The first production that Alex Brightman ever performed in was a musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” He had the time of his life playing Tiny Tim at the local children's theater, CMT San Jose, where he grew up in the Bay Area. “They cast every single person who auditioned and I always thought that was great,” says the two-time Tony-nominated actor.
Alex Brightman (Courtesy The Seth Concert Series)
Brightman, who always loved putting on music, dancing and pretending to be different people, was enamored with the entire process of being part of a production: The rehearsals, the costume parades, the tech, the performances. “Stepping onstage in front of an audience for the first time is something I actually don't remember anymore. I wish I did,” says Brightman. “I do know that whenever I step onstage now, it's never a casual feeling. So I'm glad that hasn't changed.”
That sense of elation never left him. About a decade later he made his Broadway debut playing Boq in “Wicked.” He has been dazzling audiences on and off Broadway ever since. Brightman originated the roles of Dewey Finn in ”School of Rock” and the title role in ”Beetlejuice.” He was nominated for Tony awards for both performances imbuing so much heart and humanity into his performances.
On January 3 Brightman will perform live in “The Seth Concert Series” with musical theater maestro and Sirius XM host Seth Rudetsky. (An encore showing will be available Monday, January 4th at 3pm EST.) A These weekly concerts featuring Broadway's greatest talents are a must for all holiday bucket lists, especially lovers of all things Broadway.
In January ”The Seth Concert Series” lineup also includes concerts with Wayne Brady, Kelli O’Hara, and Stephanie J. Block with her husband Sebastian Arcelus. Not only do these talents sing songs they love, the conversation in between songs is illuminating. “There isn't an actor on or off Broadway who doesn't want to work with Seth. He's the guru,” says Brightman of Rudetsky who music directs the shows and has a special gift for getting his guests to dig deep and share what they normally might keep close to the vest. “Working with Seth, being roasted by him, and collaborating with him is a pseudo right of passage. It’s a constant reminder of why we do this thing in the first place. Because it's fun. Because it's a gas to talk about theater and trade stories.”
Jeryl Brunner: Can share what viewers can expect during the concert with you and Seth Rudetsky?
Alex Brightman: I'm doing songs that I love to sing. I always tell students and colleagues that you should never feel like songs have been assigned to you. You should love them deeply and it should feel good to sing them. So that's what I'm doing. There's a nod to the “Beetlejuice” fans, just not in the way you might think. There will be some pop/rock, there will be some Broadway tunes, including something I've never sung before. And there will be some crude banter I'm sure. Plan for a good time. But hope for a great one.
Jeryl Brunner: What has kept you creatively nourished during this time?
Alex Brightman: I got very lucky during this quarantine period. I have been safely working on a brand-new animated series for Netflix called “Deadendia.” We just wrapped season one and it's been so fantastic to have a place and a medium to act in. I miss my show, [Beetlejuice], so it's nice to still turn the wheels somehow. I have also been working on developing a television series. And I'm so excited to be able to talk about it when I can. But, needless to say, that's also been keeping me awake in all the best ways.
I'm staying sane by cooking. I have been cooking almost every single meal during this pandemic. When I'm in a show, I can't find time to make dinner before I have to get to my theater, so it's been lovely to rediscover my culinary side. I make menus every week and shop accordingly. And then my goal is to have a clean and clear fridge by the end of that menu. It's a fun game and it's very stress-relieving. Also getting to spend time with my wife and dog has made this pandemic tolerable in a very big way. I would have been a mess were it not for them.
Jeryl Brunner: How has this time changed you as a person and artist?
Alex Brightman: I have been changed immensely during this pandemic/quarantine. Losing “Beetlejuice” was hard and still hurts. I miss my friends and I miss making something miraculous with them. But I am deeply inspired by everyone's desire to wait until things are safe. Art can be done with abandon, but sometimes we all have to face facts and say, "this is for the greater good."
During this time, I have become a more focused human being. My calendar has never looked cleaner and more kempt. I have been learning to say "no" more when I need to. I have watched more content that I've been putting off and I feel more cultured than ever on that front. I also realized that I am more than just a musical theatre performer.
Jeryl Brunner: So how are you staying fulfilled?
Alex Brightman: When Beetlejuice/Broadway was taken away, my instinct was to find creativity in other ways. And it has fueled me during this tough time. Getting to exorcise my feelings in different ways is a gift. And I'm happy that I found new ways of doing that without a stage. I also realized that I don't need to publish every single thought that's in my head. I have a new way of going about social media. If I have a thought and I want to post it, I now ask myself the following question beforehand: Do I want to spend any energy defending this? And sometimes the answer is no. So I keep it to myself. And the world continues to turn. It's amazing what happens when you zoom out even an inch and realize that you are an extra in so many other people's lives. It's nice. I feel a little more at peace right now. Anxiety and depression are still a thing. But I've been able to learn more about it and find new levers to pull to combat it.
Jeryl Brunner: Is it hard to describe how singing makes you feel?
Alex Brightman: I love to sing. I always thought I had a good voice. I don't think I have a great voice. And I'd like to explain that. I think that, note-for-note, I'm not always that accurate. I think I can be described as "pitchy" sometimes. I have a good ear so I always know when to correct it, but I am in no way a marksman with a note. However, I think the type of singing that I do isn't just the notes. I love to perform songs. I love to act songs. I enjoy the whole thing. So I think I've found a clever way of tricking people into thinking I'm a better singer than I am. It's like my one lifelong magic trick that continues to work.
Jeryl Brunner: Is there a role you are aching to play?
Alex Brightman: I haven't ever "ached" to play a role. I love creating and that's where I find the most joy. So a lot of the roles I'm aching to play don't exist yet. I know that answer sounds very "oh he's an ACTOR," but it's how I feel. That being said, if they ever wanted me to step in as the King in “Hamilton,” I wouldn't say no.
Jeryl Brunner: It's so cool that you are also a teacher. How does teaching fulfill you?
Alex Brightman: I started teaching/coaching a little while back when I thought I had something to impart. I have been to hundreds of auditions and seen the common mistakes, misnomers, and rookie moves that result in a less than satisfactory go at it. I teach mindset over technique. Actors really build up auditions as these "things to win or lose." But truthfully, a part is only there to be won. So there's no pressure of losing it. You don't have the role until it's yours. And if you don't get it, as long as you thought you did a bang-up job and did everything you could do to the best of your abilities, you should be good with that. The odds are always stacked against you, so why make things harder by pretending that there's a job hanging in the balance? It's not. It's there for you to win. But nothing and nobody is taking it away from you...ever.
Teaching fulfills me because I get to meet other theater dorks like myself and help them where I can. Getting in with someone early can break the usual habits that end up forming. And I love when I can catch one early. It's also totally fulfilling because sometimes I need to hear my own advice too. So it's nice to get a reminder.
Jeryl Brunner: How has your sweet dog, Kevin, adjusted to quarantine?
Alex Brightman: I've been saying this since the beginning of this pandemic dogs are getting the best deal out of this thing. In a normal world, my wife and I work opposite schedules. I have Kevin all day and when I head to my show, my wife gets home and she has him all evening. But now both of us are always home and he feels like he has two butlers that are willing and able to serve him at his every whim. He's become very cuddly and more co-dependent than normal. It's been a lovely bonding experience with him and I am grateful for the time I've gotten to spend with him. He's so cute. I can't handle it. When this is all over, I'm going to have to find a way to do a Broadway show where I can bring Kevin onstage with me. Otherwise, how is he going to cope?
#nbholidaycheer
Seth Rudetsky (Courtesy The Seth Concert Series)