BWW Interviews: Jessica Vosk Talks Debut NYC Solo Show I CAME FROM JERSEY FOR THIS and FINDING NEVERLAND

54 BELOW, heralded as "Broadway's Living Room," always books the best of the best talent from New York City's theatre scene. Therefore, it was no great surprise to see Jessica Vosk's name appear on their calendar. While she may not be a household name like some of her peers, many people are familiar with her work. She gave a thrilling performance as Anita in San Francisco Symphony's production of WEST SIDE STORY, she was the only female swing in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, and now she's creating a role in Finding Neverland. I chatted with her about her debut NYC solo show, I Came From Jersey For This, and her growing star.

---

BWW: What is the concept for your I Came From Jersey For This cabaret?

Jessica Vosk: From its title you can probably gather that it is not serious. There will be no therapy session about my life. It's really a big ol' party. There is a lot that is highlighted about where I'm from, which is New Jersey, where I grew up, how I grew up, and-if I have to use the word-the "journey" to where I am now, which has been through some crazy other routes that have nothing to do with musical theatre or singing. So, we just thought it would be fun to put together something that has a lot of heart. Something where an audience member can come in and just forget about whatever stress they have or forget about the day, have a party, and not really have to think or do anything except for drink, eat, and listen to great music.

BWW: For the lack of a better word, let's talk about your "journey" just a little bit. How did you first get started in performing, theatre, and signing?

Jessica Vosk: My dad had a band when he was in his 20s or 30s. He's a fantastic singer, and he taught me how to harmonize when I was really small. I've always been in an artsy family. My mom is in the arts as well. My dad kind of taught me how to sing. He would put me in front of the microphone when I was three years old, and we would have signing parties in the living room of great Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young songs and amazing rock stuff, which makes me feel like I was born in the wrong era.

My parents got me started very young, and I was bit by the theatre bug maybe when I was six-years-old. I did a lot of community theatre in New Jersey, and I think I really got bit by the bug when I got to play Annie. I got cast in this big production in Pennsylvania somewhere. I thought it was really method because I had to dye my hair red and perm it. So, I probably felt like I was Annie. Ever since then I was absolutely in love with everything musical theatre-everything signing, dancing, orchestral, acting. The whole nine yards.

BWW: I can just imagine a sassy, six-year-old Jessica with permed red hair sticking her tongue out. [Laughs]

Jessica Vosk: Oh yeah! It was a thing!

BWW: When did you know that this was going to be something you wanted to pursue professionally?

Jessica Vosk: I think that I always knew in my heart that somehow I would pursue it professionally. I probably started thinking about it when I was in high school. I was doing all the theatre productions every year in school. I came from a great high school that really loved concerts, the arts, and shows. I thought that it could be a real thing that I could do with my life, somehow succeed, and make it. So, I thought about going to college as a musical theatre major. I went on some auditions in New York when I was in high school, just to see what it was like. I got the taste of, I guess, the real world in Manhattan, which is very different than when I actually really started working professionally. That was way after college.

BWW: In preparing for I Came From Jersey For This, what challenges has creating a solo cabaret show presented for you?

Jessica Vosk: [Sighs] Every challenge ever. [Pauses] These are so hard, and they are so overwhelming. I have been really lucky to have been asked to sing in a lot of other talented and wonderful peoples' concerts. I just did one for Georgia Stitt that Jason Robert Brown directed. I sang in Elena Shaddow's concert. She and I did BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY together. I did the Celine Dion concert [at 54 BELOW]. I mean I've done a bunch of these concerts, and I always wanted to do my own.

Everything about it is a challenge. In picking the right songs I think that I really love a song. Then I hear another song on Pandora, and I think, "Oh God. Now I have to do this song." It's just that I'm like a little squirrel that wants to do everything. And, putting together the right story, and the musicians, and what I want it to sound like on top of now getting into rehearsals for a new Broadway show-it's a little stressful, but I think I can do it.

BWW: Conversely, what are some of the more rewarding aspects of preparing your show?

Jessica Vosk: Oh my gosh! I feel like it is cathartic. You learn something about yourself. I've learned not to be so terribly hard on myself. I've learned that I love to crack a bunch of jokes, mostly at my own expense. Life is too short, and I've done too many crazy and bizarre things to not poke fun at them or let everyone in on the roller coaster ride I've been on to get to this point. That's all rewarding. Then, there's everybody that I get to work with!

BWW: Speaking of those crazy experiences, without giving too much away, are there any you can tell me about? Is there one story or moment that you're particularly excited to share?

Jessica Vosk: When I was figuring out exactly where I wanted to go to college, after I left music school, I worked at a very, very famous chain restaurant. I worked there to pay the bills while I figured out where I wanted to wind up in school, which ended up being not a music school at all. I was working at this very famous place, which I will mention during the show, and I wrote a little jingle that I would sing in the bar area every time I would bring a specific drink to the table. I thought, maybe, for the first time, I could sing my little jingle for everybody because that's how absolutely bizarre and crazy my life was at this specific huge chain restaurant that I shall not name... yet.

BWW: That's exciting. [Laughs] I'm looking forward to that.

Jessica Vosk: [Laughs] It's going to be funny. It really will.

BWW: What about your noteworthy career moments, like WEST SIDE STORY and BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY? Will those find their way into your cabaret?

Jessica Vosk: I shan't say. I don't know if they will. They were such wonderful moments in my life that still carry such a huge importance to me. Making my Broadway debut last year in BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is just unforgettable, and signing the music of Jason Robert Brown is one of my favorite things to do in life. WEST SIDE STORY, now that the record has been nominated for a Grammy Award-which is mindboggling and awesome-I've thought about incorporating some of it in there. But, WEST SIDE STORY was such a beautiful moment on its own that I didn't want to mess with it, you know?

