Jim Brochu

Birth Place: New York City

Get Jim Brochu Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Jim Brochu BIO

Jim Brochu is the only actor in America to have won the New York Drama Desk Award, the Washington, DC Helen Hayes Award, the Los Angeles Ovation Award, the South Florida Carbonell Award and the Palm Springs Desert Star Award, all for Best Actor in a Play.
On Broadway he has appeared as Andrew McLaren in Brigadoon opposite Christine Ebersole and Len Cariou and as Mr. Brownlow in Oliver!
opposite Brian Stokes Mitchell’s Fagin. In Washington, DC he played Willy Clark opposite Theodore Bikel’s Al Lewis in Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boy. Most recently, he starred in the major Off-Broadway revivals of The Man Who Came To Dinner as Sheridan Whiteside and as Sir in the Newley-Bricusse musical, The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of The Crowd.
Over the past few years, Jim has been leading a double life – both as himself and as the great Zero Mostel in his multi-award winning play, Zero Hour. Since its premiere in 2006 Jim has been touring the country with the show, garnering both unanimous critical raves and major theatrical honors.
Prior to taking on Zero, Jim was in New York City starring in his Off-Broadway hit, The Big Voice: God or Merman? which he also wrote. The New York Times called it: “Triumphant and side-splitting – a hilarious and utterly enthralling evening of musical theatre.”
In 2005, Jim was nominated again by the Los Angeles Ovation Awards as Best Actor in a Musical for “The Big Voice”, an honor he won from both the Palm Springs Desert Star Awards and the Valley Theatre League ADA Awards. “The Big Voice: God or Merman?” was also given the Ovation Award as Best Musical, presented to himself and composer-partner, Steve Schalchlin, by the legendary Jerry Herman.
Jim’s life was forever changed on June 20, 1959 – the day he saw his father’s friend in a show. Dad’s friend was Ethel Merman and the show was Gypsy. When people asked him what he wanted to be when he grew
up, he would respond instantly, “A priest!” When Miss Merman asked him that question on the stage of the Broadway Theatre he responded instantly, “An actor!”
A native of Brooklyn, Jim produced his first show two months later, a charity revue featuring the Bay Ridge neighborhood kids
named The Flagg Court Follies of 1959.
After four years at La Salle Military Academy where he was nicknamed Sergeant Bilko, he studied drama at Carnegie-Mellon University, where his classmate was Stephen Schwartz. He returned to New York, received his BA in English from St. Francis College (Brooklyn) and made his Broadway debut (on stage at Town Hall) as Christopher Sly in a very bad revival of “The Taming Of The Shrew.”
His off-Broadway credits include “Berkeley Square” with Christopher Reeve at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Robert Lowell’s “Endicott And The Red Cross” at the American Place Theatre at St. Clement’s, Ephraim Kishon’s “Unfair To Goliath” at the Cherry Lane, Marvin Gordon’s “To Be Or Not To Be…” at The Barbizon Plaza; “Skye” at Lincoln Center and Frank Loesser’s “Greenwillow” for the Equity Library Theatre.
While working as a young stage actor, he appeared in two legendary television commercials – first as a dancing raisin for Post Raisin Bran and then as the “Lemon from Outer Space” with Madge the Manicurist for Palmolive. His television work includes regular stints as Father James on “All My Children,” Judge Julius Weyburn on “The Young and The Restless,” Officer Jerry Chandler on the cult-classic “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and the befuddled bailiff on NBC’s “Sirota’s Court” with Michael Constantine. Although the part was small, he can also boast that he made his motion picture debut in “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight” opposite another newcomer, Robert DeNiro.
His acting career has taken him to regional stages all over the United States and Canada, including the Washington Theatre Club in D.C., the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, The Invisible Theatre in Tucson, two seasons at the Goodspeed Opera House where he originated the role of Flint in “Something’s Afoot,” Theatre Building Chicago, Stages Repertory Theatre
in Houston, the Trinity Arts Center in Dallas and the DejaVu Theatre in Los Angeles - where he won the Backstage West Award as Best Actor for his performance as Marvin in Robert Patrick’s “T-Shirts.”
While playing Tevye at the Waldo Astoria Dinner Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri – he wrote his first play “Cookin’ With Gus” which was immediately published by Samuel French and has since been performed all over the United States and has been translated into several languages for productions all over the world. A huge hit in Quebec, Canada; it was recently taped in French by HBO.
One play led to another and soon Jim was writing full time. For the theatre, he has written the comedies “The Lucky O’Learys” with Kathleen Freeman, “Fat Chance” with Virginia Capers, “The Lady Of The House” with Rue McClanahan and the off-Broadway smash hit musical, “The Last Session”, which he also directed.
After “The Last Session’s” New York run (for which he received Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Nominations), the show was named
by the Los Angeles Times as one of the ten best plays of the 1998-1999 Los Angeles season, garnering him the Oscar Wilde Award and the GLAAD Media Award. Brochu won another Backstage West Award for his direction of the show, along with the Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle Award as
playwright.
In 1988 he got an offer he couldn’t refuse - a call from his idol, Lucille Ball, who had read his play “The Lucky O’Learys” and thought it would be perfect for herself and Audrey Meadows. By the time he finished writing the pilot for 20th Century Fox, Miss Ball was not up to doing the project and it never developed.
However, what did develop was a deep friendship between Ball and Brochu that resulted in them spending almost every afternoon together until she died in 1989. Jim chronicled Lucy’s life as she told it to him over the backgammon table in his book, “Lucy In The Afternoon,” published by William Morrow and named as an alternate selection by The Literary Guild Book Club.
Between theatrical assignments, he travels on the great cruise ships all over the world lecturing about Broadway, Hollywood and the stars with whom he has worked. He is an active member of the Dramatists Guild, the Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association and remains, as the New York Times called him, a true “Man Of The Theatre.” His caricature hangs on the wall of the legendary Sardi’s Restaurant in New York next to his mentor Ethel Merman, a singular tribute to a forty year show business
career as an actor and playwright.

