Q&A Session with Scott Barnhardt
Scott Barnhardt, a.k.a. one of the Robinson twin, agreed to participate in the interview for my site. Enjoy!
1. Scott, first of all, please tell us about yourself. How and when you started to act, and do you have any major theatre experience prior to Big River?
I grew up in Orange County, California. My parents were always extremely supportive of anything I did, and encouraged my acting the whole way through. I started taking tap lessons when I was about 6 or 7 (By my pleading starting at the age of 4...not forced in by my parents). That lead to my first "job" at a local dinner theater production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in Tustin when I was 9, and I haven't stopped since.
I did a lot of shows in the Theater "circuit" of Southern California throughout my childhood, and even had an agent in L.A. for commercials and film. I then went to the Orange County High School of the Arts, which just increased my drive to pursue this as a career. Went to college in NY to study Theater & Business and to get closer to NYC (Wagner College, on Staten Island, NY... GO SEAHAWKS!), and upon graduating moved into the city to start working.
I have also put my Business minor to work... I've had some cool day-jobs in between acting gigs at various companies throughout NYC. I worked at Pfizer Pharmaceutical for a while, as well at a Public Relations firm that handled a lot of High-End Fashion clients.
Big River was a "Big Break" for me... I have done a fair share of regional, and summer stock shows, but it was an amazing gift to be a part of a show of this stature and depth. And to have it be my Broadway debut... all I can say is I am very fortunate!
2. Now could you tell us about how you get involved with Big River? You joined the production from the Broadway engagement, matter fact; it's your Broadway debut, isn't it? Tell us about your audition, your experience on Broadway, and also about the touring around the country. Could you tell us how has this show influenced your craft or life in general?
Yes, I joined the "family" on Broadway with the Roundabout production. The audition process was interesting. I was in CT, rehearsing for ME AND MY GIRL at Goodspeed Opera House, when I got a call from my agent for the audition. It was my only day-off that week, and I almost didn't go because of all the traveling and schlepping, and I really wasn't planning on leaving Goodspeed (An AMAZING place if you've never been...). But my better judgment told me to go...Mostly because I have LOVED "Big River" since I was a kid (In fact, The very first CD I ever owned was the Original Broadway Cast Recording with Dan Jenkins on it!).
I went into the first audition and had to sing "ARKANSAS" and read some sides for Jeff Calhoun and the Casting Director. I went back to CT for more rehearsal at Goodspeed, and I found out I had a callback...on MY NEXT DAY OFF!! Again, I went back to NYC, but this time for a "Sign"-call (Instead of a dance call, we had to learn part of the sign language from "WANNA GO TO HEAVEN"), and then that afternoon we had the big call-back in front of everyone (Producers, artistic staff, casting people...) to sing, sign and read sides. And that was it!! Pretty quick and painless!!
I got the call that night from my friend Jeremy who worked in the casting office, and told me I had gotten the show!!! I was screaming and jumping around the house all night! The realization of a lifelong dream... It was one of the most thrilling moments of my life!
The Broadway production was like a dream... the rehearsal process went very smoothly. Partly because they had worked out so many of the kinks in the 2 previous L.A. productions. There was so much energy in the room while rehearsing... and everyone knew we were a part of something special. I felt like a kid in a candy store!!
The invited dress rehearsal was on of the most exciting nights ever, and set the tone for the rest of the run... it was all friends, family, and casts from a lot of the other Broadway shows. And their amazingly enthusiastic response from them was intense! We knew we were in for a fun ride...
3. Is this your first time to join a national tour company? How is it to tour in one company for such a long time? Any interesting story you can share with us?
This is my first time on a National Tour, and the longest I've ever been with one show. But amazingly it hasn't gotten old!! The show requires so much concentration and focus, with the sign language and voicing, that it's not hard to keep it fresh!
It's also such a great group of supportive, loving people...a group that I have come to love as a family. We certainly keep each other on our toes.
We are always out having adventures and day-trips as a cast together...which has been a lot of fun, and a great way to see the country. Whether it's riding a horse at Dude Ranch in Texas, Sushi in Japan, wine-tasting in Napa Valley, or shopping ANYWHERE (especially if you go with Alexandria... our very own fashion guru!) ...we're always up for something new and fun!!
4. I love to see you in many different roles in this show (Ben Rogers, Andy, Voice of Young Fool, and Ronald Robinson). Do you have any favorite character and/or scene(s)?
That's a tough question....I don't know if I have a favorite.
