NR: OK, let's get to The Scarlet Pimpernel now. My daughter wants to know what song you sang for your audition.

JB: OK, I sang ...um, um... It was from Hunchback of Notre Dame - Quasimodo's big ballad....ugh! I can't even think of the name of the song! I'll come back to it. (Note: Before I left the theater I was handed a note from James - "I remembered the name of my audition song - it was "Out There.")

NR: I remember you came in in August, and they had just found out about the takeover. It was kind of a tumultuous time...

JB: Yeah, I was right there. In fact, I had my audition and my agent called me the next day and said, "Why don't you try on Gilles' costume." And I came to the theater and tried on his costume and he's a little bit bigger than me. And they didn't know what to do, they weren't sure. And finally when I got the official offer they decided to just make me a new costume because suddenly they had this influx of money and they had new producers.

NR: When you walked in, was the cast somewhat thrown? It was pretty much a crazy time.

JB: It was a little weird because people were just adjusting to the notion. They thought they were closing in a few weeks. So originally when I came in I thought I might have a job for three weeks. And I think I was one of the last people hired before Bobby (Longbottom) came in. It was a little odd. One of the nice things for me was that I knew so many people in the company. First of all I know Gilles and so that was nice. So I got a sort of "heads up" from him. But I knew James Judy and Liz Ward, and I went to college with Craig Rubano and I had worked with Allen Fitzpatrick. So, I walked into a family already.

NR: Well that explains something, because a couple of Leaguers had asked Douglas (Sills) when you first came in to rehearsal, "How's the new Armand?" And he said "cool as a cucumber." And he was very impressed when you walked in and were that cool.

JB: (laughing) That was one of the first things he said to me. He said, "There's just ice in your veins."

NR: So, it wasn't scary at all? This was your Broadway debut.

JB: Yeah, my Broadway debut. Can I tell you what? The scariest part of the first performance was never having done the costume change on the bridge. And I didn't do it. I had it inside out, I couldn't get my arm through. Now, we have new producers and new directors so we actually get full "put-ins" for the new people. When I came in, I just went to an understudy rehearsal. I had never done anything with Douglas. I actually had two rehearsals with Christine (Andreas) when we went through some of the book scenes which was nice. But, I had never been with everyone on stage, so ... I've never been a swing and I can imagine what a swing's life must be like, because you look at it from the outside and then you try to picture yourself there. But it's very different than when you're actually there. So, it was like that anxiety dream that every performer has where someone comes to you and says, "We're doing this show and I know you did it a couple of years ago. Could you just step in and do it?" And you're like "Oh, OK." And you don't really know it but everybody else does. And suddenly you're out there and there are 2000 people out there. Well, that's ACTUALLY what happened. And so, that was the scary part.

NR: So, rehearsal was fine, but it was on stage that it was tough?

JB: Oh, yeah, the rehearsals were fine. I watched and I knew the part. But when you get up there, it's just different....it's just different. And, so the fact that it was my Broadway debut came second to the fact that I had never really done some of these things, such as I had gone up on the bridge, but I had never gone up with everybody else and tried to get myself into the pants!

NR: OK, so you did see Gilles. How did you make Armand your own?

JB: I think one of the things about Armand is he's there to sort of serve. He's there to sort of help Marguerite and to help Percy, so I just think you listen and respond. And you just open yourself up. You know, I just use a lot of me. I think that's how you make it your own.

NR: How has he changed in the new version?

JB: I know some people say since I don't sing "You Are My Home" anymore that I sing less, but I actually think the part's better. I think the part's written a little stronger. Through the second act, once I come back, you definitely feel my presence through it. Like, in the seascape, before, I kind of disappeared through that whole thing, but now I get to stand up to Chauvelin a little more, which is good, and I also have a couple more opportunities to get laughs, which I appreciate because I do a lot of comedy stuff. So, that's just nice to have a couple of opportunities there.

NR: Were you prepared for the amount of enthusiasm from the League?

JB: No.

NR: Were you warned in advance?

JB: I was told. Yeah, I was told. It's amazing now, it really is truly amazing. It's this warmth and just complete support that I've never received before. This is my first real commercial show. A lot of the new shows I've done haven't been on this broad a spectrum. First of all I haven't been on Broadway, but also it's been a little edgier and this is truly commercial, and people just love it and have a great time.

The closing night of the old show was like Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was unbelievable! And when we were in the carriage, and Christine said, "Oh my God" and everyone said, "Oh my God!" - it was unbelievable!

NR: (laughing) Good, I'm glad you heard that.

JB: Oh, my God! It's amazing! It really helps. It's really a wonderful thing.

NR: What do you wish you had more time for, since you're so busy now?

JB: I wish I had more time to do stuff with "Five Floor Monica," my band. Socially, it's hard to spend time with my girlfriend, it's hard to spend time with my friends who work during the day because my schedule is opposite. But, I can't complain. I have a principal role in a Broadway show! I have no business complaining. (big smile) It's a good job.

NR: What do you want to do in the future?

JB: I want to just keep challenging myself as an actor. I just want to do more and more roles and just keep working. I want to do TV, I want to do film. I love singing, but my ambitions are as an actor. Not that I don't want to do any musical theater, but I want to sort of see what TV is like, and what film is like. I got to do my first TV thing because I did Law and Order which will be on February 10th.

NR: Oh, excellent. I'll tell everybody.

JB: It's just a little thing. But, I like challenges. I just want to keep it going. Lots of different roles.

NR: Great. Good luck!

JB: Thanks.

James was the first person to replace a principal cast member of The Scarlet Pimpernel and it took him no time at all to fit in. He was a joy to interview and I wish him the best of luck with his CD and his TV debut - both of which are coming in February.

Questions suggested by: Meredith, Courtney, Mary Helfrick, Farin, Kelly Honig, Colleen Rosati, Amy Gargan

Interview conducted and photographs by Nancy Rosati.