PHX Stages Q/A: Cambrian James

Cambrian James

Cambrian James doesn't seem to ever stop working. In the past eighteen months he's directed and choreographed The Wizard of Oz,  My Fair Lady, Forever Plaid, Footloose, Phantom and 9 to 5 at Hale as well as both Shrek and 42nd Street at Desert Stages, choreographed Hairspray and Thoroughly Modern Millie for Mesa Community College, and also provided hair and make-up designs for a half dozen other Hale productions. 

But James is a gifted actor as well, having recently graced the Hale stage in 2013 as Edna in Hairspray, in 2012 as Daddy Warbucks in Annie and also as the King in The King and I. The multiple ariZoni winner has his latest production, Disney's Tarzan, opening at Hale this week. And even though he's a very busy guy he took time to sit down and answer some questions just for readers of PHX Stages.

NAME: Cambrian James

WHERE YOU WERE BORN AND/OR RAISED: I was born and raised in Encino Ca.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO ARIZONA? We couldn't afford a house in Ca. It was right at the peak of the housing boom. We were paying $1200 a month for a 600 square foot duplex in Burbank. I was done with the people and politics of theatre in L.A. So we moved here for the affordable houses. Who knew there was this much theatre in AZ?

WHAT YOUR PARENTS DID FOR A LIVING: My dad was the plant manager for a major pool supply company and my mom worked for Trader Joes for 30+ years up until she passed away in 2013

SIBLINGS: I have 4 brothers. All married with kids, living in CA.

FAMILY/CHILDREN: Just me, my partner Laszlo and our two Miniature Australian Shepherds, Jessie and Rocco.

DAY JOB: I work part time at Le Studio Salon in downtown Mesa. But I don't do hair. So don't ask.

James, second from left, in A Chorus Line
The Candlelight Pavilion, Claremont CA - 1993

FIRST SHOW YOU EVER SAW: The first non-professional show I remember seeing was Los Angeles Community College's production of A Chorus Line. I was like 13. I was mesmerized. Then I saw the touring production of My One And Only with Tommy Tune and Sandy Duncan. I was hooked.

MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO PERFORM/DIRECT FOR A LIVING: After seeing that production of A Chorus Line I knew this is what I need to do. It wasn't until I was older and had done a lot of shows and started choreographing that I realized I wanted to direct. My vision would stop when the dancing stopped. I wanted to see my vision all the way through the production.

THE ONE PERFORMANCE YOU ATTENDED THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET: I remember seeing a production of Les Liaisons Dangeruses with Frank Langella and Lynn Redgrave. At the end of the play the angry mobs were coming for Lynn Redgrave's character. You could hear the pounding on the door from off stage left. You could actually feel it. When the mob finally broke through the door, Ms Redgrave turned her body toward stage left as this flood of red light traveled from stage left to stage right. And just as the light got to her at center stage she jerked her body as if being hit by this wall of light. The audience gasped. It felt like all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. I will never forget that moment.

FIRST STAGE KISS: My first stage kiss was during the kissing dance in Cabaret. We had to dance while remaining in a lip lock. Then we switched partners and kissed other people. I ended up with another boy which provided a little moment of comedy.

BEST STAGE EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD SO FAR ACTING? DIRECTING?: The best acting experience would have to be Hairspray. I loved doing that show. And the best directing experience would be Scarlet Pimpernel. That show just came together so perfectly. I loved every minute of it. But the most amazing moment for me on stage was when I was in the ensemble of a production of Brigadoon. The bag pipe player got stuck in traffic and wasn't there to play for the death dance that Maggie does over Harry Beaton's body. The dancer playing Maggie started her dance without any music, and then all of a sudden the orchestra just started to improvise the music. Nobody on stage had any idea what was going on. I swear we all held our breath the entire dance number. It was the most amazing thing that has happened to me in theatre.

with Megan Power in Hairspray

Hale Centre Theatre - 2013

photo: Daniel Sontag

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FUN OR FULFILLING ASPECT OF YOUR CURRENT/MOST RECENT SHOW?: The most recent show I directed was Disney's Tarzan at HCT, that opens this week. There were so many challenges involved with this show. It's Tarzan! He has to swing from vines, and we're in the round. You do the math. But we figured it out, and I think the show looks beautiful. We've transformed the theatre into the African jungle. There are so many talented actors in this show who went the extra mile to make it all believable. But the best part is the actor who is playing Tarzan played my son several years ago in King & I. He's all grown up now, and I'm a very proud papa.

MOST CHALLENGING ROLE YOU HAVE PLAYED ON STAGE? MOST CHALLENGING SHOW YOU'VE DIRECTED?: The most challenging role I've played on stage would have to be Bobby in Crazy For You simply because I am so much like the character. I think it's harder to play someone who is so much like you. It's much easier to play a character that is nothing like you. You can get lost in the character. With Bobby, that was basically me out there. And the most challenging to direct was probably Blackbeard The Musical. It was a brand new musical. Changes were still be made while we were in rehearsal and the writer was using the production to try and get backers for Broadway. So there was a lot riding on putting together a good show.

ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT?: Why yes, I'm glad you asked. I will be directing the murder mystery, musical comedy, Something's Afoot at Hale. And then after that some things at Desert Stages and Mesa Community College and possibly some more at Hale.

Annalise Webb and James D. Gish in My Fair Lady
Hale Centre Theatre - 2015
photo: Nick Woodward - Shaw

WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO DIRECTING AFTER ORIGINALLY BEING AN ACTOR?: It was a natural progression. I went from acting to choreographing to directing. I've never directed and had someone else choreograph. I'm not sure I would enjoy that. I like being in full control.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST SHOW YOU DIRECTED AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT THAT YOU STILL USE TODAY?: The first show I directed was a musical review and I tried to direct every single moment of the show. I didn't let the actors put their own personality into it. I don't do that anymore.

