When Aaron Tveit meets followers at a Broadway stage door, or on the live shows he’s carried out at rock golf equipment and symphony halls alike, it’s at all times a shock the place they know the actor from.
They could have seen him in his career-making position within the acclaimed trendy musical Subsequent to Regular, or maybe from his newer Tony-winning flip in Moulin Rouge! They could keep in mind him as Nate’s scorching cousin Tripp van der Bilt on the unique Gossip Lady, or as a hilarious send-up of quite a few musical theater hero tropes on the late, nice Apple TV+ comedy Schmigadoon! Or perhaps they recall his scene-stealing flip as Enjolras, main “Do You Hear the Folks Sing?” within the characteristic movie of Les Misèrables.
Sufficed to say, Tveit has vary – as he most not too long ago proved when he changed Josh Groban within the acclaimed Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece Sweeney Todd, enjoying the Demon Barber of Fleet Avenue reverse Sutton Foster’s Mrs. Lovett (the 2 simply co-hosted the Drama Desk Awards collectively). Now, he’s transferring to a smaller however no much less prestigious stage as he kicks off his first Café Carlyle residency in New York Metropolis. The run of exhibits on the storied cabaret venue was prolonged virtually as quickly because it was introduced (working via June 29). Previous to its kick-off Tuesday evening (June 11), Tveit spoke to Billboard about his bucket-list Sondheim roles, the potential way forward for Schmigadoon!, and why his Carlyle audiences might hear a little bit Taylor Swift in his set.
The diploma of deafening viewers screaming for each you and Sutton the evening I went to see Sweeney was actually at boy-band hysteria ranges. What was your expertise on the opposite finish of that?
Truthfully, it was fascinating and really sudden. I went again to Moulin Rouge! for 12 weeks a couple of 12 months in the past, and there have been comparable responses at the moment, and I believed it was a product of that present and the way it encourages the viewers to be form of participatory. However I actually didn’t count on that sort of viewers to hold over at Sweeney. When it began, we appeared round and mentioned, “Properly, this can go away,” but it surely didn’t.
Numerous youthful individuals seeing Sweeney absorb Broadway exhibits otherwise – they wish to really feel like they’re part of it and so they get excited. However the factor we took away from it that I believe was essentially the most superb was: What would Steve Sondheim suppose, to listen to his materials being appreciated and brought in in that means by a really younger viewers? I believe the same factor is occurring at Merrily [We Roll Along, also on Broadway now], and I simply felt so thrilled to be a small a part of his materials being taken in by this new viewers.
While you have been first introduced for Sweeney, there was quite a lot of chatter concerning the concept of a tenor enjoying the position (which is historically sung by a baritone or bass-baritone). While you have been provided the position, was it an instantaneous sure for you?
It was a job I’ve at all times checked out and mentioned, “Wow, if I ever get the prospect, I’ll leap on the problem and in addition be terrified.” And after they did name, I used to be very stunned … and instantly terrified and excited. For me, vocally, I knew it could be a problem – it’s positively a unique sort of vocal half than I’ve historically executed. However I began my coaching in classical voice earlier than I switched to theater; I used to be assured that with sufficient work I might [do it], and I’m happy with the place it landed.
And the little little bit of backlash, if you wish to name it that, I perceive there are quite a lot of tenor roles in musical theater and I believe for individuals who aren’t tenors, they may have thought [the role] can be modified indirectly, however I attempted to maintain every part as is. That present is such an appearing piece, to me, and I felt it extra as a play, so as soon as I noticed I might do the singing, every part I used to be involved about was appearing the present.
Aaron Tveit throughout his first curtain name in Sweeney Todd on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Feb. 9, 2024 in New York Metropolis.
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
You’ve executed some bucket-list Sondheim roles now, together with Bobby in Firm, Sales space in Assassins and Sweeney. What’s subsequent in your want record?
