Interview: Samantha “Sami” Saltzman, Brooke Bailey, And Jonathan Blansfield of BODYGUARD THE MUSICAL at Broadway in Toledo

As the national tour of The Bodyguard Musical prepares to launch in Toledo, Ohio, director Samantha “Sami” Saltzman and lead cast members Brooke Bailey (Rachel Marron) and Jonathan Blansfield (Frank Farmer) took time to speak with the press about bringing this new production to the stage.
For Bailey, stepping into the role of Rachel Marron is an opportunity to embrace the larger-than-life presence of a pop superstar while also exploring the woman behind the spotlight.
“Yeah, I get a huge adrenaline rush. This is my passion. This is genuinely what I live for,” Bailey shared. “When I get on that stage, I just turn it on. I feel like you tap into this pop star, and when you're on stage as Rachel Marron, it's her time to perform. It's her time to give the audience what they've been waiting for.”

For Bailey, the placement of each song is an important part of telling Rachel's story.
“The songs are pivotal in the show. They help the arc of the entire story. Why is Rachel Marron singing this song? Maybe to Frank, maybe to herself. Why is she singing it in the mansion? It just helps build the story all in itself.”
The musical is filled with songs made famous by Whitney Houston, and Bailey feels a personal connection to each of them.
“I would say I love to perform each song because people come in knowing the soundtrack and having their own personal connections to it,” she said. “Then getting to sing them, I feel like they'll have an entirely different connection because of the way the songs are presented in the show.”
While audiences may already have a strong idea of who Rachel Marron is, Bailey hopes this production gives them a deeper understanding of the character.
“Playing the role, everybody knows the character, so what do you bring to it? It was something that came naturally to me, but it's also something I wanted to get better at,” Bailey explained. “I always want to get better with Rachel.”
“I feel like people know her as this pop star diva who's on when she's on stage, but she's also a person when she's off stage. I feel like I'm bringing a different emotional connection to her. People really need to understand her more vulnerable moments.”
For Bailey, that emotional connection is at the heart of her performance.
“I think she learns about vulnerability, and I feel like my biggest concern is really connecting emotionally with the audiences so they really understand Rachel.”
Jonathan Blansfield takes on the role of Frank Farmer, the bodyguard hired to protect Rachel. The role, famously played by Kevin Costner in the film, presents its own set of challenges.

“That’s the main challenge of the role,” Blansfield said. “He’s a man of few words.”
Blansfield worked closely with Saltzman to find the moments that reveal more about Frank beneath his stoic exterior.
“I worked with Sami, our director, to find ways to show his vulnerable side, to give him more nuances and colors. You earn that stoicism if you give him moments of vulnerability.”
While audiences may have a preconceived idea of Frank Farmer because of the film, Blansfield isn't trying to simply recreate Costner's performance.
“My Frank is not Kevin Costner,” he said. “We have a little bit more permission because it's not filmed and it's a musical. It's a new show.”
Blansfield sees the stage adaptation as an opportunity to make the character his own while still honoring what audiences remember.
“You can make it a little bigger, and earn those moments. If you give him a moment of emotional vulnerability or anger or some other type of color, then when he does go stoic, you're allowed to be with him.”
For director Sami Saltzman, bringing The Bodyguard to the stage has been a year-long process. Now, with the national tour preparing to launch in Toledo, she is ready for audiences to finally experience the production.
“We're really excited for an audience to see the show,” Saltzman said. “With an audience, you really get to feel that energy, and we're excited for everyone to see it.”
One of the benefits of developing the production outside of New York City has been the opportunity to completely immerse herself and the creative team in the project.
“Anytime you're able to do a show outside of one of the major cities, the rest of the world really comes here and just focuses on the art, and that's been really incredible,” Saltzman said. “It's been really great to get away, isolate it, and be able to live fully in the project. Toledo has just been so friendly and welcoming”
Saltzman understands the responsibility that comes with adapting such a beloved film and soundtrack for the stage.
“I think that anytime you adapt into a new form, you have to live within the art form you exist in,” she explained. “So we have a responsibility to the memory of that movie, the characters from that movie, and the music. It is the best-selling soundtrack of all time.”