In this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Brian d’Arcy James sits down to discuss his distinguished career as a stage and screen actor and singer. James is currently making waves with his performance in the Broadway revival of Into the Woods, for which he has been nominated for the Best Actor in a Musical Tony Award for the 2022-2023 season. He is also starring alongside Tony winner Kelli O’Hara in the original musical Days of Wine and Roses, which is currently playing Off-Broadway.
Although James is best known for his work on the stage, he has also made a name for himself in film and television. He starred on NBC’s Smash and in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, as well as in two Best Picture Oscar-nominated films – Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight in 2015 and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story in 2021, the latter of which he is currently filming.
James has appeared in a total of 15 Broadway productions over the course of 30 years, earning Tony nominations in three different decades. He was nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2002 for Sweet Smell of Success and for Best Actor in a Musical in 2009 for Shrek the Musical. He was again nominated in 2015 for Something Rotten! and most recently in 2022 for Into the Woods, which also earned him a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. James was also the original King George III in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Off-Broadway production of Hamilton at The Public Theater.
During the podcast, James reflects on the people who inspired him to pursue acting and shares some of the tough professional decisions he has had to make throughout his career. For example, he left Next to Normal and Hamilton after originating roles in them Off-Broadway to star in Shrek the Musical and Something Rotten!, respectively. James also discusses how he landed the part in Spotlight, which opened up a whole new world of screen acting opportunities for him.
The actor also talks about what it was like to return to the stage after the pandemic and perform in two shows simultaneously. James describes the process of being in a rehearsal room again and how it felt to finally be back in front of an audience.
As the interview comes to a close, James expresses how grateful he is to be able to make a living doing what he loves and how important it is to tell stories that have a positive impact on audiences.
Overall, this episode of Awards Chatter provides an insightful look into the career of one of Broadway’s most respected and accomplished performers. With a mix of personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes revelations, James’ interview is a must-listen for theater fans and anyone interested in the world of acting.
