BWW Interviews: South Pacific's CARMEN CUSACK

American-born singer/actress Carmen Cusack has certainly had a lot of experience playing extraordinary women. While in the UK, she's played Christine on Phantom of the Opera, made her West End debut as Fantine in Les Misérables, and even played music legend Eva Cassidy in Over the Rainbow. She eventually returned to her native country in late 2006 to play her highest-profile role yet: as Elphaba in the hit musical WICKED, first in the sit-down production in Chicago, then later as the principal Elphaba in the U.S. National tour company. Her turn as one of the most iconic characters in modern musical theater earned her some of her best critical notices, as well as a new young, rabid fan base.

Now she's wowing more audiences across the country in yet another iconic musical theater role: as U.S. Navy Nurse Ensign Nellie Forbush in the First National Tour of the critically-acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC. This gorgeous revival is currently on stage at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through October 24. Before the tour arrived in Costa Mesa, Cusack chatted with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about her early musical roots, her roles in this landmark musical as well as that other musical that turned her skin green, and her current woes battling a certain miniature critter colony that's been constantly in the headlines.

----

BWW: Hi Carmen! How are things going with the tour?

CUSACK: It's going great! We've been getting some fantastic reviews and it's still going strong.

You recently extended your contract with the company, correct?

Yeah, I'm still having a great time!

So, for you personally, what are some of the highs and lows of touring life?

The highs, well... it's never boring. As for the lows, with moving around so often, you try to keep healthy. And then there's carting around baggage, staying at different hotels. I guess the lowest of the lows has been, at least recently, that I got bed bugs here in Cincinatti! [Laughs] Yeah, so at this moment, I'm on steroids because of bed bugs... from this [Suite Hotel] in Cincinatti. If you want to print that, I won't stop you. [Laughs] The terrible thing was this was the second time that I've stayed at [this hotel] in Cincinatti. The first time, I was doing WICKED, and I got bit then! And so I was, like... I won't give them a second chance! [But now], a couple of years later, and that same thing again [happened]. So, never ever ever again. So, I guess that's the worse thing... going in and out of hotels in, of course, different cities. It's part of the job, and it can be quite tiring. But it's certainly never boring.

Do you have any favorites stops from the tour so far?

Several favorites! I loved Seattle.... Oh, and Portland, Oregon was a surprise! And, of course, being in L.A. was my favorite. That's why I'm very much looking forward to coming back to California. We're actually spending a week prior to opening in Costa Mesa and taking a week off. So I'll have some extra time in California... I love it so much.

Oh, good! Well, hopefully it won't be as hot when you guys get here! So, in playing the very well-known role of Nellie Forbush in an equally well-known show like SOUTH PACIFIC, how did you resolve for yourself to make the role your own?

Well, I guess... we all have to go through our own experiences of growing up. You know, we've all experienced racism. Unfortunately, I can't filter everyone, but I think most are, even, you know... still dealing with it now. Especially growing up, I grew up mainly in the South... It was around, you know? That sort of mentality was not far from where I grew up... my roots. So I was able to tap into a few of the old ancestors that wouldn't think twice about considering an African American... calling them "colored" or, even worse, the "N" word. It wasn't that far off. It wasn't that long ago. So, yeah, you know, I had to tap into my the background of where I grew up. And also, being from the South, I was able to somewhat remember my Southern accent [Laughs]. I'm trying to make it [sound] like Little Rock, Arkansas as best I can!

Actually, not too long ago, I also interviewed Kelli O'Hara who played Nellie in the Broadway company, and, like you, she also mentioned tapping into her Southern background to shape her role. 

Yeah, and also, I have to say that I have to give great big kudos to Bartlett Sher for the way that he directed us all throughout the rehearsal process. You'll notice this on stage, that he very much segregates the cast... for that very reason, to make that point. I mean, all through the rehearsal process, I've found that I never had a chance to just really spend any time with the African-Americans in our cast because we were so segregated in everything that we did. And, so, I used to come back from rehearsals thinking, I didn't even get a chance to speak to Michael or Travis or... and I thought, am I just kind of psychosomatically putting this into my being? I didn't know. I kept questioning my own purposes as to why that was. But what it really boils down to is that Bartlett was very, very present in the way that he took us through the rehearsal process. He wanted us to question every moment of ourselves, and it really was very effective.  (Continues on Page 2)

So, I gotta ask... that shower scene! It's really cool how you guys pull that off! Do you ever get scared that maybe you'll slip in the middle of that fun number?