But I can say that it is a lot of fun to dress up as Ronald Robinson: with the wig, the suit and the glasses. And then to look across stage and see Rod dressed up exactly the same, looking frighteningly like me...it's quite a trip! We certainly have a good time in the scene as the twins, and then to get to sing back-up with Rod to Melissa's beautiful version of "YOU OUTTA BE HERE WITH ME"... It's a great part of my show.
5. How long did it take you to master signing in the show? Are you pretty fluent in ASL now?
I've been signing now for about a year and a half now... and my lines in the show came pretty quickly with the Broadway company because I learned them like a dance step, and it became choreography for me.
I terms of learning the language, I have improved GREATLY since I first started, but have by no means mastered the language!!! I'm just glad to be at a conversational level with my friends in the show. I took ASL class in NYC between the Broadway run and the tour, but this cast has really been the best sign teacher! Always so patient and helpful.
I plan in the future to keep on taking class and continue improving my ASL skills, maybe even get up to interpreter level...it's a beautiful language and I really love it.
6. Could you tell us about your experience in Japan? What are the most memorable things you've done? Are there any particular things/places you liked the most?
I LOVED Japan...I wish we could have stayed longer. I especially loved the food. The fish was incredible...don't know if I'll ever have it as fresh again! And having grown up in Southern California, I felt right at home with the 4 earthquakes we had while we were there.
Some of my favorite places were Shibuya, Nikko, and Kamakura. The temples and the architecture were absolutely breathtaking. I also just loved going to work everyday...the crew in Japan were so kind, and fun to be with. One night they took us out to a Karaoke bar in Shibuya and we had a blast... who would have thought Karaoke could be so much fun?!?! The Japanese knows how to do Karaoke right!!!!
7. Here is a question from one of your fans I was asked to ask you: "In general with many shows, the ensemble isn't recognized at the stagedoor for autographs etc. When you are stopped do you enjoy the recognition?"
What an interesting question... I think every actor enjoys recognition on some level, but when you are a part of an ensemble piece such as BIG RIVER, it tends not to be as important. The message of the show is so much bigger than us on stage... we're just the enablers of a fantastic story/journey.
But to answer the question...yes I do enjoy the recognition ... I especially enjoy it when I know that the person has thoroughly enjoyed the show and appreciates everything that the entire group has put into it.
I also love when friends and family come to see it. Because even if I'm in a horrible show, they are always very supportive of me, no matter what. So they come and see BIG RIVER and FREAK OUT, because they love the show so much, and to see me be a part of something so great makes them love BIG RIVER even more! It's another testament to how great this show really is.
8. You've graduated from Orange County HS of the Arts, so you are a true "O.C." guy! (Do you watch the TV show? Do you reckon these things happen in O.C.? giggle) Could you tell us about the school (is it like the movie "Camp"?) and what kind of things you've done in the school? Do you still have friends and family in O.C.?
I am indeed an "O.C. Guy"... although I can safely say my life growing up was NOTHING like their lives on the T.V. show...unless they've added a new "Theater Geek" character that I'm not aware of. (Sorry, I've only seen one episode).
O.C.H.S.A. was a fantastic High School experience. And yeah, it was a little bit like the movie, CAMP. We went to a regular H.S. (Los Alamitos High) for our first 5 periods of academic classes, then went to another campus from 1:00-5:00 to take our Acting and/or Voice Classes. And then from 5:00-whenever we were always in rehearsals for various shows or projects or recitals. We did some intense shows for being in High School...some of them were: "ASSASSINS", "Commedia dell 'Arte", "SHE LOVES ME", "MY FAVORITE YEAR" etc... it was never your typical High School Spring Musical. It was a college level training program for 14-18 year olds!
The greatest part about it was I was surrounded by other kids who were just like me and also obsessed with Theater and acting. Which I think can be pretty rare for Theater-folk in a regular High School setting. I am still in very close contact with many of my friends from OCHSA, a lot of whom are still acting and succeeding in the industry!
My Mom still lives in Cypress, CA and my Dad now lives in North Carolina. I go back and visit So. Cal. as often as I can, to see family and friends. It will be very exciting for me when BIG RIVER plays the Ahmanson in Los Angeles in January...a place were my family and I used to go for years to see all the national tours from Broadway... it's another one of those childhood dreams being accomplished with BIG RIVER! Playing my hometown!
9. Do you have any message to the audience?
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I know the entire cast is so thankful for the support and love we get from the audiences who come to see the show. It can be very overwhelming at times to see how much this show touches people... and I am so grateful to be a part of it!!!
Thank you SO MUCH for participating in the Q&A session! See you again in Sacramento or sooner!
Copyright © 2004-2005 Light To Shine All Rights Reserved.
Go back to the Top Page
Return to the Message Main Page
