With his tremendous generosity, Michael agreed to respond to several questions regarding his performance and experience in Big River so that Japanese audiences will gain more insights about the show.

1.You joined the company when they transferred to Broadway, which means you were a new comer to the show. How was it to join in a show (Deaf West version) and a company that has been already performed many times prior to the engagement and got a great review already?

It was very daunting at first. I really didn't know all the information and success surrounding Big River in Los Angeles. All I'd heard was that it was a new version using sign language and deaf actors. When I was cast in the Broadway version, I didn't know until I was cast that I had to sign everything that I said and sang. It was challenging but I was excited.

One week before rehearsals I started sign language tutorials with Anthony Natale, one of the sign masters from Los Angeles. We worked 3 hours a day for 6 days. Then I started rehearsals with Ty Giordano(Huck) and Dan Jenkins(Mark Twain). We had a week together before the rest of the cast came from Los Angeles. Its always intimidating stepping into a show that has already had a run. But everyone from Jeff Calhoune to the Sign Masters and the cast was very open to allowing me to find my own Jim. Ty was especially incredible to work with. He had done the show with 2 Jims already but he still allowed me to discover the role for myself and then to adapt to what I was doing.

2.Besides learning how to sign, what was the most challenging thing for you in the show? What's your favorite scene/musical number? (your solo of course!)

The most difficult challenge for me in the show is speaking and signing at the same time. Its really difficult to do because you're speaking 2 different languages at the same time and the syntax is very different. Also with any show that you do for a long period of time the challenge is to go out on the stage every show 8 times a week and tell the story for the first time every time. But working with Ty and Dan make that very easy to do. The standard is extremely high in the show. Everybody gives 150% because we all know how special this experience is.

My favorite musical moment would have to be Waiting for the light to Shine and I wont' say why because I don't want to ruin it for people who haven't seen the show.

3.After performing on Broadway (BTW, congrats on your Tony nomination!!), was your performance changed or revisited when the national tour started several months later?

My performance continues to change. When we were doing the show in New York, the rehearsal time was so fast. All I felt I had time to do was learn the sign language make, specific choices and be in the moment onstage. Now that I've had more time I feel that I have been able to discover more subtle shadings in the character and how I portray him. Also its always an incredible blessing to be able to revisit a show after you've had some time away from the character. It was especially rewarding for me because I was nominated for my performance on Broadway and now I had an opportunity to go back and really explore the character now that the sign language was not my priority.

4.On the tour, you've been to San Francisco and some Southern states. Are there any difference between the audiences' reaction/response in these cities?

New york audiences are a special breed. Because there is so much theater, New York audiences are very subtle. So doing the show in New York was incredibly special. But the audiences around the county have been great as well. And they really get the show and are moved by it. I think that is testament to the beauty of this production.

5.In Japan, what kind of things you are looking forward to do and/or see?

I really want to see a lot of what Japan has to offer. I want to travel a bit while I'm here. I want to experience the culture. As Americans we tend to think that the world revolves around us and its great to be able to get out of the mentality and see how other cultures live.

6. Do you have any message to Japanese audiences?

Please come and see the show. It's a beautiful show with fun music, great performances, American Sign Language. Its funny, touching, heartwarming. I think the power of the show is that it transcends language so everyone can understand and be a part of the story.

Michael, thank you SO MUCH for answering these questions, hope you'll have a fantastic time in Japan. See you in Sacramento!



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