Oh, yeah. I slipped just the other night when I was running into the shower. Luckily, I was [behind] the doors, so no one I think ever really saw it [Laughs]. I slipped, but in the shower! [Laughs] But, luckily, yeah, I haven't had too many falls, I don't think... [Pauses] I've had one fall that I kind of hurt my toe pretty badly because I slammed into one of the set pieces. But, you know, you just get up and keep going. The adrenaline's pumping and you just carry on! You just feel the after effects afterwards, of course, and you ice it and bandage it up. I haven't broken anything yet!

Well, that's good! So this SOUTH PACIFIC revival has been really universally praised. Personally, what do you feel is the show's real draw?

I think—I would hope—that it's big draw is the success that it's had on Broadway. If I were somewhere in, I don't know, Podunk, USA, and wasn't keeping an eye on musical theater, I wouldn't go necessarily [for that specific reason]... I mean, I love SOUTH PACIFIC. It's got beautiful music. But there have been so many, you know, renditions of this in high school or college productions... But the fact that [this revival] has just had such a success on Broadway—and Bartlett Sher has just totally rejuvenated, reinvented and made it just this gorgeous, cinematic piece of theater—is what I'm hoping sells it and why people want to come and see it. It really is a show for adults and explores its deeper issues in a way that I don't think some older versions [of the show] had ever really done. Bartlett Sher has made it clearer... he's made the story deeper and clearer. And he was able to get a hold of all of the original score, being played by real musicians... It's got the largest touring orchestra!

Now, the last time many of us around the country saw you performing was as Elphaba in the national tour of WICKED. Can you talk a little bit about that experience?

Well, yes, most of my experience with WICKED was on the national tour and, yet again, the same issues with moving around was indeed a challenge. Of course, that part was very, very different from the style of the songs to the whole style of the acting... everything. It was a totally, totally different part. But I enjoyed it. It had its own wonderful rewards. And the people... every night, it's like finishing up a rock concert! At the end of the show, there would just be all these kids that would just go crazy! Everyone can just really relate to that [character]. That was really special.

Do you miss the green make-up at all?

Not at all! [Laughs]

I can just imagine, every night, trying to take all of that off!

Well, I have to say that I think it was at the end of the night... when, finally, you get off the stage and everything stops. The sound stops. The noise stops. You get into your dressing room, and you get into the shower, and then you still have to muster up the energy to scrape this green off of you! [Laughs] It was, like, ohmigod, I gotta come up with more energy now for another fifteen minutes of... yeah [Laughs]. Sometimes I used to sit there in the shower and, go... okay, another minute... another minute. I can do this! I can do this! [Laughs] Especially on a two-show day... ugh! But, you know, I did love it. I did enjoy that show!

So, growing up, did you know that you wanted to become an actor?

I knew I wanted to be a singer.  I was singing for congregations at the age of five, doing gospel singing. Mom had me singing in front of the church, you know, since I could walk, basically. And then I think when I hit about 12 or 13... we had large congregations in Texas. We had to have three services in the mornings just to fit everyone in. They were massive, arena-type. They would hire these professional opera singers for Christmas masses. One particular Christmas, I was singing, and one of the professional opera singers went up to my mom and said, "you should look into getting her a vocal coach, because she has some potential!"

So, I had to audition for a university professor, who normally just trained college students. And, so, I auditioned for him, and he took me on. After my high school day, once or twice a week, I would go practice with him. He ended up training me for about three or four years until I graduated. Then I got into the acting in high school. I was torn, and, of course, my teachers were fighting over my time. My choir teacher was fighting with my drama teacher, back and forth [Laughs]. But it was all good. I was a busy girl.

Which artists influenced you musically growing up?

I guess my first one would have been Sandi Patty, because that's who they were wanting me to sing like... But Barbra Streisand is one of my favorites. And Aretha Franklin. And Ella Fitzgerald. I love her. Eva Cassidy is another one of my favorites.

And you actually played Eva in a show in London about her life, right?

That's right!

In terms of musical theater, what are some of the shows that have been highly influential with what you do?

I guess, PHANTOM was the first show I did that was the first one that I got quite excited about because it was still very "operatic." I could take my opera training into that part quite easily, and it was just a great learning curve. But I didn't know I was going to go into musical theater necessarily. It was never planned. I just kind of fell into it, because I knew I wanted to act and yet I had this opera training... I knew I had a voice.

Before you came back to the United States for WICKED and SOUTH PACIFIC, you spent some time on the London Stage. Do you miss being there?

