BWW INTERVIEWS: Guiding Light's Newman Conducts 'SESSIONS'

Bertilla Baker, Kelli Maguire, Liz Larsen, and Robert Newman in a scene from Sessions photo credit: Murray Head

The perfect combination of theatre and soap is taking place at the Algonquin Theatre. "Guiding Light" Star and Daytime Emmy Nominee Robert Newman joined the cast of the off-Broadway musical SESSIONS on May 29th as Dr. Peterson, a therapist trying to help his patients work on their problems while also working on his own.

In SESSIONS, Dr. Peterson struggles with trying to help his patients while dealing with his own issues and demons. Ultimately, the patients reverse the patient-therapist relationship, helping the doctor in ways he could never have seen coming. The musical can be seen as being true to life, in a sense that we all tend to put our therapists up on a pedestal, yet doctors are only human.

Newman has earned legions of fans with his portrayal of Joshua Lewis on "Guiding Light." Robert first appeared on the CBS daytime drama in 1981 and has been playing his role for the 28 years since. In 2002 and 2006, he received nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Newman has worked extensively in the theater world, playing leading roles in the musicals The Robber Bridegroom, Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie, and The Fantasticks, as well as roles in such diverse plays as Veronica's Room, Titus Andronicus, The Owl and the Pussycat, Medea and The Rainmaker. He recently performed at North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, Mass as Guido Contini in Nine, and at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera as Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music and as Harold in The Full Monty.  He has just returned from a successful run as Charlie Anderson in Shenandoah at The Barn Theater in Augusta, Mi. He was seen off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theater in Quiet on the Set and in Betty the Yeti at Stamford Theatreworks in Stamford, CT.

TJ:  Robert, thanks for taking some time to talk with me.  Most people know you as Josh on GUIDING LIGHT but here you are performing in a musical in front of a live audience.  When did the interest in musicals begin for you?

NEWMAN:  Late in life. Late teens, early twenties, during my 4 years studying theater at CSUN.  We'd go every year to NYC for a week of shows--A CHORUS LINE, EVITA, SWEENEY TODD.  Extraordinary actors doing extraordinary work.  My first musical role was Sky in Guys and Dolls.  I love the combination of life and fantasy that comes with musicals.  My daughter kids me about the fact that I start crying during the overture. 

TJ:  Tell me a little bit about the premise of the musical and your role in the show?

NEWMAN:  SESSIONS revolves around a therapist and his patients.  Al Tapper has put together some great characters here, each representing a different struggle: a woman abused by her husband; a rich man who can never please his father; a recluse who hides from himself and from the world; a man who has taken on the persona of Bob Dylan because he does not like to be himself; an older couple who have forgotten why they got married in the first place; and a woman who grew up with an alcoholic mother.  Through it all, Dr Peterson is a married man on the brink of an affair with one of his patients.  His slow-burning 2 hour nervous breakdown affects his patients and makes him question the worth of the work he does.  It's quite fun and funny in the first act and becomes somewhat tragic through the second act.  Comedy and tragedy side by side.  Like life.

TJ:  It's a musical and I guess the next question is, any dancing involved for you in the show?

NEWMAN:  Let me put it this way:  Rachelle Rak throws me around in two numbers in the show.  She's quite strong, you know.  It appears that I dance, but really all eyes are on her and I'm just there.  She leads and I'm happy to let her.

TJ:  Do you get stage fright?

NEWMAN:  No, and I never have.  I get excited and pumped and focused, but not nervous or scared.  I feel very much at home on stage with a live audience and always have.  I don't know why, but don't really need to know.  I'm thankful for it.

TJ:  How did you get involved with SESSIONS?

NEWMAN:  A phone call on a golf course from my good friend Ron Raines.  He told me he'd seen a show the night before and they wanted to find the right guy for the lead.  He basically told them "I'm not right for the role but I know who is."  I met with the producers, Tony Sportiello and Jason Hewitt, and the director, Thomas Cote, a couple of days later. I read the script, liked the role and it was off to the races.

