KRISTOPHER THOMPSON-BOLDEN
Sexy and sassy are the words that come to mind when Kristopher Thompson-Bolden describes his ensemble role as the lone Black sailor in the Roundabout Theater Company’s production of “Anything Goes,” which ran at Heinz Hall recently.
“I’m the sexy booty sailor. I get chosen to do flirting scenes in the show,” said New York resident by way of Houston, Thompson-Bolden, who first came to the Steel City in 2005 in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ in the role of Asher. “The sailors are the rock of the show and I came up with my own fun sailor. He has a little flavor to him. I’m trying to hold it down. The character is fun to create every night.”
Winner of three Tony Awards in 2011 including Revival of a Musical, “Anything Goes” is a musical comedy that takes places on the S.S. American cruise ship and revolves around the lives of young lovers, blackmailers and clowns.
The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company’s “Anything Goes” premiered in Pittsburgh as part of the PNC Broadway Across America Pittsburgh series and was presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.
Roundabout Theatre is one of New York City’s most well-known theaters reaching over 600,000 musical enthusiasts annually. It is the country’s largest not-for-profit theater companies with four theaters both on Broadway and off Broadway. “Anything Goes” will travel to more than 20 cities during the 2012-2013 season.
Thompson-Bolden said the lovable antics of the sailors and the universal themes of friendship and love are reasons the African-American community should come out and see “Anything Goes.”
“First of all I’m in it and this is the bigger than any other part I have ever played. People should never give up on love because you’ll never know who you’ll fall in love with and creating new friendships and building on ones you had in the past are what draw people to the show,” Thompson-Bolden said. “It’s good clean fun and people can bring their kids and they can bring the whole family. The show is just a lot of fun and the music is amazing. You’re going to pay attention to lyrics and the music is beautiful.”
The show’s musical numbers, which include “It’s De-Lovely,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and the title track, were penned by song writer and composer, Cole Porter. The Yale graduate wrote football songs for the Ivy League school, which are still played at the school today. In addition to the music in “Anything Goes,” Porter is known for other hits including “Night and Day” and “Begin the Beguine.” He also wrote scores for some of Broadway’s most memorable musicals including “Silk Stockings” and “Kiss Me, Kate” before his death in 1964.
“Cole Porter is a genius and I love performing in period pieces because the hairstyles were different, the singing styles were different, the clothing was different. They are like history lessons. I had to learn how the people of the time period spoke and how they moved back then. It’s good to be able to think outside the box,” said Thompson-Bolden who is performing “Anything Goes” for the third time in his acting career—he first encountered the musical in high school and went on to serve as a swing in a regional production while a musical theater major at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.
“Anything Goes” is his fifth touring production. In addition to “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” he previously performed in the world premiere of the “Nutty Professor” as well as Broadway tours of “Billy Elliot” and “The Color Purple” opposite Fantasia Barrino.
“With every role that I do, I give a bit of myself to the character. When I did ‘Billy Elliot’ I had to speak with a northern England accent and with the ‘Color Purple’ I understudied Harpo who was built like I am,” said Thompson-Bolden who began performing at the age of five. “I did the ‘Color Purple’ for three years and it was truly a highlight of my career. I haven’t done anything as powerful. It felt like we were ministering to people. We are like a family. We still keep in touch today. Fantasia gave my mom free tickets to her concert when she performed in Houston.
“It’s good when you’re on stage knowing that your performance touches someone’s life,” Thompson-Bolden continued. “The audience is your scene partner and I look to them for energy. I look for African-Americans in the audience too. You are representing your community and it makes me feel good that people enjoy what I do.”
That confidence is what aspiring actors and actresses need to make it in theater, he said.
“Keep going for your dreams. It’s a hard business and a hard knock life but if you are persistent, you’ll make it. There were no Blacks in “Billy Elliot.” Audition for everything because you never know. Half of the time you are cast by personality. People want to work with a good personality. Don’t let anyone dictate your career,” said Thompson-Bolden who enjoys perusing parks and museums and playing guitar when he isn’t performing.
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