Funnyman and theatre geek extraordinaire Ben Cameron is back with an all new season of Broadway Sessions (Thursday nights at The Laurie Beechman Theatre), after a successful hosting appearance at the very first BroadwayCon, Cameron will bring some of the hottest stars of the season to his inventive variety show. He gave us a preview of what to expect this season...
Pitch Broadway Sessions to out-of-towners who might be too intimidated to go see a cabaret show with snobbish New York theatre nerds?
Broadway Sessions ins’t your grandpa’s “cabaret”. Broadway Sessions is a live interactive musical theatre themed variety show. I like to say it’s like the Ellen show...but with me…and Broadway themed...and with a fully stocked bar. Each week a new Broadway star or cast descends upon The Laurie Beechman Theater after their show to cut loose, let their hair down, and celebrate the Broadway community. Audiences can expect wacky interviews, impromptu sing-a-longs, games with the stars as well as world class musical performances. We begin each night with our “Singing for Shots” open mic challenge and open mic follows the show proper. It’s fun and zany and a really intimate look into the people that make Broadway tick. Be ready for anything.
What shows would you recommend people go see Thursday nights before they come to Broadway Sessions?
Oof, that’s a tough one. I’m one of those people who likes everything. But Broadway Sessions will make you laugh, so if you just sobbed your eyes out at Fun Home or got your soul stirred at The Color Purple we’ll get a smile on your face. I always like to encourage folks to look beyond the great Broadway shows and try an Off-Broadway night, there’s so much amazing stuff out there beyond The Lion King and Aladdin (although I love both those shows).
You were hilarious at BroadwayCon, what were some of your favorite moments that weekend?
Ah shucks, that makes me wanna kiss you. Thank you, that may be my favorite thing to hear. I mean, how fun was that whole weekend!!!??? The YouTube dance party with 3,000 fans was unreal. I also loved sharing the stage with the JukeBox cast and especially with Anthony Rapp. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid and I’m so impressed with what BroadwayCon was! But most of all I loved being able to connect with and joke around with the attendees. I’ve got a whole bunch of new besties.
Which upcoming Session has you the most excited? Any guests you're trying to land who are proving to be hard to get?
I get excited for every show. We have the kids from School of Rock coming up and they’re preparing a bunch of killer numbers just for the night. We have Fiddler coming up and we’ve got Les Mis cast members coming to sing their “guilty pleasure” songs. Every night is so unique. As far as guests that are hard to get…we’ve been around for 7.5 years, so if you have ideas of people you’d like to see send ‘em our way!
Poison of choice when you host Broadway Sessions? What would a cocktail named after you be made of?
I generally like to hold off until after the show. Then maybe a splash of Jameson or two. My cocktail would be the “Theater Geek”, I suppose it’d be like a Long Island Iced Tea but with a splash of childhood family dysfunction.
You've starred in Broadway musicals with famous movie versions, Tommy and Footloose, what famous movie would you turn into a musical next and what part would you cast yourself in?
THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER!!! Yes, it’s already a musical but it’s a damn good one. I’d be Kermit or Sam the Eagle. Or Nicky, the bad guy...cause he gets to sing the Miss Piggy Water Ballet number.
What musical theatre character do you have the biggest crush on?
The biggest? oh dear. Can I do a Frankenstein monster of a few characters? Monty from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Bat Boy, Buddy the Elf, Huey from Memphis, the Phantom and of course Mark from Rent…I’m not afraid of complex gents. Oh, I guess this is probably a good time to let you know I’m gay.
You were in the original company of Wicked, are you more of a Glinda or an Elphaba?
Definitely Elphaba.
What are your favorite three Sondheim songs? Three Sondheim parts you'd like to play at some point?
OK, you guys are asking the hard hitting questions. This is impossible!!! "Being Alive", I was at Bernadette’s Carnegie Hall Concert when I first moved to NYC. Game changer. "Anyone Can Whistle", "Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins, I sang this with Annie Golden one night at Broadway Sessions, cue fainting. As for roles: Sweeney, The Baker from Into the Woods, and Joanne in Company (yes, that’s the Elaine Stritch role).
For more information on Broadway Sessions visit www.broadwaysessions.net
You can also follow Broadway Sessions and Ben Cameron on Twitter @bwaysessions/@BenDoesBroadway, Instagram and Facebook.
