“Disaster!” star Roger Bart Talks Broadway, New York and What’s Ahead for Him

by | Apr 6, 2016 | Culture, Entertainment

Screen Shot 2016-04-06 at 10.42.07 AM

Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel Photography

A recipient of Tony, Drama Desk and Screen Actors Guild Awards, Roger Bart is the rare Broadway lead that also works a lot in film and television. Active on Broadway since the mid-1980s, Roger’s first notable role was in playing the title role of Tom Sawyer in 1987. He has since been a part of productions of all kinds, including The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Triumph Of Love and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

On television, Roger Bart has been seen on a lot of procedural shows, including Law & Order, Medium, and CSI: Miami. But his SAG Award came from his tenure as pharmacist George Williams on the ABC hit Desperate Housewives. Upcoming roles of his include the film Speech & Debate and the forthcoming Epix cable series Graves.

Currently, Roger is starring in Disaster! at the Nederlander Theatre. Disaster! debuted in 2012 at New York’s Triad Theatre before moving onto St. Luke’s Theatre off-Broadway the following year. Written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnik –- who first began working on the concept in the early 1990s –- Disaster! is a musical comedy that both parodies and pays comedic tribute to the 1970s disaster film genre. In such, Roger plays deceitful casino owner Tony Delvecchio.

Roger kindly took the time to speak to Downtown about his journey from aspiring actor to leading actor. His honesty was refreshing, especially his quip about bartending. For more info on Disaster! and Roger Bart, click on over here.

What was the first Broadway show that you ever saw?

Roger Bart: I grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, the youngest of four and truthfully, we didn’t go to Broadway shows. Not exactly sure why but, alas, we didn’t. My father every once in a blue moon would put on a Gilbert & Sullivan album and I have very fond and vivid memories of counting “Ninas” in the Sunday Times Hirschfeld.

The only time I went to a Broadway show was when our school had the good sense to take a field trip to one. And my earliest recollection of seeing ANY show was seeing Godspell, which was not on Broadway at that time. I am not sure where I saw it. I know I was around 11 at the time. I do remember loving the music and theatricality of it all. But like so many young people, it was seeing a televised airing of West Side Story that made the greatest impression on me.

I’ve read that you made your Broadway debut in 1987. You’ve done a lot of work on television, but what is it that keeps you coming back to theater?

R: I have really enjoyed doing movies and TV. I love the theater because I love an audience. I love that feeling — the thrill of it. I love making people laugh and moving people. I love working with other actors, with the crew, the band, and the camaraderie of it, all unified in our collective endeavor to tell a story and transport an audience. And I love using my body, being physical and having the luxury of refining a performance through practice. It’s unique and wonderful and I am always so thrilled and grateful to be performing on a Broadway stage.

Screen Shot 2016-04-06 at 10.42.27 AM

Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel Photography

Was there a specific performance or person that inspired you to become an actor?

R: Not so much a performance that I witnessed, but in fact it was my acting teachers who were had the greatest influence on me. Starting in high school, Dick Everhart, and then at Rutgers University, Kathryn Gately. Both were wonderful teachers and both were enormously funny comic actors.

Is there a particular role of yours that you tend get most recognized for?

R: I am most recognized as two different characters — George from Desperate Housewives, the crazy-ass pharmacist, and Mason Treadwell from Revenge. Both very popular ABC shows. In the theater and movies, I am most recognized as Carmen Ghia from The Producers.

At what point in your career did you transition from “trying” to be actor to feeling secure as a working, career-oriented actor?

R: The first time I felt that I could actually make of go of it all was when I got the first national tour of Big River. I was fresh out of college, had no union card and was as green as I could be, and I got this wonderful job. Sadly, that first national tour only lasted four months, but after a seven-month break after it, I was offered to take over the role on Broadway, so it was very special to me.

I had to return to bartend, though, several times after that closed and I set a deadline for myself — if I wasn’t making a living by the time I turned 30, I would scrap it and try another profession. Thankfully, my last night as a bartender was when I was 29. But make no mistake, I never really feel secure about it and can still make a great Old Fashioned. (laughs)

Were you singing prior to being an actor?

R: Yes, I always sang. In chorus, madrigals, shows, and in a rock band in high school while playing bass. Always loved it.

Have you ever thought about putting out an album, aside from your work as an actor? Or performing a concert aside from your work in theater?

R: Oh yes. I always wanted to do an album of children’s songs written by theater composers. I wanted the album to span a day in the life of a young person — from waking up, going to school, coming home, and having dinner and doing homework, then bed. And integrating as many friends who would be willing to join. Hope one day it can happen.

AND in the meantime, my close friend Kevin Chamberlin and I, are putting together an evening of funny Broadway character songs for a concert that I would love to perform everywhere we can. It will be an absolute blast to perform. I would also love to work with an orchestra doing something akin to Peter And The Wolf or Tubby The Tuba, both wonderful albums I listened to as a kid.

Screen Shot 2016-04-06 at 10.42.41 AM

Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel Photography

Prior to getting cast in Disaster!, had you worked with any of your current cast members before?

R: I had done Triumph Of Love with Kevin Chamberlin back in ’97, Young Frankenstein with Paul Castree, and many shows with Seth Rudetsky when he was conducting.

How would you describe Disaster! to someone who hasn’t yet seen it?

R: I would describe Disaster! as a hilarious and adoring send up of 1970s disaster films by Irwin Allen with a specific focus on The Poseidon Adventure. The show ingeniously integrates memorable songs of the ’70s, at times in their complete form and other times just snippets of songs, in uproariously funny ways. They not only transport our audiences back to the days those songs were popular, but also manage to move people to tears from laughing AND crying. The cast includes some of the funniest stage actors in New York City and it has been described — even by my most critical friends — as one of the funniest nights they have ever spent in a theatre.

What’s the most challenging part of playing Tony?

R: The most challenging thing about playing Tony in Disaster! is getting the soot off my face and the glue off my upper lip from my mustache.

Do you have any upcoming roles besides Disaster! that you can talk about?

R: I am in a movie coming out soon called Speech & Debate, written by the amazingly-talented Stephen Karam [playwright of The Humans] and starring Sarah Steele. I play a high school principal. I am also in a 10-episode series for the EPIX network called Graves starring Nick Nolte and Sela Ward, playing former President Nolte’s speechwriter. The series will air this fall.

When you’re not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

R: I love being a dad. I love spending time with my daughters. More than anything in the world.

Tags:
Spring At The Seaport

Spring At The Seaport

There's something for everyone happening this Spring at The Seaport! All text courtesy of The Seaport. All images by...

Making Waves

Making Waves

Blonde Records’ Founder Rebecca Autumn Sansom (first left) Seeks Inclusivity with Wavy Awards. OCTOBER 23RD, 2021...

Glow Up

Glow Up

SHINE ON The PAC's translucent marble walls will light up from the inside at night. Photography by Luxigon. The...

Downtown Magazine