The massive one I’d like to do nonetheless is Sunday within the Park With George — I’d actually like to play George. That vocal half could match me higher on paper than this one did, however I believe it’s equally such an advanced and great story. I bow all the way down to Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette [Peters, the original stars of the show] – she got here to see Sweeney towards the top, which was actually particular for me. I additionally generally really feel like I missed Tony in West Aspect Story in my skilled life, and now perhaps I’ve aged out, however that’s OK.
You may also be very humorous, as we noticed on Schmigadoon! What stood out about that have for you?
When the primary season of Schmigadoon! got here up, I obtained to reside out my Billy Bigelow [from Carousel] desires in addition to a little bit of Annie Get Your Gun … and people are very conventional musical theater roles, which isn’t one thing I’ve gotten to do quite a lot of. I’d by no means executed a revival at that time or a conventional musical, so I used to be very excited to leap in. All of us felt so grateful to be a part of that first season – it was 2020, Broadway was nonetheless a 12 months out from being again. After which we obtained to return [for season 2], and Cinco [Paul, the show’s composer] performed “Doorway to The place” for me and I used to be like, “Oh, that’s ‘Nook of the Sky.’” And he was like, “Yeah, this season you’re gonna be a bizarre model of Pippin and Claude [from Hair] and Jesus from Godspell and Jesus and Judas from [Jesus Christ] Famous person.” And I believed effectively, I’ve not performed any of these roles both!
The factor that was so enjoyable was the tongue-in-cheek nature of it — however on the similar time, we have been by no means making enjoyable of the musicals as a result of all of us love them a lot. My pals know I’m a really foolish particular person, so it was good to convey quite a lot of points of myself to the work in a means I don’t ever get to.
It’s so tragic that it’s over!
We’ll see. I do know Cinco has hopes; season 3 is totally written, so somebody might choose it up. It’s out there!
Aaron Tveit in Schmigadoon!
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Your upcoming exhibits on the Café Carlyle mark your debut there. How did you conceive of the setlist?
I’ve executed quite a lot of live shows within the final 10 or so years, and I’ve working lists of the exhibits I’ve executed, and a notice in my Notes app of working lists of dream songs, and I’m at all times sending myself emails about songs I hear. However for this, it simply feels very fancy, ? [Laughs] I talked abut that so much with my music director: how might we do our model of fancy? I’ve executed pop-rock cowl exhibits at plenty of Home of Blues throughout the nation and Irving Plaza and Webster Corridor, and quite a lot of extra conventional cabaret units, and the venue often dictates the setlist. So it’s like, “OK, what does the Carlyle say to me?”
I instantly thought “previous New York,” requirements, jazz – but additionally, New York is my theater world and profession, extra up to date and conventional musical theater. So the present appears to have three sections. I attempt to not take myself significantly, however I take the music significantly.
You’re a giant pop fan too. Who’re you listening to proper now?
I’m very into Billie Eilish the final couple years. The songwriting she and her brother are doing is simply unbelievable. Hozier is a extremely inspirational artist for me; he retains having moments as a result of the music he makes is simply unbelievable and clearly significant to him. Identical factor with Noah Kahan — I’ve listened to him so much, and his songs are clearly actually private as effectively. This younger man Sam Fender is a superb guitar participant and songwriter and vocalist. After which there are the issues I’m simply at all times listening to, like Bon Iver and Donny Hathaway.
Years in the past, you have been very well-known for overlaying Taylor Swift’s “We Are By no means Ever Getting Again Collectively” at your extra pop-rock live shows. I’ve to ask if it’ll be a part of the set – or if another Taylor is likely to be…
On New Yr’s final 12 months, I did a live performance with a little bit of a medley, and “Anti-Hero” made it in. We now have our setlist, however I’ve an concept to have a rotating track that adjustments each evening or couple nights, a slot for one thing. … I’d be remiss to say a type of wouldn’t slot in.
That’s a really Eras Tour transfer for you.
Precisely! I’m simply taking cues from the greats.
