Interview: Jim Brochu Talks CHARACTER MAN, Coming to UC PAC

Union County Performing Arts Center will present Jim Brochu's one-man show, Character Man at their Hamilton Stage venue from September 25th through October 6th. Called a "true man of the theater" by the New York Times, Brochu's Character Man is dedicated to the great actors of the Broadway Stage and the songs they introduced including Jackie Gleason, Lou Jacobi, David Burns and Jack Klugman. Directed by Robert Bartley, the show has already been a hit with audiences on tour.

Brochu is excited about the run of Character Man at UC PAC. He said, "Hamilton Stage has state of the art equipment allowing my personal videos to be seen at their best." And, it is these videos that will be the backdrop for some of the greatest moments in theater history that Brochu highlights in his show.

Brochu's career as an actor, writer, director, and playwright has distinguished him as a versatile and talented individual. He has received numerous accolades for his work including the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance in the Off-Broadway hit, Zero Hour, the play about the life and career of Zero Mostel. Zero Hour was performed at UC PAC last season.

Brochu is enthusiastic about the audience reaction to Character Man. He said, "I love doing this show." He pointed out that the production has taken his career "full circle." He feels that he has been lucky to have known so many "character men" that he has worked with and admired as stage actors. In his career in the theater, Brochu has worked his way "from the back to the front." He thinks it is especially important that people "treasure our elders in the theater." Brochu wants his fans to know, "Dreams can be fulfilled at any age."

Brochu has much to look forward to. With the production of Character Man in full swing, he continues to perform readings for new works and has recently read The First Gentlemen with Sally Struthers at City Center. He is currently working on his autobiography, Watching From the Wings; An Offstage Look at Onstage Legends.

Union County Performing Arts Center has three performance spaces in the Arts District of Rahway; The Mainstage, The Hamilton Stage, and The Loft in the Arts District of Rahway. The venues are all easily reached by car, with generous parking available and NJ Transit Train service is convenient to Rahway's downtown station. For more information about UC PAC, Character Man, and their full schedule of performances, visit their website at www.ucpac.org, or call their box office at (732) 499-8226.

Photo: Courtesy of Jim Brochu