Jordan Dobson鈥攚ho played Prince Sebastian in the 2023 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bad Cinderella鈥攚ill next be seen in Keen Company's anticipated benefit concert of another short-lived musical, Glory Days, which famously closed on opening night, playing just 17 previews and one single performance.
The February 12 benefit performance of Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner's 2008 musical, which has developed a loyal following, will be directed by Jonathan Silverstein and will also feature George Salazar and Tony nominees Derek Klena and Colton Ryan. Dobson will play Jack in the one-night-only concert staging of Glory Days, which follows four high school friends who reunite a year after graduation to enact revenge on their bullies. Click for ticket information.
Dobson, who opened Broadway's A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical (and has since returned as a swing), has also appeared on the Main Stem in Hadestown and the 2020 revival of West Side Story. His many regional credits include productions of Hair, Austen鈥檚 Pride, Into the Woods, The Wanderer, Cabaret, Gypsy, Hamlet, and The Color Purple. On screen, the actor can currently be seen in Netflix鈥檚 Maestro, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, where he portrays a conducting student who is taught by Leonard Bernstein.
In the interview below for the 半岛体育 series How Did I Get Here鈥攕potlighting not only actors, but directors, designers, musicians, and others who work on and off the stage to create the magic that is live theatre鈥擠obson shares how a regional production of Parade changed his life and why that musical's original star, the late Brent Carver, remains an inspiration.
Where did you train/study?
Jordan Dobson: Temple University鈥檚 musical theatre program in Philadelphia. But every
show I do is like an additional education, so I鈥檓 still studying!
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor standout?
Amina Robinson was my first acting teacher at Temple, and I still call
her to this day to help me with my career and craft. She just has a one-track mind for truth when it comes to acting. If she sees something that
isn鈥檛 truthful, she won鈥檛 tolerate it鈥nd I so appreciate that.
Tell me a bit about the character you'll be playing in Glory Days. Do you think the musical is still relevant 15 years later?
I鈥檓 playing Jack in Glory Days, and as they say in the show, 鈥淛ack鈥檚 the
voice of reason.鈥� He鈥檚 level-headed and extremely compassionate. Yet,
he won鈥檛 tolerate disrespect whatsoever. This show is still relevant
because everyone knows what it鈥檚 like to grow apart from a friend or
group of friends. It鈥檚 incredibly difficult to come to terms with, so, of
course, it鈥檚 intriguing to watch it play out in front of you.
Like the original production of Glory Days, you've been part of Broadway shows that had brief runs. How difficult is that for a performer after all the work that goes into it?
It鈥檚 definitely hard, because putting up a new Broadway show kinda takes
over your whole life. So having a short run can hurt a bit. But I know
the reality of the business we鈥檙e in, so I just try to have as much fun
and learn as much as I can from each production.
Can you share a favorite memory from backstage or onstage during your time in Bad Cinderella?
Favorite memory of Bad Cindy was getting to chat with kids at the stage
door who were so excited to see a prince and princess who looked like
me and Linedy [Genao]. It was the best gift from that production. Made me cry a lot of happy years to see young black Boys inspired by what I鈥檓 doing.
You're currently a swing in A Beautiful Noise. What are the challenges/rewards of being a swing?
It鈥檚 the hardest thing I鈥檝e ever done in my career but also the most
fun! The main challenge is the amount of homework I have to do all the
time to keep all the tracks in my head. The rewards are my body and
voice aren鈥檛 dying from doing eight shows a week, and I am grateful for
that!
What made you decide to become an actor? Was there a particular production or performance that influenced your decision?
I
was going to study music in college until I saw a production of Parade
at the Arden Theatre in Philly. It inspired me so much and felt like a
nudge from the universe to really consider acting. There was a girl in
the show (who later became a dear friend of mine), Kathryn Brunner, and
her bio in the 半岛体育 said she was a current student at Temple
University. So, I decided that I鈥檒l audition for that exact school, and
if I get into their theatre program, it鈥檚 a sign that I should be an
actor. And here we are!
Is there a person you most respect in your field and why?
The
late Brent Carver has always been the biggest inspiration to me. He was
the first 鈥渓eading man鈥� I encountered that showcased a softness and
femininity that I鈥檇 always been afraid to access. It made me realize I
don鈥檛 have to be a huge tough guy to play leading roles on Broadway. He
also gave every part of himself over to the audience when he performed.
He was always and still is the standard of excellence that I try and
hold myself to.
What advice would you give your younger self or anyone starting out?
Don鈥檛
put career before real life. Live an authentic life, and it will lead to
the career opportunities that you鈥檙e actually meant for. We don鈥檛 have
long on this earth, and our lives should not revolve around Broadway.
What is your proudest achievement as an actor?
Playing
Orpheus in Hadestown! It鈥檚 the role that I felt the most free and alive
onstage. It also required a lot with playing guitar, singing crazy
notes, navigating three turntables, and working with legends like Andr茅 De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada, and Patrick Page. I had to step up
to their level and lead that show, which was something I鈥檓 extremely
proud of.
