Norm Lewis
Norm Lewis | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) Lewis performs "Stars", September 10, 2006 | |
| Born | June 2, 1963 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1993–present[1] |
| Website | www |
Norm Lewis (born June 2, 1963) is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in Europe, on Broadway, in film, television, recordings and regional theatre.[2] Productions that he has been involved in include Dessa Rose, Miss Saigon, The Wild Party, and several others.[3]
Lewis has been credited as having "an impressive Broadway resumé" by Playbill. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the popular musical productions of Porgy and Bess and The Phantom of the Opera, making musical theatre history as the first African-American actor to perform in the title role in Broadway's long-running production of Phantom of the Opera.[3]
Early life
Lewis was born in Tallahassee, Florida and grew up in Eatonville, Florida. He graduated in 1981 from Edgewater High School, Orlando.[4] He worked at the Orlando Sentinel prior to his acting career.[5]
Career
Lewis credits the kickoff of his career to Ralph Petillo, who ran Theatre on Park in Winter Park, Florida.
Lewis was featured as Agwe in the Gateway Playhouse (Bellport, New York) production of Once on This Island in 1992.[6]
Lewis made his Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy (1993).[7] He was a replacement in Miss Saigon as John. In 1997 he played Jake in Side Show. He also appeared in Michael John LaChiusa's Broadway musical The Wild Party as Eddie. Lewis was in Michel Legrand's short-lived musical Amour in 2002, which also featured Melissa Errico, Malcolm Gets, and Lewis Cleale. He played the racketeer Eddie Satin in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of Golden Boy in March 2002.[8] He played Billy Flynn in the Broadway revival of Chicago in February 2004 and March 2004.[9] He performed in several benefit concerts, including Dreamgirls (2001), Chess (2003), and Hair.[9]
In 2005, Lewis starred in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park revival of a musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona.[10] He played the role of Nathan in the Lincoln Center 2005 production of Dessa Rose.[11]
Lewis has played Javert in the musical Les Misérables several times. He first starred in the role in the 2006 Broadway revival, making him the first African American actor to play the role in a professional English production. He later reprised it in the West End production. At London's O2 Arena, he sang the role in the 25th anniversary concert of the show. Lewis again reprised the role in The Muny, St. Louis production from July 15–21, 2013.[12][13]
In 2007 he originated the role of King Triton in the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid.[14] He went on to sing as King Triton on the original Broadway cast recording.
In regional theatre, he played the title role in Sweeney Todd, the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, at the Casa Mañana Theatre, Fort Worth, Texas, beginning November 10, 2009. He had previously played this role at the Signature Theatre in 1999.[15]
Lewis was featured in the musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim, which premiered in the Roundabout Theatre's Studio 54 in 2010. The production, conceived and directed by James Lapine, also featured Barbara Cook and Vanessa L. Williams.[16] His rendition of "Being Alive" was one of the evening's outstanding highlights.[17][18]
Lewis appeared in a revised version of Porgy and Bess, as Porgy, first at the Loeb Drama Center (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in August through September 2011 and then on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starting in previews on December 12, 2011. This American Repertory Theater production was "re-imagined by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray as a musical for contemporary audiences."[19] He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical[20] and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his performance.[21]
Lewis released his first solo album, This Is the Life! in 2008 under the Seahorse Productions label.[22] His other notable recordings include the cast recordings of Side Show, The Who's Tommy, and the 1998 cast recording of A New Brain as Roger Delli-Bovi, for Scott Alan's Keys and for the 2001 New York cast recording of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens in aid of the Momentum Aids Project.
