez in Dirty Dancing at The National Theatre told Hollywood on the Potomac.
“I went to college for biology, so I guess it’s a little bit of the classic story. I met a girl who was in the theater department. I was always helping her with her projects and eventually I just became drawn to theater but not specifically musical theater – that came afterwards. I suddenly had a real interest in theater and what it meant and why people do it and how they do it. Three years later, I ended up changing my major and the rest is, as they say, history.”
His life’s road trip took him to Syracuse University and back to New York City for grad school where he worked in an art gallery part time. “One day I was at lunch and I’m sitting at a lunch counter and there’s a guy sitting next to me. I guess I was reading a newspaper and it was the arts and culture section. He said, ‘Are you interested in the arts?’ I said, ‘Yeah. I just did some work in theater up at Syracuse.’ He said, ‘Do you sing?’ I said, ‘I don’t have any singing training, no.’ He said, ‘Are you interested?’ I said, ‘Sure.’ He said, ‘There’s an audition up at the Dance Theater of Harlem where they train interns to sing in the orchestra for the ballets. It’s today.'” He went, auditioned and was accepted into the program.
After 2 years, it was suggested that he go into musical theater. “One of the dancers was doing A Chorus Line and wanted to go back to ballet and he knew I was interested in doing musical theater. One day he came over and said, ‘I know you’re interested in musical theater. I’m leaving the show and they’re looking for another Richie. Would you be interested?’ I said, ‘Sure.’ I figured I would just be covering on the sidelines. Instead, I auditioned for and got the part. I was immediately out on tour with A Chorus Line playing Richie. That’s how I started.”
Jerome Harmann-Hardeman
He later toured with the great Chita Rivera in “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” “She’s kind of an inspiration. She’s just really wonderful to work with and a great actress and singer. I still speak to her. I still occasionally do benefits with her and she is just fantastic. She doesn’t forget about you. Occasionally she’ll call me out of the blue for my birthday. She’s really incredible.”
Tyne Daly, a frequent visitor to Washington, was also in his life. “I remember her daughter would come to rehearsals occasionally and none of us knew that she had a daughter … we don’t put her in that context. She was always affectionate toward her family. That stood out to me. Just was really professional and always on it…..just really interested and willing to learn different aspects of the craft.“
On his role as Tito Suarez at The National Theatre from August 26th to September 14th: “It’s pretty overwhelming. Last night we had our first preview. There’s applause for the logo. When the logo comes up and the music starts the audience starts applauding. It’s a years tour. We head straight to Durham, North Carolina when we leave The National. Then, we head to South Carolina and out to Ohio and then we continue west. We’ll be primarily on the west coast through the majority of the winter. We head back east through Canada for the spring and summer of 2015.”
We wondered how they manage to keep their family life in tact when they are on the road so much: “There’s a lot of Skyping. Our families come to visit as often as they can. Most of us are involved with people in show business, so at least it makes it a little bit easier in terms of people understanding it. It’s never easy, but it’s easier now. When I toured in the 90’s and we didn’t have cell phones and the internet and things like that, it was a lot more difficult. You’d run out of quarters!”
Josef Brown (Johnny) and Amanda Leigh (Baby)
“DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE” is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs, “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” London’s Sunday Express says “This crowd-pleasing stage adaptation hits the jackpot!” Don’t miss your chance to see this record-breaking live theatre sensation. You’ll have the time of your life!” Production Notes
The Trailer:
