A-LISTS theatre by bill biss
SEE ME. TOUCH ME. FEEL ME. B. SLADE COMMANDS THE LEADING ROLE IN SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE’S TOMMY
B. Slade, the artist formerly known as Tonex, has already spread his talented wings to major success. As a singer under that moni- ker, he was catapulted to great heights in the gospel music industry. His voice was recognized and awarded as “heaven sent” for his emotional and amazing quality in spreading the gospel message. His decision to come out as an openly gay man and shift his career aspirations to a wider range of appeal, as he has done now, is to be applauded.
San Diego native, B. Slade, elaborates for The Rage Monthly on his newfound passion as a singer, his starring role in The Who’s Tommy, and the most challenging aspects of portraying this “deaf, dumb and blind kid…who sure plays a mean pinball.” Describing this shift in his career, he shares excitement about his new CD, Diesel, and
the reasoning for his exodus out of the gospel music arena. “Oh my god, it’s been crazy. Absolutely crazy but all in all, it totally made me a more well-rounded and grounded individual, to say the least. It’s interesting, this new album coming out, is dropping on the preview night of Tommy. It was designed that way on purpose so that, once and for all, we establish…it’s really a whole new brand. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what Tonex as a brand offered, but once again, it was a big fish in a very small pond. It did me very well. At that time, it put me into gospel music superstardom. I just believe that my gift with acting, singing and writing is for the entire planet, not just for one particular demographic.” B. Slade is living proof that the spirit can move and inspire in any arena. He adds, “I’ve
learned to play to those who love what I do. I’m not trying to win over anyone new or convert anyone. I’m here to put my cards on the table and if there is a portion of my life and my music that identifies with you, I don’t get in the way of how you interpret it and I don’t spoon feed it. This is also a part of personal growth too. Now, my music sounds so much more free and happy. I feel like I have veteran knowledge but I’m a rookie in my approach.” This upcoming production of The Who’s Tommy at The San Diego Rep runs from July
16 to August 14. B. Slade shares some of his first memories of the ground-breaking musical. “I was first introduced to Tommy when I saw a clip of it in high school, when they were talking about various rock musicals of the 1970s. It was the Ken Russell film and Elton John in some big ass lumber boots (laughter) and it was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen. Later on, when I got older, I went and investigated the actual film. Honestly, besides Jesus Christ Superstar, it’s my absolute favorite rock opera. That’s how I fell in love with it and always wanted to be involved with the play in some type of way. I was very drawn to it. I guess I put that in the universe and next thing you know…” This collaboration with Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse is a charmed one at that.
The two are no strangers to working together in productions at The San Diego Rep. B. Slade explains this cosmic twist of kismet with his latest starring role in the Rep’s production of Tommy. “Woodhouse had been saying, after I did Dreamgirls and Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea, ‘I’m going to build something around you. I don’t know what it is
yet, but I need to build something around you!’ I said, “I’d love to do it.” That was in 2008 and three years later; he sent me a random e-mail which said, ‘I have an idea. Let’s meet.’ He pulled out the book for Tommy and I just about ran into a tree. I had always wanted to do this and he just offered it to me. ‘Here, this is yours if you want it!’” The San Diego Rep has coined this new production as a “revitalization of the musi-
cal.” Explaining this transformation, Slade continues, “I think it’s one of the first times that an African American has taken this lead role. It’s a universal casting versus a literal interpretation of the original libretto. That is going to make it that much more different and special. It originated here (at La Jolla Playhouse in 1992) and they took it to New York and then for it to come full-circle… it made perfect sense. At this stage in my life, I feel that I can play this role pretty well because of what I’ve experienced personally. As any earlier than this, I was still in transition and I don’t think I would have earned the right to portray this story and the character correctly.” The role of Tommy is a challenging one for any actor. B. Slade gives some of his thoughts on the hurdles associated with the part. “It’s not having the power to person- ally use my own ability to sing my way through it. This is one of those things where the character doesn’t really have that much to say. It’s more about how he reacts to what he hardly sees, hears and knows around him. It’s building up a limited depth perception, when I’ve never had those limitations. I’ve prepared by not turning on lights at night. Or wearing something over my eyes to get used to not seeing or putting cotton in my ears, that’s how I’ve been doing it. I need to feel how frustrating that would be. Personally, I think I’d rather lose my sight than my hearing. Music means that much to me. But for the role, to be blind and then deaf and mute and not be able to voice my frustrations… I know what that feels like both literally and symbolically, as a result of religion and dogma. That part, I do understand, it’s just translating how I felt and now physically making sure that the audience understands and senses that. It’s also an actor’s humility to know what you can do…and restrain it for the sake of this role.” To learn more about B. Slade, go to
bsladenow.com and
twitter.com/BSLADE.
The Who’s Tommy The San Diego Repertory Theatre July 16 to August 14 Call 619.544.1000 or visit
sdrep.org for tickets and additional information.
B.SLADE™ image courtesy Suxxess Records - photography: Lorenzo “Enxo” Burroughs 16 RAGE RAGE monthly | JULY 2011 monthly | JULY 2011
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