LEADING ROLE YOU'VE BEEN DYING TO PLAY?: I really want to play Bill Snibson in Me And My Girl.

LEADING ROLE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX YOU WISH YOU COULD PLAY: Mama Rose in Gypsy.

SHOW(S) YOU ARE DYING TO DIRECT: Merrily We Roll Along, Side Show, A Chorus Line, Chicago.

GUILTY PLEASURE SHOW YOU'D LOVE TO DIRECT: Steel Magnolias

PRE-SHOW RITUALS OR WARM-UPS: Don't really have any rituals but I do like to have a little quiet time on the stage of a theatre I've never worked at before to soak up the energy of the space.

WORST ONSTAGE MISHAP: I was playing Riff in West Side Story. We were doing the Dance at The Gym. My dance partner went to the floor to prep for a lift. As I went to lift her I stepped on her dress and when I pulled her up I ripped her dress clean off her body.

The King and I -with Alaina Beauloye

Hale Centre Theatre -2009

Photo credit: Wade Moran

WORST COSTUME EVER: I was a tap dancing Penguin in a Christmas show. Hated it!

BEST COSTUME EVER: Any of the costumes I wore in The King & I. They were like wearing pajamas.

YOUR GO TO AUDITION SONG: "Grand Knowing You" from She Loves Me.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND CATCH ANY PERFORMER OR SHOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would love to have been at the opening night of A Chorus Line on Broadway. That show changed the way shows were produced on Broadway. There were things in that show that had never been done before. That show has meant a lot to me in my life. Plus it was my mom's favorite show to watch me in.

FAMOUS PAST STAGE OR SCREEN STARS YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE PERFORMED WITH: Bette Davis and Bob Fosse

ACTOR/ACTRESS IN THE PHOENIX AREA YOU'D LOVE TO PERFORM WITH AND/OR DIRECT: There are way too many to name. So many talented people here in the valley.

YOUR PERSONAL ACTING IDOLS: Meryl Streep

PERFORMER YOU WOULD DROP EVERYTHING TO GO SEE: All the good ones are dead.

FAVORITE PLAYS: Gods Favorite, House of Blue Leaves, Noises Off

FAVORITE MUSICALS: Merrily We Roll Along, A Chorus Line, Side Show, Evita

SOME FAVORITE MODERN PLAYS/MUSICALS: Spamalot, Full Monty

FAVORITE SHOWTUNE OF ALL TIME: "Don't Rain On My Parade"

MOST LISTENED TO MUSIC ON YOUR IPOD: Whatever shows I'm doing at the time. I don't listen to a lot of popular music.

FIRST CD/TAPE/LP YOU OWNED: The soundtrack to the movie Grease

LAST GOOD BOOK YOU READ: Book?

MUST SEE TV SHOW: How To Get Away With Murder

Vinny Chavez, Jesse Thomas Foster, Geoffrey Goorin,
Jessie Jo Pauley, and Teddy in The Wizard of Oz
Hale Centre Theatre - 2015
photo: Nick Woodward - Shaw

LAST GOOD MOVIE YOU SAW: Into The Woods

FAVORITE MOVIE: All About Eve

MUSIC/BOOK/MOVIE THAT MAKES YOU CRY: Any Karen Carpenter song/Book?/Stella Dallas

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE VALLEY: I don't really have the time to go out to eat but I like Cafe Rio and Oregano's

FAVORITE CITIES: New York, Encino, Lahaina, Santa Fe

SPORTS TEAM YOU ROOT FOR: I don't really "root" but being from LA my family are all Angels fans, so I guess the Angels.

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE PEOPLE: I do all my own stunts

SPECIAL SKILLS: I can flare my nostrils

CAREER YOU WOULD WANT IF YOU WERE NOT A PERFORMER/DIRECTOR: A book store owner, like the store in You've Got Mail

with Haley Reed in Annie
Hale Centre Theatre - 2012
photo: Wade Moran

WORST NON-THEATRE JOB YOU'VE EVER HAD: Urgent Care receptionist

BEST NON-THEATRE JOB YOU'VE EVER HAD: Worked in a costume shop, wait I guess that is kinda theatre related. At 18 I worked in a pizza restaurant with my brother. I liked that too.

THREE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Love, Laughter, Family

WORDS OF ADVICE FOR ASPIRING PERFORMERS: Know your craft. Get good training. Point your toes.

WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THEATRE IN PHOENIX: That there is so much of it and it's all so different.

WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE CHANGED/IMPROVED/DIFFERENT ABOUT THEATRE IN PHOENIX: People need to remember that we're all in this together. Stop trying to bring each other down. Worry about yourself.

INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO 10 QUESTIONS:

1. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORD? Pusillanimous
2. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE WORD? Can't
3. WHAT TURNS YOU ON? Intelligence
4. WHAT TURNS YOU OFF? Ignorance
5. WHAT SOUND DO YOU LOVE? An Orchestra tuning up
6. WHAT SOUND DO YOU HATE? A vacuum cleaner, the bass from the car next to me at a stop light, barbershop quartet.
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CURSE WORD? Cunt. Because people hate it so much.
8. WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOURS WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEMPT? Jockey
9. WHAT PROFESSION WOULD YOU NOT LIKE TO DO? Gynecologist
10. IF HEAVEN EXISTS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR GOD SAY WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE PEARLY GATES? Places!