Interview: BEAUTIFUL's Newest Star Scott J. Cambell Steps Into Gerry Goffin's Shoes

Scott J. Campbell (Jersey Boys, American Idiot tour) recently stepped into the role of 'Gerry Goffin' in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, beginning last month, taking over for Jake Epstein. Beautiful - The Carole King Musical opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) on Sunday, January 12, 2014, where it has broken all box office records and continues to play to standing-room-only crowds nightly.

Gerald "Gerry" Goffin, the legendary lyricist who, with songwriting partner (and first wife) Carole King, was responsible for some of the greatest popular hits of the 20th Century, died at his home of natural causes on Thursday, June 19, 2014. In addition to the several hits he wrote with King, Goffin also wrote songs such as "Do You Know Where You're Going To (Theme from Mahogany)" and "Saving All My Love For You" with Michael Masser, "Who Put The Bomp" with Barry Mann, and "I've Got To Use My Imagination" with Barry Goldberg.

Campbell took the time to chat with BroadwayWorld about stepping into Goffin's shoes, sharing the stage with Tony winner Jessie Mueller, and more. Check out the full interview below!

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You've been in the show for about a month now... how are things going so far?

Things have been going overwhelmingly well. It's really incredible! I'm just now getting my bearings and it's dawning upon me how awesome this is both as a role and as an opportunity. I get to share the stage with three Tony nominees, one of whom is a Tony winner, and I get to do something fresh with them every night.

I never had the previews or the rehearsal period, so there is a great deal of discovery that happens onstage for me every night. To that end it's been so fun to hone in a find out what works, and to get to dig deeper every chance that I do the role.

It's such a special role to me. The first time that I saw the show was actually after I had gotten the part. That's not always ideally the case- sometimes you want to go in having a clear image of what the expectations are. I auditioned for it over a couple of years actually, via videotape from Los Angeles. One of the tapes ended up catching their eye when they were looking for a replacement. Then I ended up coming in and doing a final callback having not even seen the show! And then when I actually saw it I was like "Wow!" I could tell how special it was having read the different versions of the scripts, over the years, but this is the kind of musical theatre that I really jive with. Plus it's one of those shows that transports you and allows you to feel moved. It's such a moving piece and such an incredible story. And the songs aint half-bad either!

Did Jake [Epstein] give you any advice before you started your run?

Jake and I are actually buddies! We did AMERICAN IDIOT with each other out on tour. So there was a cool, existing relationship between he and I, but no, he didn't really impart any words of wisdom or anything like that. There were definitely moments when I watched Jake to see what he was doing and I followed him backstage to see what his costume changes were like. The role is very special to him and it's equally special to me.

BEAUTIFUL is one of the hottest shows on Broadway. Is there an extra element of excitement just in playing full houses every night?

I mean, having done JERSEY BOYS, the audiences would be up on their feet hooting and hollering, but you get to the end of the show and "I Feel the Earth Move" starts for the curtain call, and there's just nothing like it. I share a dressing room with Paul Anthony Stewart, we came on at the same time, he plays Donny Krishner. We are both just so in awe on how well received it is EVERY single night, every matinee, every evening show...there's not one person left in their seat. Everyone is up on their feet clapping and singing along. It's unreal. And we're still breaking box office records! It's so cool knowing that I have the chance to be this close to the ground floor of something, and it seems like it will be around for a while- as it should be. I can't really speak to the process of creating it, but it seems like they really worked at putting a piece together that was as honest and truthful and collaborative as possible so that it would sing for everyone- the actors, the historical figures that it's based on, and the audience. It reads and tells the story in a way that is very effective.

Is there an added pressure in portraying a real person?

I wouldn't say pressure, but I definitely feel like there is a responsibility, not only to the late Gerry Goffin but also to his survivors and anyone that ever knew and loved him. This is a role that is demanding in the sense that while I'm not singing and dancing as much as I have in past shows, it's an acting role. I was over the moon about that. As rehearsals were underway and the role started developing for me though, it all became more real- the responsibility and duty I have to not only be true and honest to what is on the page but also to the legacy that Gerry left behind. He was an incredible individual. What he and Carole created together was very, very special.

Jessie [Mueller] has quickly become the Broadway it girl- what's it like playing opposite her?

Not to knock anyone who I've shared the stage with previously, but there's a certain ease to acting with her. I think we both work in a similar fashion with how we approach things. Nothing is set in stone and I don't think that either of us is afraid to go places with each other on stage. We are both very committed to the work and being in the moment together, but offstage Jessie is 'Offstage Jessie'. She's bringing in bagels and singing in the hallway, and being incredible funny and warm and caring. She deserves every accolade that she has received and will receive because she really is an outstanding presence both on and off stage She's such a wonderful person.

Goffin obviously made a big impact in the world of music and in pop culture. What musicians have inspired you personally?

I'm kind of a product of the generation I was born in. I have such a wide array of music that I listen to that I think informs the show. I actually like to use music as a part of my warm-up and to set the tone and mood. I listen to everything. Literally everything from classic rock to electronic dance music is in my iTunes. I will say though that the stuff I identified with in my formative years was 90s rock bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Foo Fighters. And there were some Canadian groups as well, like Billy Talent. Really anything that was hard rock, driving, lots of drums, guitars and screaming.

I've had a chance now with this show though to take a step back and listen to some stuff from the period. I've been listening to a lot of [Bob] Dylan lately, and James Taylor and Carole King.... and a lot of the original recordings from the Goffin and King songbook. And the Weill and Mann songbook as well, because they had a lot of really great stuff too! I considered all of that a part of my research. There's A LOT of complexity to the lyrics that these folks were writing. I think that they brought a lot of their lives to their work and it really showed. I think that's why it spoke to a generation. Getting in touch with that is an ongoing process that helps me to keep perspective and keep it honest.

Do you have a favorite moment in the show, or does it change from night to night?

There's a summit that Gerry has to climb every performance. It gets progressively more challenging and more difficult. My favorite moment though...I think it changes night to night. It also depends on the audience. When something really lands, like a joke or a moment when there's a gasp or an "Ohhh". Having watched the show, I think that my favorite is "The Locomotion." The ensemble makes it look so good and so effortless. They deserve an incredible amount of kudos because they're outrageously talented- every single one of them. That's another great thing about the show I think- it features every single person to a degree.

For me, I love when Carole comes to Gerry on the couch, when the pressure is on to write a song for the Shirelles. She softly takes the pencil and lyrics out of Gerry's hands and she walks to the piano and starts playing the chords to "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" in her sweet Jessie Mueller-tone. The audience just can't help but react, and it's moments like that that really make you appreciate what you're doing. It's those moments that really sing for me.

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Campbell's Broadway credits include: Jersey Boys (Swing & U/S Bob Gaudio). National Tour: American Idiot (Tunny). Selected Regional: Titanic (Barrett); Les Miserables (Marius); West Side Story (Tony). Scott is Canadian and a performance art graduate of Sheridan College, in Oakville, Ontario.

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock 'n' roll. But it wasn't until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Ticket prices for Beautiful range from $99 - $169 and are available for purchase via Telecharge.com, but calling 212-239-6200, or in person at the Sondheim Theatre box office. Beautiful plays the following schedule: Tuesdays - Thursdays at 7:00 PM, Wednesdays at 2:00 PM, Fridays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 PM. For more information, visitwww.beautifulonbroadway.com.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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