In 2012, Lewis joined the cast of the ABC political thriller television series Scandal, in the role of Senator Edison Davis.[23][24]
In 2013, Lewis starred as Prospero in the Public Theater's PublicWorks Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest at the Delacorte Theater. He was one of five professional actors heading a cast of 200 community participants.[25][26]
He is an investor in the company Lolly Clothing, which was created by his good friend and fellow Broadway actor Chad Kimball.[27][28]
He appeared in the Stephen Sondheim-Wynton Marsalis staged concert for Encores! titled A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love Affair, at New York City Center, from November 13 to November 17, 2013. The concert was directed by John Doyle and also featured Bernadette Peters, Jeremy Jordan, and Cyrille Aimée.[29][30]
On May 12, 2014, Lewis assumed the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera in New York, making him the first African American to play the title role in the New York production and the third worldwide.[31] He succeeded Hugh Panaro and joined fellow returning cast member Sierra Boggess, who returned as Christine on the same date. On February 7, 2015, Lewis ended his tenure as the Phantom with a performance at the Majestic Theatre. Coverage in Playbill credited him for his "impressive Broadway resumé". Being succeeded by actor James Barbour, Lewis remarked that he had been a fan of the musical for many years and felt that obtaining the part finally had been akin to winning the lottery.[3]
Lewis is a recipient of the 2014 AUDELCO Special Achievement Award.[32]
In 2016, Lewis reprised his role of King Triton for a live Hollywood Bowl concert production of The Little Mermaid. He also began playing Agwe in Once on this Island on January 8, 2018, at the Circle in the Square theatre and continues to perform the role.[33]
Lewis portrayed Caiaphas in the live televised concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar on April 1, 2018, Easter Sunday.
Theatre credits
Sources: Lortel.org;[37] PlayBillVault[38]
Discography
- This Is the Life!, 2008
- The Norm Lewis Christmas Album, 2018
Concerts
Lewis has performed at numerous venues, including Lincoln Center (where his concert was filmed for the TV special Norm Lewis: Who Am I?), Joe's Pub, Apollo Theater, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Film credits
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Stand by Me | Swing gang |
| 2001 | Confidences (short) | Reggie |
| 2005 | Preaching to the Choir | Reverend Tucker |
| 2010 | Sex and the City 2 | Reginald |
| 2010 | Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary | Javert |
| 2011 | Pizza Verdi (short) | Reggie |
| 2014 | Winter's Tale | Custodian |
| 2016 | Magnum Opus | Charlie Lutwidge |
| 2018 | Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert | Caiaphas |
| 2019 | Just Mercy | Newscaster (voice) |
| 2020 | Da 5 Bloods | Eddie |
Television credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | All My Children | Keith McLean | 9 episodes |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine | Mr. Phillips | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Mystery Woman: In the Shadows | Doctor | TV movie |
| 2012-15 | Scandal | Senator Edison Davis | 12 episodes |
| 2014 | Hustling | Senator Bailey | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Blue Bloods | DA James Campbell | 1 episode |
| 2014 | The Blacklist | J.P. Laskin | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Gotham | Deputy Mayor Harrison Kane | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Kern & Hammerstein's Show Boat | Joe | filmed stage production |
| 2015 | First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb | Performer | TV movie |
| 2016 | Chicago Med | Bobby | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Daytime Divas | William Tomas | |
| 2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Rumbleshanks | |
| 2019 | Better Things | Himself | |
| 2019 | Bull | Medical Examiner Henson | |
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Ron Dellums |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Dessa Rose | Nominated |
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Porgy and Bess | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert | Nominated |
See also
References
- ^ Norm Lewis website:Bio Archived 2010-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 6th November 2009
- ^ "Music" Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Norm Lewis website, Retrieved 6 November 2009
