Ballas is taking over the role from American Idol winner, rock singer-songwriter David Cook. “The rehearsals have been great,” he said. “The first show is tomorrow, and I am looking forward to it.”
When asked how he handled being dialogue heavy (especially since Charlie Price has a huge amount of dialogue in the first act), Ballas responded, “It’s no different than playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, so I am ready.”
Speaking of Jersey Boys, Ballas described that as an “incredible” experience, and as one of the “best experiences” in his life. “I loved every second of it,” he admitted.
He is drawn to Kinky Boots due to the “journey that the characters go on,” as well as its “message.” “I think it is very important right now,” he said. “It is about acceptance, and we are all humans, and we are trying to live and do good. People are different and that is what makes life exciting. This show is very poignant and it is really important in this day and age. That’s what excited me the most about it. Kinky Boots has great songs, a great script and a really important message. I just loved the whole thing about it.”
Ballas went on to praise the cast and crew of Kinky Boots for being “incredible.” “Everybody in that production, from the cast, crew, to the sound, hair, make-up, and costumes is doing a really great job. It takes an army to put on a show,” he said.
His advice for aspiring singer-songwriters and actors is to “keep pushing.” “Don’t be nervous or worried about hearing the word ‘no.’ Anything worth having isn’t going to come easy. Make sure you get your 10,000 hours. Grind it out. Find your message and be yourself,” Ballas said.
He listed Chris Martin of Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and John Mayer as his dream collaboration choices in music.
Digital transformation of the entertainment business
On the impact of technology on the music business, Ballas said, “There are positives and negatives to it. Streaming is cool since you can find a way to reach people. The negatives come with cyberbullying on social media platforms. Streaming and sharing are great because you can reach a lot more people. It’s a great way to get your brand and your message out there and do some good in the world. Obviously, I use all the streaming services including Apple Music and Spotify, and I am on Facebook and Twitter. I enjoy them a lot as long as they are used for positive.”
Regarding his use of technology in his daily routine, Ballas said, “I use Spotify every day when I am walking and when I am working out. I love Spotify and Apple Music since you can have any song at your fingertips. It is great and very convenient.”
He revealed that he has some new music coming out with his wife, BC Jean, as part of their musical duo, Alexander Jean.
For his fans, he concluded, “If you are in New York from September 11 to November 4, come down and check us out in Kinky Boots. We are scheduled for eight shows a week. It is going to be a blast. The cast is insane and it’s a lot of fun. I hope to see you guys there.”
To learn more about Kinky Boots, check out its official website.
For more information on multifacated entertainer Mark Ballas, follow him on Twitter.
