Tenor returns to Signature Theatre for ‘First You Dream’ shows

Nearly a decade after receiving a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his memorable performance in the title role of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd,” Norm Lewis returns to Signature Theatre for the world premiere of “First You Dream”: The Kander and Ebb Concert. The show honors the musicals created by one of Broadway’s most versatile songwriting teams. Along with Lewis, the cast of Signature favorites features Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Julia Murney and Matthew Scott. Eric Schaeffer directs and Jon Kalbfleisch conducts new orchestrations by William David Brohn.

“I was introduced to the Kander and Ebb style when I played Billy Flynn in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway, but some of the songs in this production are new to me,” Lewis says. “It’s an evening of vignettes filled with wonderful numbers from all their musicals. The title of this show, ‘First You Dream,’ comes from a song they wrote for ‘Steel Pier.’ A 19-piece orchestra is backing us in Signature’s beautiful new space, so the audience will feel as if they’re attending a spectacular concert.”

Lewis, one of theater’s most prolific performers, has worked steadily over the past two decades on stage, film and television. His starring role as King Triton in “The Little Mermaid” this past season topped off a string of Broadway musicals including “Les Miserables,” “Side Show,” “The Wild Party” and “Dessa Rose,” which brought him the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. When he was not singing on stage, he was shining in daytime drama, most recently as Assistant District Attorney Keith McLean in “All My Children.”

“I love all the shows I’ve been in for different reasons, right down to ‘Amour,’ which ran only two weeks after the previews,” he says. “I developed the character of the Painter and took a strong liking to him. A good story, a biography and comedy are the kinds of opportunities that tempt me. Favorite roles I haven’t yet done are ‘The Music Man’ and ‘The Phantom.’ ”

Lewis, a native of historic Eatonville, Fla., sang with high school and college choirs, but never regarded music as more than a hobby. All that changed after he graduated from Rollins College and was working in newspaper advertising. A producer heard him singing locally and offered him a job performing on Premier Cruise Lines. Heeding his supervisor’s encouragement, he accepted.

“While I was working on the ship, some of the people urged me to go to New York,” he says. “After deciding to try my luck, I became very disciplined and arranged my hours so I could attend every audition. Now when I do master classes, I advise the students how to prepare for auditions because this is a part of the system that I know very well.

“I prefer the stage because you get immediate reaction. When doing film and TV, you’re lucky to retake a scene if it doesn’t work, but it’s always in the hands of the editor and may not come out the way you like. On stage you’re in control and can feel the energy from the audience.”

Last year Lewis released “This is the Life,” his first CD featuring 11 songs that have influenced his life in some way. The title song from the show “Golden Boy,” one of his stage credits, is an apt description of Lewis in his prime.

“When I first came to New York, I sang 16 bars of ‘Before the Parade Passes By’ at all my auditions because it’s in a great key for me and I knew no other guy would sing it,” he says. “I booked every job. I was in a quartet with Eliza [‘My Fair Lady’] and have always been a fan of Tom Jones, so I chose ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly’ and ‘It’s Not Unusual.’ ‘Misty’ is my homage to Johnny Mathis and ‘Moon River’ is the ultimate song.”