Sometimes a part is so nice, you have to do it twice.
Original & Juliet Australian cast member Hayden Tee joined the Broadway company March 18 for a limited return to the role of Lance. Continuing through April 20, the performance not only marks Tee's return to the role (after closing the Australian production in July of 2024), but also their return to Broadway, after their time commanding the stage as Inspector Javert in the 2014 revival of Les Mis茅rables.
半岛体育 checked in to get all the intel on Tee's return, from their favorite backstage habits to the Australian coffee they can't live without, plus how they make a point of infusing their indigenous M膩ori culture and language into their interactions with the Broadway cast, crew, and fanbase.
Welcome back to Broadway! What has it been like jumping back into the swing of things here after nearly a decade apart?
Hayden Tee:It feels like an overwhelming sensation of returning home, to be honest. That is largely due to the care and effort that Luke Sheppard, Jennifer Weber, and the entire & Juliet team put into creating a family of kind and humble humans to tell this very much needed story.
Doing the same show in different theatres can be tricky, depending on the variations between each production; what was the most difficult thing to adjust between Australia and Broadway for & Juliet?
I cannot think of a single difficult thing in this process. It has been smooth, joyful, and easy joining this company. As an actor, I really enjoy reacting to different intentions I am thrown on stage, and this exceptional cast is bringing brilliant choices every day. All I gotta do is walk on stage and listen. This offer did come fairly last minute, so I'm a little bigger than I was when I finished in July in Australia. Let's say I'm back on the keto diet for body and mind!
Since you鈥檙e here on a limited run, I鈥檓 sure your time to enjoy the city outside of the show is tight! What are your must-do鈥檚 when you are in New York?
We don鈥檛 have Wednesday night performances, so it's all about Broadway and seeing as many wonderful shows as I can when I'm not on stage. And my NYC adventures are fueled by St Kilda coffee, which I don't think existed nine years ago. Love me some antipodean coffee!
Lance is such a deceptively tricky role, acting as both Fran莽ois's source of conflict and Ang茅lique鈥檚 partner in romantic comedy. What helps you walk that tightrope every night? Do you have a specific pre-show routine to get into the zone?
I am a creature of habit, and I do like to get to the theatre early (at least an hour before showtime) so I can slowly get ready and be centered by the time I walk on stage. In terms of character and walking the tightrope of antagonist and love interest, I just say a few words to get into the French accent: "bonjour, croissant, G茅rard Depardieu." Then, I walk on thinking of my character objective (get my son married or get myself married), listen to my scene partners, and surf the rest, reacting.
Much has been made over the years of & Juliet鈥�s overt diversity, but there is also something to be said for the layers of diverse acceptance that can be seen throughout its many productions: What is it like for you as a gender expansive M膩ori individual to be a part of such a colorful international company?
It is a privilege and an honor to tell this story. This story of inclusion is now more important than ever, and I feel a deep sense of pride representing the takat膩pui and indigenous M膩ori people of Aotearoa/New Zealand in what is undoubtedly the birthplace of musical theatre. I try to sprinkle droplets of te reo (the M膩ori language) into conversation here, things like "Kia ora," which means hello, thank you, and congratulations, depending on context. I also love learning about the other rich and complex cultures represented in the company.
Lance and Fran莽ois's story can be such a balm for queer kids who have questioned how their parents will respond after they come out. What is it like for you to perform 鈥淪hape Of My Heart鈥� every night?
I think this part of the story is so important for queer kids and their kaitiaki (which means guardians/protectors in M膩ori culture). Queer kids can learn that parents can make mistakes even when meaning well, and this moment in the show provides parents with an example of how to accept their children for who they are and who they love. Aroha is aroha, Love is love, and forgiveness in every direction is the only way forward. We all deserve second chances.
You鈥檝e lived quite a varied life! For many years, you鈥檝e maintained two separate careers as a performer and as a makeup artist. Do you find each career activates different parts of your creative spirit, or do they feed into one another?
I recently completed a degree in skincare formulation in preparation to launch my own skincare brand with my sister Linelle called RUB Cosmetics (). The biggest realization for me was getting the same creative thrill from creating a product as I do creating a character. Something is born from nothing. There is a benchmark/function, whether it be a cleanser that gently removes intense long-wear makeup or a character that provides resistance to a protagonist to propel their story forward. The satisfaction of creative creation is exactly the same for me, and I look forward to continuing to enjoy both careers to the fullest. Balance is important, and both careers keep my mind, body, and soul full.
& Juliet is such a joyful show for audience members. What are some of your favorite moments on and offstage?
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever get to live out a boy band fantasy, but here I am in my 40s, still an absolute theatre nerd on Broadway in a boy band. Pinch me!
I pretty much sing along to the entire show in my dressing room. The Australian cast were so sick of it; lucky this contract is too short for the Broadway company to get too frustrated [laughs].
What is one moment when Lance is offstage that you wish you could join in on, incognito?
"Domino"! I've always loved the song, I love the setting it is used in & Juliet, I've always been obsessed with four-part harmony, and this particular blend of voices... I'd love to make it five-part harmony one day if I had a wish. Oh look, unsurprisingly, it turns out my fantasy is a girl group.
If you had to describe Lance using one pop song NOT written by Max Martin, what would it be?
"Moves Like Jagger" [laughs]. I joke, I have never claimed to be a dancer, but I try to make up for it with commitment.
