Awesome review of Warehouse Live after the interview!

Awesome review of Warehouse Live after the interview!

The Great Taylor Hicks
Posted 9/15/2009 9:05 PM CDT

I interviewed Taylor Hicks at the Hobby Center on Wednesday, the 9th of September, where he opened the night before in the National Tour of Grease, hosted by Theatre Under the Stars, which runs through Sunday, September 20th.

Hicks is accessible, down-to-earth, personable, and loves what he is doing.

I never had any musical theatre training.
Every show that I do is a first-hand learning experience.

How long have you been touring the show?

Touring since December and I was on Broadway in the show the summer of 2008.
I've really been able to expand that role.
Some of the same thought processes that I have had creating music with somebody are very similar to the processes that I have had acting with somebody.
It's so brand new and very exciting for me.

Isn't is tough going onstage for the one and only time during the middle of the second act?

It is, but my role as Teen Angel is so big and grandiose that it's tailor-made for me.

I like how you didn't copy Frankie Avalon's performance from the film and you made it very funny and campy.

The role is supposed to be over-the-top.
Tongue and cheek.
Snarky.
His time is running short, hanging out in rock-n-roll heaven and he has graced Frenchy with his presence.
They gave me as much leeway as I wanted, creatively.
I was even able to create the design of my suit.
As long as I get Frenchy to put down her hair-teasing comb and go back to high school, then I am successful!

Frenchy says during the first break in your song, "I voted for you!," and it gets a huge laugh from the audience.

There are millions and millions of people that want to tell me that personally and I think they live vicariously through that moment.

Has that line always been there?

Oh, no! We didn't do it that way on Broadway but it's been that way recently on the tour. I broke character
and really laughed the first time she did it.And then some gal was screaming at you from the audience later in the song and Frenchy says
"Taylor, she loves you!"

You can get away with that in this show.

We talk about his leaving on Friday (September 11th) to do a concert at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, MS, which has been booked since before the tour and also about his upcoming acoustic performance on Monday, September 14th, at Warehouse Live in Houston.

I was disappointed that more kids in the audience of Grease were not screaming and dancing.

I think there is a theatre etiquette of some sort, although, during my Broadway run, the audience was much rowdier.

By the way, when you come out at the end of the show after the curtain call and do a single from your new CD, The Distance, it is awesome.

I released my record within the context of the tour and it has given me a wonderful opportunity to reach my fans when I sign CDs in the lobby after the show.

Do you want to do more Broadway?

I think with the right role. I was offered roles before Grease but I wanted to make sure that the role was right for me. I have to really have the passion for it.

What do like the most about the tour?

I love the travel.
I've been on the road for four years now solid.
I am so lucky and so blessed to be able to travel the country and see and meet so many people.
Doing this tour has made me realize how much this country has to offer.

How much longer is the tour?

I am committed to the Grease tour until June of 2010.
I love it. I am a bit of a workaholic.
I think you have to be in this business.

I'm looking forward to seeing you in concert on Monday.

I've been so full-band and hugely produced, it is great to do an acoustic stripped-down concert.
I come from a very real place in music.
I grew up in road houses.
That's where I cut my teeth in a very real and raw way.

Taylor Hicks' Concert at Warehouse Live

Warehouse Live's Studio space provided the perfect venue for the awesome music of Taylor Hicks.