BWW Interviews: Jillian Mueller on Tour with DIRTY DANCING

Jillian Mueller has been able to accomplish a lot in her career. She has been on tour with some great shows such as AMERICAN IDIOT, MEMPHIS and FLASHDANCE. Now, Jillian is taking on the role of Baby in the touring production of DIRTY DANCING. I had a chance to interview Jillian when she was touring with FLASHDANCE last year (see interview here). It was fun to catch up with her and see how this new role in DIRTY DANCING came about for Jillian.

A lot has changed in your life since the last time we spoke; you're now doing DIRTY DANCING. You came through with FLASHDANCE before as well as MEMPHIS. Tell us how you got the role of Baby.

It was very weird audition process. I'd say this is the easiest job I ever got and in a good way. Very last minute in May which was their last final callback they were having for the show. I got this phone call from one of the producers that I worked with in FLASHDANCE and he said, "We are having a hard time finding somebody for Baby. Would you be interested in coming in for it?" I said sure. Going on tour again was not part of the plan. I had been on the road for two years and wanted to make routes in New York and try to see what's next. I said, "OK, sure." And then an hour later I get a call from my agent and said final callbacks are now. Can you get there?I jumped in the subway, showed up, learned the dance, I learned a little bit of "Time of My Life." They gave me the sides ten minutes before I went in. I went in, I did the dance, they worked with me a little bit and that was it. It was this last minute thing. It was a nice thing. They were trying to find somebody and I was their last minute thrown in there hoping I was going to be the right fit. It was a very interesting process.

Tell us more about the show.

It's the classic story onstage. It's really true to the movie which is awesome. It's the movie onstage. They try to stay as close to that as possible. Baby and Johnny do not sing because they don't sing in the movie. It's the movie with the soundtracks so that is what the show is. What's cool is that there are some extra scenes thrown in there to flush out the storyline. Even if people are coming to feel that nostalgia, we recreate the movie but I think it's even more powerful because it's a live stage production so there' s something about being in the experience and making the audience feel like they are with us.

You have been on the road with AMERICAN IDIOT, MEMPHIS, FLASHDANCE and now DIRTY DANCING. Has it been difficult to be on the road so much?

I had a chunk of time between these two. It's funny because (after) MEMPHIS I had about two weeks into FLASHDANCE. But, I finished FLASHDANCE in February and we didn't start rehearsals in New York until July. I was home for a couple of months and that was the first time I was like a normal person. I had an apartment in New York City and I was auditioning for things that were more one place as opposed to the tours. It was nice to have that time to feel those roots a little. Touring is definitely hard, especially since I've been doing it for so long and wasn't expecting to be on the road for a little over three years (by the time I finish with this). I really embrace it tremendously because it's so much fun. In my life, I think it came at the perfect time because I'm young and I think it's a great way to learn professionally but also as a human being. I keep calling these three years my college years . It's been a great way to see the country. I always joke and say being on tour is like a people experiment because you're working with this group of people. You work together, you live together, you socialize together. You figure out what makes people tick. It's really interesting. It's a great way to learn as a person and see the country. For me that is very good. I try to go and do and see everything as much as possible. It makes it even more worthwhile.

Tell us about the cast and what you like most about working with them.

The cast is so much fun. Our tech crew and our band, I actually know from FLASHDANCE . The group is so fun. I think the most important thing is having other people that have the same mentality of what I was saying where you are trying to make the most of it. Our cast is really good about that. I always say that we are going to make everybody rally which is just like going out and doing things. The interesting thing about tour life and particularly this show, there's this thing like everybody as a very unique story of what their audition process for this was and how badly they wanted it or how for me, this is something I didn't plan to do, but I'm here. There is something very interesting. Everybody has their own unique story and their own reason for being here. One of our guys in the show, he had been touring for over 20 years but he's doing because he hadn't been on tour for so long but he has a kid in college and it's a way to fund that. I think it's interesting how everybody really has their own unique story and I think it brings everybody together and makes them enjoy this experience as much as possible. I think if you can make the best possible party, it's really great.

What life lessons do you think you have learned by being in all of these shows and being on the road?

This is the simplest thing. The biggest life lesson I learned is working and seeing everyone is to be nice as a person. I think it's a life lesson that changes anything you do. It's so interesting to see people that do that and people that don't and I think that no matter what you do, no matter what position you are in whether you're a tech person, a band member, the star of the show, the swing of the show, the ensemble I think always be nice. It brings something more out tremendously on a show and it makes everyone makes the best of it. So if everyone can make the best of it and just be happy and be there I think it goes a long way. Also, I feel like these are my college years and I feel like watching people I feel like that's the most important thing.

Where do you see your career going in the next five years?

It's so hard to put a number on. You have to go for it and not worry. Whether it takes you two years to get there, five years, ten years, you have to go all in. I want to keep working. I would love to go back to Broadway and do that. I haven't worked in New York for a while because I'm just on tour. I'd love to do that and I'd love to do film and television.

DIRTY DANCING will be in Austin from November 11-16 2014. Tickets can be purchased by going to Texas Performing Arts website.