Regarding the 'Guard' at ASU Gammage

Judson Mills and Deborah Cox
photo by Joan Marcus

by Jennifer Haaland

"Serendipitous and very full-circle cool," said Judson Mills describing his journey to the title role in the national tour of The Bodyguard, a musical  that plays ASU Gammage this week."From the opening gunshot forward it's very demanding.”

Mills' substantial body of movie and television work is on pause while he plays the "stoic, introverted" Frank Farmer.  Many remember the role played by Kevin Costner in the 1992 movie that also starred and featured songs recorded by Whitney Houston.

"One of the highlights of this thing for me is that Alex Dinelaris, who wrote the adaptation from the screen play to the stage, was my college roommate," said Mills, who also attended the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  "He was my first theatre buddy. We used to stay up late at Barry University in Miami, Florida, drinking Coors Gold and talking about winning Oscars and going to Broadway. And sure enough, here we are."

Though Mills trained classically and "came up in the theatre," as he described it, his career path led him to central roles in familiar primetime TV series in the '90s, including seasons of work alongside Chuck Norris in both TV (Walker, Texas Ranger) and a 2002 movie (The President's Man). Thematically then, his screen work fits right in with his Bodyguard role on stage.

The irony however, is not lost on Mills. Whereas he has honed his screen skills and he is cast in a role originally written for film, he needs to instead play live to thousands each night.

"All of my film and camera technique wasn't very useful," he said of his preparation to tour. "The bodyguard's job is to not be seen, to be observant and aware from a sort of disguised place. So to be true to this character, on a stage in a musical no less, is very hard.”

Explaining he's given himself some artistic artistic license, Mills said, "There are things I've developed--when I know Frank is going through something emotionally--where my body tells the story."

The story, as Dinelaris adapted it, still revolves around the Whitney Houston popstar character, Rachel, played on tour by Deborah Cox. Mills noted he and Cox are well-suited to play opposite one another because both, “are hungry for the work. Every night, [we are]...still shooting to give our best performance yet.”

“Her music is so iconic,” he said of Houston. “We've doubled or tripled the music content from the movie. It's really a celebration and a concert of Whitney Houston music alone, before the story. .And Deborah Cox is phenomenal. She gives you everything you're expecting.”

And how about Frank Farmer, body-guarding in the middle of a musical theatre extravaganza?  Does he sing?

“I have one song in the show - in a karaoke bar,” Mills said wryly. “There's a little comic relief in there. We make a bet and I lose. I sort of show her a bit of my vulnerability.”

Because the music is so overwhelming, Mills cautioned folks to watch for the subtle love story that’s developing as the bigger show elements surge forward. As almost a challenge, through a comparison to camera mediums, he invited the Gammage audience to look sharp while the music soaks in and the love story quietly burns during The Bodyguard this week..

“In film and television your focus is only required for a handful of minutes at a time. No matter how intense that scene was, there is a break or a cut. And no matter how long it was, it ain't two and a half hours! So, there's no break [in theatre] and obviously the unexpected takes place. It's a lot of fun and exciting to be on your toes for whatever comes. And stuff comes, trust me.”

CLICK HERE for more information on THE BODYGUARD at ASU Gammage