August 8, 2006

JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Heather Ferguson!

August 8th, 2006

Heather Ferguson

Jersey Boys Blog is excited to present an interview with Heather Ferguson, who is currently a swing cast member in Jersey Boys. Her past Broadway and national tour roles have been in Les Miserables and as an understudy in Cossette. Her regional and university theater appearances have included leads in Camelot; She Loves Me; and Annie Get Your Gun.

Heather talked about what sparked her interest in musical theatre, the excitement of being a member of the Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys’ cast, and lots more.

JBB: Congratulations to Jersey Boys for winning Best Musical! When you heard Julie Andrews announce your show as the winner, what were the first things that went through your mind?

HF: Thank you!

Well, if you watch that moment again, notice how Julie Andrews begins the word ‘Jersey…’ and it sounds like ‘Ddjjj…’ some of us were worried that she would say ‘D…rowsy Chaperone!’ That tiny moment felt like a whole minute for me! But in my heart, I kind of knew it would be us. It just felt right.

I happened to be really stressed that weekend, and at that moment all of the stress just went away. The whole cast was able to share that experience together. It’s extreme moments like that (wins, defeats, births, losses…) that have really brought us, as a cast eternally close to one another.

JBB: How did you become interested in musical theatre?

HF: My whole family always supported the arts. But it was my two older sisters that became involved with it. So I was exposed to theatre at a young age. I auditioned like crazy when I was around eight, but never got into anything. I would get too nervous at the auditions. But my parents supported me–driving me to voice lessons and acting camps. And when I was about nine, I made it into my first musical, “Snow White.” My sister was Snow White, and I proudly played the Squirrel! Woo hoo!

JBB: When you first read the script for Jersey Boys, did you think it was going to be a blockbuster hit? What kind of reaction did you think you would get from the audience?

HF: I didn’t get the script or know what the show was about before I started it. I was given a couple days notice to fly out from California to audition for Jersey Boys, and less than a week later, I was in rehearsals for it. I usually don’t start projects before I know what they’re about, so I was nervous. But it felt right. I put my trust in Des that he wouldn’t be a part of something that wasn’t great. I’m so glad I did! The second I read the script for the first time, and watched the actors in rehearsal, I got total goose bumps. I have never read or seen a better book to a musical in my life. It’s flawless, and from the first day of rehearsal, on, I knew I was a part of something incredible.

JBB: What is it about the story and the music that makes the audience feel so connected to Jersey Boys?

HF: Whenever you get the background information on someone, it’s so much more interesting to watch them perform. You feel you’ve taken their journey along with them. You feel as if you know them. This show is like an “E! True Hollywood Story”–only ten times more exciting because the story being told and the songs being sung are live and it’s all happening right in front of you!

JBB: What’s your favorite song in Jersey Boys?

HF: That is so tough. The lyrics in every song are just amazing to me. As a single girl, I love “Dawn” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” because I think their concepts and their stories are just so romantic. It makes me want a guy to think of me like that! Ah. And the lyrics are constructed just perfectly.

I also LOVE “Walk Like A Man.” It was the first Four Seasons’ song I had heard as a kid.

All the songs in the show tell such great stories, and you don’t get quality lyrics, mixed with a great sound like that in most of today’s music. The songs in Jersey Boys are timeless, and will appeal to audiences in centuries to come.

JB: What’s your favorite scene in Jersey Boys?

HF: I will always love “Dawn” with the Ed Sullivan video, as well as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” And, I think the “sit down” basement scene is brilliant, because a scene like that in musical theatre is so rare. But recently, I’ve been loving “Working My Way Back to You,” because I can dance to it in the wings like I’m at a rock concert, and it never gets old.

JBB: What would you like to do next in your career?

HF: I always want the same thing. I just want to create. No matter what I’m doing, I love being creative and learning new things. When I got my first Broadway show, after I had never worked professionally before, my sister looked at my paycheck and said, ‘Why are they paying you this much? Don’t they know you’ll work for magic beans?!’ And (for the most part) it’s true! I just love it all. And I’m open to anything! I will do whatever God has planned next for me. So, in the meantime, I’ll keep studying my craft and being grateful to be where I am.

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Heather Ferguson for taking the time for this fascinating Q&A session!

2 Comments »

  1. Great interview with another talented Jersey Boys’ cast member!

    Hope you guys will have other cast interviews soon!

    Comment by Mike — August 13, 2006 @ 1:11 pm

  2. Heather is a real treasure. She has such a good heart and is truly committed to practicing her craft. I am thrilled to see you have featured her in this interview. What a gifted young lady!

    Comment by David — September 4, 2006 @ 12:18 pm

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