(©Andy Henderson)
Jonathan Bennett calls himself “the biggest musical theater geek on the planet.” He performed in high school, college, and even in the basement of his childhood home. “Most kids want to build a treehouse, but I asked them to build a proscenium arch with red curtains in the basement instead,” he says.He moved to New York at age 19 to pursue a career on Broadway, but ended up booking soap operas. all my childrenIt led to mean girls In this film, he played lover Aaron Samuels, perhaps his most famous role. “Then I started competing in film and TV, but there was always this itch that I just couldn’t scratch, and that was doing a musical on the Broadway stage,” he says. On Tuesday, January 23rd, he finally realized his dream by starting his run as knight Sir Robin in a Monty Python movie. Spamalot At the St. James Theatre.
based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot It is a parody of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Robin, an expert in musical theater, teaches King Arthur how to stage his musical on Broadway. This role is perfect for Bennett. “Sir Robin is a really fun role because he gets to be a knight who’s afraid of battle. It’s a great combination to start with as a character. The fact that he’s two parts that are completely contradictory to each other is the best basis for comedy. is one,” says Bennett. “The reason I’m most excited about working with Sir Robin is because I’m a Broadway musical theater buff, and I love how special Broadway is, what musical theater means, and why Broadway… It’s the fact that I can sing a song about why musicals are great. The character’s holy grail is musical theater, and my holy grail is musical theater, so it’s like an art that imitates life.”
Theater Mania spoke to Bennett about taking over the role from Michael Urey, appearing in Hallmark movies, and more.
This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
(©Andy Henderson)
Are there any scenes or numbers in the show that you’re looking forward to performing?
I can’t wait to sing “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway,” but I love the security scene with his dad. Nick Walker does a great job playing his father in that scene and I can’t wait to get on stage and perform with him. I have some tricks up my sleeve that I can’t wait to play out on him when there’s an audience and see how he reacts. Because this is one of his most iconic comedy scenes ever written, and the fact that he can do it on a Broadway stage. Eight nights a week is wild for me.
Did you have a chance to rehearse with the cast?
It’s very overwhelming to be a part of a show that’s like a rocket ship hurtling towards the sun every day. I rehearse every day with my dance captain and associate director. And now I’m just starting to put some swings in with me. That way I can get a feel for what other bodies will feel like on stage, but I only do the entire show time with the principal before school opens. It’s called a put-in rehearsal. But let me tell you what, this is a show that embraces all the hallmarks and tropes of musical theater, so this cast is very warmly welcomed because the show is geared towards good people.
The first person who texted me the moment I booked the job and signed the contract was Michael Urie. And he said, “Hi, it’s Michael. I just want to say hello and welcome you. I’m so excited for you to play this role. You’re free to use it. I need you. Whatever it is, whatever I can do to help, I’m here.” We went to dinner and he said feel free to ask me anything, so I stuck his head in. I had to choose and I followed him and got to know him and followed him to make sure I knew what was going on behind the scenes. Where I go.
Did Michael Urey say anything that particularly stood out to you?
“You need to breathe, so make sure you breathe not just when you’re singing ‘Broadway,’ but also backstage.” Don’t just breathe to do a number; breathe to do what you’re doing. You have to breathe to absorb things. You’re on a Broadway stage, making your Broadway debut. Spamalot Written by Monty Python on Broadway. Please accept it. And the advice I gave him was, stop all your merry pranks in front of me, because I’ll just steal it.
we are here to talk about Spamalotbut I have to bring up mean girls, especially since a new movie just came out. Since this is a musical, did you want to be a part of the movie, or did you think it was time to pass the torch?
my mean girls experience is mine mean girls experience. So whatever iterations of these characters they play, that’s great, but I just don’t feel like it.it’s like me mean girls It’s mine mean girls There may be others, and that’s fine, but I haven’t seen the movie yet because I’m too busy doing Broadway.
You’ve made a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies., It also includes the first Hallmark movie starring a gay couple. Do you feel responsible? I forget the exact phrase you used, because I think you said yourself that you are…
Did I mention gay king of Christmas?
Yes, that was it.
I feel a huge responsibility to ensure that gay stories are told not just at Christmas on Hallmark Channel, but throughout the year and everywhere.In fact, we were just nominated today. Christmas at Cherry Tree Lane I think this is my seventh or eighth time being nominated for a GLAAD award. It’s important that these stories are told because we didn’t have those stories when I was a kid.
Since you’ve just started this show, you may not be thinking about the future, but is there a dream role?
Of course I will.I want to be Seymour little shop of horrors.I want to be Billy Flynn Chicago.And what do I want to be in his name hair spray? Not Link Larkin.? who is the other guy? [starts to sing] “When I turn on the TV every afternoon…”
Corny Collins?
Yes, I want to be Corny Collins hair spray.I want to be Billy Flynn Chicago.I want to be Seymour little shop of horrors.Otherwise I’ll be a dentist little shop of horrors. All those shows. I want to be inside them all.
good, little shop and Chicago Still running.
Please put me in the coach!