Josh Groban on the 5 Broadway Shows He’s Dying to Be In
I chatted with the incomparable Josh Groban about his new album, Stages, which is a full compilation of songs from the musical theater cannon. He’s coming to Upper Darby on September 16th to the Tower Theater, and closer to the date, we’ll share our longer interview with you. In the meantime, we thought we’d give you a little teaser of just how much of a Broadway boy Groban really is.
Sure, the songbird started in musical theater when he was younger, but Stages is the first full theater album he’s released during his career. He already wowed audiences in the PBS concert staging of Chess a number of years back. So, I had to ask: What Broadway musicals would Groban love to star in? Below is the list, in no particular order.
1. Company: I totally agree that Groban would make the perfect Bobby in the Sondheim musical, and I’m dying to hear him belt out the show’s signature anthem, “Being Alive.”
2. Sweeney Todd: “I love the great operatic kind of roles,” Groban said, and no doubt, he’d make a killer (pun intended) title character in this dark, exciting show that’s often staged by opera companies because of its complex score.
3. Assassins: If this is sounding a bit like a “best of Sondheim” list, it’s because Groban adores the composer. Plus, I get a kick out of the idea of him starring in this deeply satirical show about murderers.
4. Hedwig and the Angry Itch: “I’m too hairy for Hedwig,” he joked, but who wouldn’t love to see the clean-cut singer slipping into Hedwig’s stilettos as a rock star who had a botched sex-change operation. I’d also love to hear him sing “Sugar Daddy.”
5. The Phantom of the Opera: The menacing Phantom was always Groban’s dream role, he said. “I love Andrew Lloyd Webber. I made the paper masks in elementary school and would freak out the girls.” All joking aside, I can totally visualize him singing “The Music of the Night” to a full, weeping Broadway house.
There you have it. Stay tuned for the full interview. For now … take us out, Josh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olRnU5L2CUg
