BWW Interviews: John Davidson on Returning to MAN OF LA MANCHA

Fresh from the Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, long time entertainer, TV host and stage performer John Davidson will be appearing as Don Quixote for the third time-this time with the new Ocean Professional Theater Company's (OPTC) production of Man of La Mancha.

BWW caught up with John to ask about this new theater company and his return to the role.

"It's so exciting to be part of something new and I have incredible respect for Steve Steiner (producing artistic director of OPTC)," Davidson says.

Interestingly, this is Davidson's second round playing the role for Steve who was the long-time producing artistic director at the Surflight Theater, Beach Haven, N.J., where six years ago, John play Don Quixote opposite Heather Provost as Aldonza. The two will work together again in the new production of Man of La Mancha at a new space with their familiar colleague Steve Steiner.

"I could go back to this role forever," Davidson shares. "There's so much here vocally and dramatically. It's challenging and full of history. It is also three roles in one while he is a man fighting for his survival. A very moving piece and to work with Heather again is just great."

After a NYC modeling career enjoyed while a student at White Plains High School, John attended Denison University where he spent 3 summer seasons with the Denison Summer Theater (30 shows) graduating with a BA in theater arts, then, on to Broadway where he played Burt Lahr's son in the musicAl Foxy. 
    
Pati Buehler: You have about 50 years of entertaining from theater to television to film to recording and concerting. To what or who do your attribute your success in so many facets of entertaining?

John Davidson: It goes directly to one man television producer Bob Banner who discovered me on Broadway in a production of Foxy and signed me to 5 year deal from 1965 -1970.  Banner's comments to me were, "you are going to have a multi-faceted career that we will design for you". I took tap dancing lessons. He taught me how to wear my hair, sent me to acting class, got me a record contract and 2 Disney films. He was also behind Carol Burnett's career. He helped me not only to become a singer/actor but how to play the role of "John Davidson," the person behind the character roles and how to be an entertainer.

John Starred in The HallMark Hall Of Fame version of The Fantasticks, playing Matt, he received The Theater Guild Award for his portrayal of Curly in the Broadway revival of Oklahoma, and he hosted The Kraft Summer Music Hall with regulars George Carlin, Flip Wilson, and Richard Pryor. Banner was also responsible for a Columbia Records contract which led to 13 albums and brought John to the major Las Vegas show rooms. During these years he also began starring in regional theaters, eventually playing Harold Hill in The Music Man, Starbuck in 110 In The Shade, Lancelot in Camelot, Billy in Carousel, I Do I Do, Will in Will Rogers Follies, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Charlie Anderson in Shenandoah, Cervantes in Man Of La Mancha, and Teddy Roosevelt in the one-man show, Bully.
 
On television John has hosted That's Incredible, The New Hollywood Squares, One Hundred Thousand Dollar Pyramid, The Tonight Show (80 evenings, more than any other singer), The John Davidson Daytime Talk Show, and various prime time specials and beauty pageants.

PB: Many people will remember your Hollywood Square days as well as the host of the "John Davidson Show" and filling in to host for Johnny Carson. What memories can you share from those?

JD: I hosted the Johnny Carson show about 80 times. I learned very quickly that you can't fill anyone's shoes. In theater Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell set the bar so high for Don Quixote and no one can fill his shoes. Meeting so many celebrities on Hollywood Squares taught me to learn to be myself. You've got to get your own shoes and wear them enough so that you are comfortable and then strive to be the best that you can be.

PB: Having been around show business for such an extended time, any thoughts or comparisons of then and now both in film and on stage?

JD: I hate when people look back on the "good old days" entertainment-wise and think times were better back then. I think actors and theater is better now than in the 50's and 60's. Vocal and acting skills are so wonderful. People are better trained and better schooled in the arts. By and large with each decade I think stage, films and entertainment gets better. It certainly is a diverse and different world. The quality of performances, the direction and productions are wonderful.  It is all going in a very exciting direction.

John will be appearing in Man of La Mancha with the Ocean Professional Theater Company at Bengal Auditorium, 180 Bengal Blvd. Barnegat, NJ, now through July 8. For tickets and upcoming shows visit www.oceantheatre.org or call 609.312.8306

For more information about John Davidson visit www.johndavidson.com.

Photo courtesy of Ocean Professional Theater Company.