TJ:  OK, it's a sad time for all soap fans including myself since Guiding Light will be leaving the air. When do you tape your last episode?

NEWMAN:  We will tape the final episode of Guiding Light, which will be somewhere close to the 15,800^th in total, on August 14^th.  The final air date will be Sept. 18^th.

TJ:  Has it really hit you yet? You have been playing Josh for 28 years...you must have some really great memories.

NEWMAN:  I do.  I've worked with some amazing actors in that time who have also proven to be amazing people.  Some have died.  Some have moved on to other things and some have stayed.  Both on and off camera.  I've had some fun experiences and great weird things throughout the years, but ultimately it's the people that I will miss.  A second family, really.

TJ:  Fans are hoping that Josh and Reva, played by Kim Zimmer, will ride off into the sunset...any insight into this?

NEWMAN:  I'm sure they will be together in some sense.  Not married for a 4^th time.  I don't think anyone wants that.  But my guess is that they will be together in the last scenes and the word "Always" will be in play.  Their catch phrase. 

TJ:  Are you and Kim good friends?

NEWMAN:  Good friends off screen and good partners on screen.  She has been a joy to work with over the years.  Such a pro and so good.  Crazy and funny and all those good things.  We've seen each other's kids born and grow up and go to college.  We've fought Union battles together.  Gotten quite drunk together from time to time.  We've fought and made up and fought again.  It's been quite a ride.  We hope to be together on stage some day, maybe Night Music or something like that. 

TJ:  Have you been doing double duty between SESSIONS and Guiding Light?  It must be a very long and exhausting day.

NEWMAN:  Oh my God.  My whole world is about time management right now.  Sometimes I get home, 50 miles north of NYC, at 12:30am and have to get up at 5am for GL.  I nap a lot.  I exercise a lot.  I'm quite focused in both worlds, but they are so different from each other.  I leave the house and sometimes say to my family, "See ya in a couple of days!"  They are being quite wonderful and understanding, but I miss them terribly. 

TJ:  Will we be seeing you maybe coming to another soap once Guiding Light is over?

NEWMAN:  I have no idea what's in store for me.  I'm excited about the unknown.  I'm at peace with it.  I just feel that this is part of my bigger journey and I'm on it for the ride.  If I were to try to plan something, I think it would be a year or two on stage here in NY and then go from there.  I'm looking forward to whatever is in store for me.

TJ:  What do you like to do when you're not onstage or in front of the camera?

NEWMAN:  Family time.  Golf.  I'm on both the Local and National Board for AFTRA.  I lead worship music at the church in Bedford Hill, NY that we go to.  I write.  I volunteer and have done quite a bit of work with Hands On.  I clean out The cat box and take out the trash.  I cook.  I'm quite The catch, actually, and since you ask, my handicap is 8.  Not bad for someone who often lives on 5 hours of sleep. 

TJ:  What is something that people don't know about Robert Newman?

NEWMAN:  I'm extremely introverted.  I think I was drawn to acting because I'm actually more comfortable in someone else's skin than my own.  I want and need alone time when I can get it and being at a party or a PR event where I'm surrounded by people is draining for me.  On the other hand, I have a few very close friends and am thankful for them.  I love my wife, Britt and my two kids, Connor (20) and Kendal (17) with all my heart and soul.  I'm about the most blessed man on the planet, I think.

TJ:  Thank you again, Robert!

We wish Newman all the best and will be sad to see Guiding Light leave the air after 72 years, the longest running scripted series on television. The show will leave an irreplaceable gap in daytime TV. But you can still see Newman in SESSIONS: THE MUSICAL at the Algonquin Theatre Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm as well at playing 3pm matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Due to the "Guiding Light" shooting schedule, the role of Dr. Peterson will be played by Dennis Holland on Wednesday matinees. All seats are $50 and are available by visiting www.smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. Senior and student discount tickets are available for $20. For now, ciao to all and remember, theatre is my life!