- ^ a b c Hetrick, Adam and Daniels, Karu F. "Norm Lewis Ends History-Making Engagement in Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera' " playbill.com, February 7, 2015
- ^ "1981 Edgewater High School Yearbook". classmates.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Pal, Matthew J."Norm Lewis Interview" Orlando Sentinel, August 27, 2010
- ^ "Playbill, 'Once On This Island'" gatewayplayhouse.com, accessed June 30, 2011
- ^ "Norm Lewis" broadway.com
- ^ Gans, Andrew et al."Encores! 'Golden Boy' Begin to Shine March 21" playbill.com, March 21, 2002
- ^ a b "Norm Lewis Broadway credits" Internet Broadway Database, accessed June 30, 2011
- ^ Brantley, Ben. "Shakespeare in the Park Review; Enter 'Two Gentlemen' For a Sexy Sip of Sangría", The New York Times, August 29, 2005
- ^ Simonson, Robert."La Chanze and Rachel York Bloom in Antebellum 'Dessa Rose', Opening March 21" Archived 2012-10-12 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, March 21, 2005
- ^ "Cast of St. Louis Muny 'Les Miserables'" playbill.com Archived June 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "BWW Exclusive: 'Les Miserables' at The MUNY Summer 2013 Scrapbook!" broadwayworld.com, July 31, 2013
- ^ Gans, Andrew."Mermaid Will Resume Nov. 29 and Will Officially Flip Her Fins Jan. 10" November 29, 2007
- ^ Hetrick, Adam.Lewis Will Attend the Tale of 'Sweeney Todd' at Casa Mañana playbill.com, October 23, 2009
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."'Sondheim on Sondheim', a New Musical Reflection of a Life in Art, Begins on Broadway" Archived 2014-03-01 at the Wayback Machine.playbill.com, March 19, 2010
- ^ Suskin, Steven (2010-04-23). "Review: 'Sondheim on Sondheim'". Variety. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
- ^ "Sondheim on Sondheim". EW.com. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
- ^ Gans, Andrew and Hetrick, Adam. "Norm Lewis-Audra McDonald Porgy and Bess Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre" playbill.com, June 29, 2011
- ^ Jones, Kenneth and Hetrick, Adam. 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Once Earns 11 Nominations" Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, May 1, 2012
- ^ Gans, Andrew."'Once', 'Tribes', 'Follies', 'Salesman', Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein and More Are Drama Desk Winners" Archived 2012-06-06 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, June 3, 2012
- ^ Listing Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, normlewis.com, retrieved June 27, 2010.
- ^ Gioia, Michael. "'Porgy and Bess' Tony Nominee Norm Lewis Lands Role on ABC's 'Scandal' " Playbill. August 17, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2013
- ^ Furlong, Maggie. "'Scandal' Season 2 Casting: A 'Grey's Anatomy' Alum And A Broadway Star -- Plus A 'West Wing' Reunion?" Huffington Post. August 16, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
- ^ "'The Tempest' Featuring Laura Benanti Norm Lewis and Todd Almond Sweeps Into Central Park" playbill.com {dead link}
- ^ "PublicWorks 'The Tempest'" publictheater.org, accessed March 4, 2016
- ^ "Norm Lewis" broadway.com
- ^ [1] youtube.com
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "Norm Lewis and Jeremy Jordan Will Join Bernadette Peters in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis' A Bed and a Chair'" playbill.com, October 11, 2013
- ^ Fullerton, Krissie. "Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis and Jeremy Jordan Debut Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis' 'A Bed and a Chair'" Archived 2014-03-02 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, November 14, 2013
- ^ [2] tumblr.com
- ^ Newsdesk. "Andre De Shields to Receive Audelco Special Achievement Award at 42nd Annual Gala, 11/17". Broadwayworld.com, November 13, 2014
- ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Norm Lewis and Tamyra Gray Joining Broadway’s 'Once on This Island' " Playbill, December 19, 2017
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Norm Lewis Will Wield the Razor in Signature’s 'Sweeney Todd' Sept. 7-Oct. 31" Playbill, July 27, 1999, accessed March 4, 2016
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Murney, Blickenstaff, Lewis and More Will Sing Kander & Ebb in Arlington" Playbill, July 24, 2009, accessed March 4, 2016
- ^ Hetrick, Adam; Daniels, Karu F. (May 12, 2014). "Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess Join Broadway Cast of The Phantom of the Opera May 12". Playbill. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "Norm Lewis Off-Broadway" lortel.org, accessed March 4, 2016
- ^ "Norm Lewis Broadway" Playbill, accessed March 4, 2016
External links
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