Jim Brochu Photos

Jim Brochu STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
Peccadillo Theater Company Production, 2011
Sheridan Whiteside

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2009
Zero Mostel

[Off-Broadway]
2006
Jim

[Off-Broadway]
1970
Performer

Jim Brochu Productions

 
[Chicago, 2004]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1997]
Director

Writing

Playwright
Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist
Bookwriter
Bookwriter

Jim Brochu Videos

Jim Brochu News


Dancers Over 40 Brings a Roast of Lee Roy Reams to 54 Below

Dancers Over 40 will celebrate its 30th anniversary as an organization with its first ever – and 54 Below’s first ever roast. The event will focus on Mr. Broadway himself, DO40 member and former board member Lee Roy Reams! 

Laura Benanti, Kate Baldwin & More to Join Celebration of Sheldon Harnick at 54 Below

The life and legacy of Pulitzer Prize winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick will be celebrated at 54 Below. See who is starring in the concert and learn how to purchase tickets!

Tony Winners Len Cariou, Judy Kaye & Penny Fuller to Join COMEDY TONIGHT! A ROAST OF LEE ROY REAMS

To celebrate their thirtieth anniversary Dancers Over 40 will commemorate this milestone with COMEDY TONIGHT: A ROAST OF LEE ROY REAMS on Monday, April 1st, 2024 at 7:00pm at 54 Below.

Review: BROADWAY BOUND Is Always Bound to Please Fans of Musicals at 54 Below

Read about what you missed at 54 Below: It's about the shows that missed getting to Broadway. But wait --- that doesn't mean they were missing worthy songs.

Janine LaManna, Kristy Cates, And Major Attaway to Star In Fifth Edition of BROADWAY BOUND at 54 Below

Janine LaManna, Kristy Cates, and Major Attaway star in Broadway Bound 5. Get ready for an unforgettable performance!

Urban Stages to Present 15th Annual WINTER RHYTHMS Featuring 22 Shows and Over 100 Performers

Join Urban Stages for the 15th Annual WINTER RHYTHMS 2023, featuring 22 shows, over 11 days, and more than 100 performers. From cabaret to jazz and everything in between, this award-winning series is a must-see event for music and performance lovers. Don't miss out on this spectacular showcase!

