After studying music theater in college, Joshua Henry headed to New York with a dream: to be the best performer he could be. Two years later, he won a Tony as a member of the cast of "In The Heights" on Broadway. Grab a front-row seat as Nick and Joshua chat about filming Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut "Tick Tick Boom", the disappointment of a show closing early, his family inspiring the songwriting on his new EP "Guaranteed", and the physical and spiritual regimens that keep his performances energized.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[02:38] The pandemic gave Joshua the chance to fulfill a life-long dream project: writing and recording his own music, which resulted in the new EP "Guaranteed"
[04:26] Joshua chose songs that resonated with him, and where he found himself politically and as an artist
[06:06] Spending time with his wife and young son during the lockdown inspired Joshua's performance and songwriting, reflected in songs on the EP and his upcoming album, "To Grow"
[08:08] Joshua and his producer Neff-U worked remotely, coordinating ideas through FaceTime and Zoom over a three month period
[09:45] Joshua grew up in Florida, studying music theater at University Of Miami, before heading to New York in 2006 to follow his dream
[10:02] Joshua had no real plan to make it in New York, other than talent and a fierce determination to be the best musician and vocalist he could possibly be
[11:25] Not long after hitting NYC in 2006, Joshua connected with Lin-Manuel Miranda, performing in "In The Heights" off-Broadway before taking the show to Broadway in 2008
[12:57] Just after winning a Tony, Joshua left "In The Heights" to take a principle role in "Godspell", but the financial crisis of 2008 caused the investors to pull out of and cancel the production
[15:08] After the disappointment of "Godspell", Joshua got back into "In The Heights" as a "swing", a performer who acts as an understudy for multiple roles at once
[16:57] Joshua portrayed Aaron Burr in the first national tour of "Hamilton", but his breakout role was Haywood Patterson in "The Scottsboro Boys" on Broadway in 2011
[17:58] Joshua tried to put as much of himself into his performance of Aaron Burr, in an attempt to portray the villain of the show in a sympathetic light
[19:33] Joshua shakes up his energy for every show by giving himself one powerful word that signifies what he wants that night's performance to be
[20:53] To keep himself physically up for eight shows a week, Joshua maintains a regular physical regimen of exercise and massage, along with a spiritual preparation that keeps him connected to a limitless creative source
[23:30] When shows like "The Scottsboro Boys" or "Carousel" close earlier than expected, Joshua deals with the disappointment by embracing the positives he receives from his experiences both on and off stage
[25:59] Having performed in "Violet" as a college student, Joshua brought his career full circle eight years later by starring in the same show on Broadway and recording a cast album
[29:39] Filming the movie "Tick Tick Boom", Lin-Manuel Miranda's first directorial effort, during the lockdown gave Joshua a much-needed outlet for his creative energy
[32:32] As a young man Joshua was influenced by multi-talented artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and D'Angelo
[34:17] Coming out of the pandemic, Joshua intends to tour behind his new album "To Grow" when it's released in September
Thanks for listening! Tune in next week and don’t forget to take a minute to review the podcast. In this incredibly competitive podcasting world, every piece of feedback helps.
Follow our social media channels for last-minute announcements and guest reveals @theradicalpod on Instagram and Facebook.
Find out more about today’s guest, Joshua Henry.
Find out more about your host, Nick Terzo
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
@NeffuFeemster [Neff-U, producer]
@sfosternyc [Sutton Foster, actress]
@RobinofJesus [Robin De Jesus, actor/singer]
@itsagarfield [Andrew Garfield]