BWW: Yeah. That's makes sense. Also, it's pretty serious.

Jessica Vosk: I guess you could parody something about WEST SIDE STORY, but somebody gets shot in the end.

BWW: [Laughs] Yeah, and you're probably not going to do the Cher version where you sing all the roles in a medley.

Jessica Vosk: No. I will not be playing all the roles, although I would take that on someday. So, any producer who wants to deal with me on that, please do that because I will do it, happily, one day, with a little fake water pistol or something like that. It'll be great.

BWW: Amazing. [Laughs] So, as you've said, you've been cast in a new Broadway show. What can you tell me about that?

Jessica Vosk: I start rehearsals on Monday [February 2, 2105], so I don't really know much about it myself yet. I'm going to be playing a role in Finding Neverland. I'm super stoked about it. It's my sophomore Broadway show. I found out about in the same week that I found out that I booked BRIDGES last year, so it's this amazing, awesome moment of booking my second Broadway show within a year of my first one. It's pretty crazy, and I'm so thrilled to create a character from scratch and work with an amazing creative team-Diane Paulus, Mia Michaels, David Chase, Mary-Mitchell Campbell. I've wanted to work with them for so long, and it's a dream to be able to do it. And, to do what I love to do, which is to be funny and outrageous. I think it's going to be a pretty outstanding production. Yeah. I'm excited.

BWW: It's so beautifully full circle that it's in the same week, just a year later. That's so cool.

Jessica Vosk: It is really, really cool. It honestly did happen that way. I'm not even romanticizing it.

BWW: Amazing. [Pauses] Obviously, you'll have to put cabaret on hold a bit since you've booked a Broadway show, but is there a future cabaret life for I Came From Jersey For This or for yourself?

Jessica Vosk: Yes! Oh yeah! I feel like this is one of those things that I want to be able to do again. I think it's packaged in a way that it could be done again. I mean I am very lucky to have the special guests that I have doing this particular evening, but afterwards I'm hoping to be able to do it again, to do an encore performance because it's funny material. It's relatable. It's get off your tush, come out, and have a fun time kind of stuff. [Pauses] And, there's probably going to be Oreos involved! It's things that are so important to me, and one of those things is Oreos.

BWW: So everyone needs to bring some Oreos?

Jessica Vosk: No no no. That's likely to be a gift from me.

BWW: That's amazing. [Laughs]

Jessica Vosk: There will be party favors involved in this extravaganza.

BWW: That's so fun. When I went to Drew Gasparini's concert there was a photo booth. I had my photo taken in it, but I'm not sure whatever happened to that photo. Maybe it exists online somewhere?

Jessica Vosk: Now, that's a great idea. "Dear Drew, I'm stealing your idea." No, I'm just kidding.

BWW: Going back a bit, you mentioned special guests. Can you divulge who they may be?

Jessica Vosk: Yeah! I'm going to divulge two of them. The third one will be a complete surprise. She or he is staying a secret.

I'm over the moon thrilled to announce Andréa Burns, who starred in IN THE HEIGHTS and a production of a show called SMART BLONDE based on Judy Holliday out of town. Now, she's back in town. She's one of the most talented human beings on the planet, in my opinion. She's so kind and generous to be able to come and do a song with me. So, I'm thrilled beyond belief to have her at the show.

I'm also over the moon and still can't even believe that its happening that I get to do a little something with Martha Plimpton, who I worked with in the New York Philharmonic production of COMPANY a few years back. It was this star-studded show that they did. The laundry list of stars is crazy, but she and Stephen Colbert played opposite each other, and it was outstanding. I've been a fan of hers for years and years and years. She is finishing up her run over at A DELICATE BALANCE, and then she is, again, kind enough to come to the show and perform a little something with me.

I'm fan-girling out over these people. I'm absolutely having a geek out moment, which is thrilling. Then, the person who will be the special surprise guest, I will be honest, I will probably cry. That's all I'm saying. I mean, I know who they are, and I will probably cry.

BWW: We'll make sure we have some tissues for you.

Jessica Vosk: Yes. Yes. Bring tissues for me, but also for yourself.

BWW: The last question I have for you today is what advice would you offer someone who is hoping to make his or her career in theatre, performance, or art in general?

Jessica Vosk: Anything you want to do is absolutely possible. You could come from a completely different arena, which is exactly what I did. If you have the drive, the heart for it, the love for it, and you know that it is something that you are passionate about, then just don't give up on it. The city is big, and it seems really, really daunting, super challenging, and like you just can't make it. I've been to all of those places so many times. So, whenever I teach a master class at a high school or I talk to young students who are really eager-and it's so beautiful to see that coming from people who want to make this a profession-I remind them that it's just absolutely possible. Sometimes you may want to give up, but hanging in there is just as much of a success as becoming a success.

Directed by Robbie Rozelle, with musical direction by Brad Simmons, Jessica Vosk brings her debut NYC solo show, I Came From Jersey For This, to 54 BELOW on Friday, February 27, 2015 at 9:30 p.m. For reservations to and more information about this concert, please visit http://54below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Also, be sure to catch Jessica Vosk on Broadway in the upcoming musical Finding Neverland, which stars Matthew Morrison, Kelsey Grammer, and Laura Michelle Kelly. Previews begin on Sunday, March 15, 2015, and opening night is set for April 15, 2015. For tickets to and more information about this production, please visit http://findingneverlandthemusical.com or call (877) 250-2929.