Review: BACKSTAGE BABBLE LIVE Bubbles Over with On-Stage Broadway Talent and High-Spirited Host at 54 Below

There was a lot of history crossing that stage, with performers reprising numbers they’d sung on the Great White Way as far back as the 1970s. Giving the proceedings a uniquely touching quality was the sweet meeting of the generations, with these still very vital veterans being welcomed by — and conversing with — a respectful master of ceremonies who’s still in his teens, but is immersed in musical theatre lore.

BACKSTAGE BABBLE, LANGDON ST. IVES: THE STEAMPUNK MUSICAL!, and More to Play 54 Below Next Week

Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club and 2022 Tony Awards Honoree for Excellence in the Theatre, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work.

Andreas, Kaye, and Skybell Join BACKSTAGE BABBLE LIVE! at 54 Below

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will present the return by popular demand of “Backstage Babble Live!,” which BroadwayWorld called “one of the starriest, most entertaining, and most magical nights of the theater season.” Based on the podcast hosted by 15-year-old expert Charles Kirsch, the concert will feature performances and stories from some of his guests.

Photos: American Popular Song Society Honors Marilyn Maye With Lifetime Achievement Award

Broadway World Cabaret photographer Conor Weiss captures the glitzy evening in his lens.

Tovah Feldshuh Joins The American Popular Song Society To Celebrate Marilyn Maye

THE AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY has announced that special guest Tovah Feldshuh – the Tony and Emmy-nominated actress currently starring on Broadway in Funny Girl – will join their “Second Annual Benefit Evening” to honor the legendary Marilyn Maye on Monday, June 12 at 6:00 PM at Theater 555.

Karen Akers, Trezana Beverley & More to Take Part in Urban Stages' 39th Annual Benefit STORIES & SONGS

Urban Stages will present its 39th annual benefit, taking place on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 starting a 6:30pm at the legendary club The Players - 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC. 

Marilyn Maye to be Honored at The American Popular Song Society Benefit

THE AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY will honor the legendary Marilyn Maye at their “Second Annual Benefit Evening” on Monday, June 12 at 6:00 PM at Theater 555.

A Video Roundup Showcasing The Talent In The APSS BENEFIT HONORING MARILYN MAYE at Theater 555

The American Popular Song Society will present their second annual benefit evening, this year honoring Marilyn Maye.

Julia Murney, Charles Busch, Steve Ross & More to More to Join Kander and Ebb Celebration at Theater Row

For one night only, a wide array of cabaret and stage legends are joining forces to celebrate the music of John Kander and Fred Ebb in ALL THAT JAZZ: THE SONGS OF KANDER AND EBB at Theater Row.

American Popular Song Society Will Honor Marilyn Maye June 12th

This year the APSS has chosen The Marvelous Marilyn Maye to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award as she continues celebrating her 95th Birthday.

Oren Safdie's FACADE to Have First Public Reading at Urban Stages in April

Oren Safdie's FACADE will have its first reading at Urban Stages on April 16th.

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company to Present Expanded Talkback Series

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company has announced an expanded lineup of special post-show accompaniments, or lagniappes, for the organization’s 2023 season at Theatre Row.

J2 Spotlight Adds Cabaret Series to Their 2023 Season

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company will shine a spotlight on the composers and lyricists for the musicals featured in their 2023 season with a brand new cabaret series, In the Spotlight: The J2 Cabaret Series.

Jim Brochu FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Jim Brochu has written 5 shows including The Last Session (Bookwriter), Africa and Plumbridge (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), The Big Voice: God or Merman? (Playwright), Zero Hour (Playwright), Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man (Playwright).

Jim Brochu has been nominated for the following awards: - Outstanding Solo Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for "Character Man" and "Zero Hour" - Outstanding Solo Performance at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Character Man" and "Zero Hour" - Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production at the Helen Hayes Awards for "Zero Hour"

Jim Brochu has won the Outstanding Solo Performance award at the Drama Desk Awards for Zero Hour. He also won the Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production award at the Helen Hayes Awards for Zero Hour.

Get Jim Brochu Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos