Photo credit: Courtesy of Production
John O’Hurley is not just another ‘pretty face’…. although he’s that too. He’s the multi-talented actor about to land at The National Theatre for a limited engagement of CHICAGO; and is not the first time he’ll be putting on the tux for the role of Billy Flynn. He’s been there, done that – perhaps more than a thousand times before and loves every minute of it.
John O’Hurley
In some ways, he’s always known he was made for the role. “I knew from the age of three what I wanted to do. People would ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up and with a sense of disgust that only a three year old can muster, I would put my hands on my hips, I would point to the black and white television in the corner of the room, and I would say, ‘Well, I am an actor so that’s what I’m going to be.’ I always defined myself as an actor,” he told Hollywood on the Potomac.”
“I knew that that’s what I was going to do with my life,” he added. “I did all the plays through grammar school and into high school as well. I majored in theater and voice in college. I did take a five year side spin though and went into public relations, only because I was scared to death of the business of acting. Finally in 1981, I hit New York and I got my first show forty-eight hours after I arrived. It was still the longest forty-eight hours of my life.” And probably the luckiest.
“In 2005 after the early success of Dancing with the Stars which was the number one runaway hit on television back in 2005 and coming off Seinfeld, I headed to New York. Someone had always mentioned that CHICAGO was kind of a custom built show for me. I didn’t know much about it so I went to see it. I knew the producer through friends of mine so I sat down with Barry Weissler and we had a drink together and I said I’d really like to do Billy. Inside of a month later, I was rehearsing for Billy and it opened shortly after that.”
CHICAGO is the #1 longest-running American Musical in Broadway history, now in its 19th year and winner of six Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations for Best Musical Revival. It has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. CHICAGO has captivated audiences around the world and CHICAGO always delivers.
“I think I’ve always played very urbane type of characters,” O’Hurley told us regarding his role as Flynn. “I think it’s just because that’s my nature; you work from your strengths or your type. I’m an urbane type. If I’m working dramatically, the characters are edgy. I also work a lot of comedic roles and I would say the characters are more self-deprecating. I’ve been back to Broadway … I was just there over the holidays for I think my fifth run on Broadway and then I’ve been on the road on and off since 2005 both with CHICAGO and also playing King Arthur in Spamalot, so I’m kind of back and forth with those two roles.”
We asked O’Hurley about getting into character: “When you play a role that’s so well known and having being performed by so many other famous celebrities, what do you think going in? Do you try to make it different or do you stick to what you think the audience likes? How do you work that role?”
“I’ve done him so much,” O’Hurley answered, “and I think I know him better than any actor who’s ever done him. I look at what I’m attracted to in the character – the elegance, the danger, he’s very eloquent. At the same time, I add a quality to him that is there in the script that nobody seems to identify; it’s an internal quality that takes care of the women under his guide that he’s responsible for, his clients. I think he takes care of them like they’re his daughters and I think that’s the way he treats them. I also think he’ll dispose of them and, in fact, as soon as the trial is over. As long as you’re paying the bill, you’ll get the best out of him but as soon as that’s finished, he’s gone.”
“I’m fortunate enough to have two of the best that are on the road doing it right now,” he said of his co-stars. “Bianca Marroquin is playing Roxie and I think in my memory she is the best Roxie that has ever played the role and I’ve seen many, many, many of them. She brings a comedic timing, an extraordinary dense skill. She’s a very strong actress and singer and she puts it all together. I think her performance is one of the most dynamic presentations that I’ve ever seen of Roxie. I’d say the same for Terra MacLeod who has been with me for gosh,I think, most of my years touring as Velma. She has matured so much in the role and is an absolutely exceptional dancer which is I think the essence of what Velma has to be because that’s the toughest dance role in the show. She’s just wonderful in it. I honestly believe that this tour is the best production of this show. I think this particular touring production is the best that I’ve ever seen in or been in.”
CHICAGO The Musical opens on February 10th and runs through the 15th.
A Teaser:
