As one of the stars of Modern Family — one of the longest running sit-coms on television today — Jesse Tyler Ferguson has five consecutive Emmy nominations to his credit. However, Jesse was working long before he began playing Mitchell on Modern Family, as part of a variety of film, television and theatrical projects. His first major stage role in New York was in 1998 as part of a limited run of On The Run, in which he played Chip.
Jesse stays plenty busy beyond Modern Family, currently starring in Fully Committed at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre. On an off day from Fully Committed, he will be performing as part of the New York Pops’ 33rd Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall on May 2. The event with Steven Reineke and the New York Pops is also set to include other leading men and women of the stage, including Patti LuPone, Laura Osnes, Montego Glover, and Jeremy Jordan. This particular Pops event will be celebrating the work of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the songwriting team behind Les Misérables and Miss Saigon.
In advance of the launch of the Becky Mode-penned Fully Committed, Jesse spoke to Downtown about his upcoming appearances, what New York has meant to his career, and plenty more. He can be followed directly here, while Fully Committed and the New York Pops’ gala have their own sites.
How did you get involved with the New York Pops?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Someone just asked me! Such an honor…
What’s ahead for you professionally once the gala has wrapped?
J: I will be performing on a day off from my Broadway show, Fully Committed, so I will be returning to that.
Where did the idea come from for you study at the American Musical And Dramatic Academy?
J: I wanted to study at a school in New York City. I wanted to be in the middle of the action. AMDA seemed like a good choice. I didn’t have the funds to go to an undergraduate program. A conservatory program was much more realistic for me.
What do you remember about your first-ever live performance in New York? Was it while you were a student at the AMDA?
J: It was on a trip to New York City with my community theater. It was William Finn’s Falsettos. I knew the score backwards and forwards, and I was thrilled to get to see most of the original cast. I left thinking that if I ever got the chance to work with James Lapine and William Finn I could die happy. Well, guess who directed and wrote the last Broadway musical I did?
What was your first steady gig as an actor? Was it as part of On The Town on Broadway?
J: On The Town was my first professional job in New York City. I got my Equity Card through that production. The show ran at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, so the run was only five weeks. But yes, that was my first consistent job.
Modern Family films in Los Angeles, but you’re frequently in New York City for theater and charity work. Do you have a favorite neighborhood within Manhattan?
J: I love Gramercy Park and SoHo, Tribeca…I am drawn to the downtown neighborhoods. I also love Brooklyn. I lived in Fort Greene right before I moved to Los Angeles. I miss it.
Are there any plans for Tie The Knot to come to New York?
J: Our ties were in the Tie Bar pop-up shop last summer in Soho. We usually collaborate with The Tony Awards every year and do a special tie, and we will have a unique Fully Committed bowtie that will be for sale in the lobby of The Lyceum. As always, all the proceeds go towards LGTBQ outreach.
Might we see another tour with you and Eric Stonestreet in the future?
J: Eric and I loved meeting fans together. Our schedules have become so busy that finding to travel together has been challenging.
Is there a professional accomplishment you’re most proud of? The five Emmy nominations?
J: I was thrilled and honored to be nominated for as many Emmys as I was, but I also lost every single one of those races. I am beyond proud to be able to return to my first love, Broadway. Being in a one man show with my name above the title is beyond my wildest imagination. Also, playing twins in Comedy Of Errors for the Public Theater’s Shakespeare In The Park was a huge moment for me.
When you’re not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
J: I love to cook. I am a budding chef and I ever started my own food blog with my friend Julie Tanous. You can find it at [my website].
Finally, Jesse, any last words for the kids?
J: Giving advice is always so tricky. No one has all the answers. I feel like I am the one who still needs advice. I would say that the thing I always try and remind myself is to stay true to who I am and what I do best. It is easy to get wrapped up in trying to emulate someone else’s career. I am the only one who can be uniquely “me,” and that is enough.