[Bashful] I miss my friends. I really do miss my friends. But as far as the work, I feel like I've done pretty much what I wanted to do in the West End. I wanted to play some leading parts in some big shows, which I did. No, I'm not missing it at all. And it's expensive! [Laughs]

So, it's safe to say you're in the States for good?

I'm feelin' the States. Yeah, I'm feeling several more years in the States if not... yeah, staying here for good. [Laughs]

Do you have any other roles in other musicals that have been on your radar to maybe perform someday?

Hmmm. I get asked this every time and I can never... [Pauses] I think I would enjoy playing the mother in GYPSY... Rose. I think I would enjoy that. Of course, it's one of those parts that I'll have to grow into. I still have a few more years yet for it to happen, but I think that would be a really fantastic part to play. And I'm intrigued to see NEXT TO NORMAL. I've been told that [the mother] is a really good part for my voice range. But, unfortunately, because I've been so busy, I haven't even had the chance to watch the show. I have a lot of friends that say that it's a really great part, too. But, you know, I really gotta come up with some more [answers] for that one [Laughs].

Well, those are two great choices!

But I am looking forward to doing more plays after this, but I still haven't figured out which ones I want to do. I'm still looking on that.

What about any side projects? Are you working on maybe releasing your own studio album?

Well, I am in the middle of that. I have a few recordings on my web site, but it's a work-in-progress. Being on tour, a lot of times it gets pushed to the back burner. But I have a couple of friends in California who are interested in getting a couple more songs down while I'm there. So I'm hoping to maybe get a song or two further along.

Are these original compositions? What genre of music?

It's a mixture... a few originals and a couple of remixes. It's like jazz... modern... [Laughs]

Now, if I may, I'd like to throw you a few rapid-fire questions and I would love it if you could just tell me the first thing that pops into your head. Ready?

Okay, sure.

What's your favorite musical of all time?

[Long Pause] Aaaahhh! Oh, that's a really difficult one! I like several. WICKED.

What's the song you like to belt in the shower or when you're all alone in the car?

Hmmm. I don't know if you know this song... It's "The Story" by Brandi Carlile.

Cool. Okay, who is the person you admire the most?

Oh boy. [Long Pause... then Laughs] You mean a person apart from me? [Laughs] Wait, I don't think anyone's supposed to say that! Probably Meryl Streep.

Great answer! Okay, what scares you the most?

[Laughs] I guess it depends if it's a travel day! So I guess it's anytime when I have to be up by 7 in the morning!

What's your preferred activity on your day off?

Sleeping!!

What is your one guilty pleasure?

Oh. I enjoy cheese.

Great! What or who irritates you the most?

Early morning journalists irritate me the most.

Wait? Um...

Oh, no, no, no! Early morning TV personalities! [Laughs] That's what I mean by that.

Oh, okay. Whew. Okay, what instantly puts a smile on your face?

Oh, god. This is going to sound really goofy, but when I haven't seen my boyfriend for several Weeks, and then I finally see him... Yeah, that instantly puts a smile on my face.

Awww. That's nice. So, if you weren't an actor, what other career do you see yourself doing instead?

Probably a therapist!

As you mentioned earlier, you gained a lot of young fans when you played Elphaba in WICKED. A lot of our BWW readers are also in school hoping to someday do exactly what you do. Do you have any advice for them?

I was going to say get the training, but I don't necessarily believe that either. [Pauses] I guess it would depend if that young person was even good enough! [Laughs] Sorry... Oh, but if it's something that you love... just carry on.... if it's absolutely something you know you love. And if you don't enjoy it anymore, stop. I know a lot of actors that don't enjoy it anymore and so they're not doing it anymore.

Obviously, you still enjoy it, correct?

Oh, absolutely. I can't imagine doing anything else.

And, finally, what can audiences expect once they dive into SOUTH PACIFIC?

Expect a cinematic, theater experience... Lush, lush orchestrations that they probably haven't heard in years. It's a very, very beautiful production... and they will laugh and they will cry!

Photo of Cusack as Ensign Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC by Curtis Brown.
Photo of Cusack as Elphaba in WICKED by Joan Marcus.

BWW Reviews: Beautiful SOUTH PACIFIC Revival Sails into OCPAC

-----

Performances of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC at the Orange County Performing Arts Center continue through October 24 and are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets to see SOUTH PACIFIC start at $20 and are available online at OCPAC.org, by calling 714.556.2787 and at the Center’s Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Call the box office for daily availability of $20 Student/Senior rush tickets, available for purchase 1 hour before show starts.

The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, October 23 will be sign-language interpreted.

For more information, visit OCPAC.org. For more information on the touring production, please visit www.SouthPacificOnTour.com.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!