Leslie Odom, Jr. Talks ‘Smash’by Wilson Morales
February 29, 2012
Currently playing on NBC TV is the new TV series,‘Smash,’ which revolves around the creation of a new Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. As the production takes shape, everyone involved in it must balance their often chaotic personal lives with the all-consuming demands of a life in the theatre.
Starring in the show are Debra Messing, Angelica Huston, Jack Davenport, Katherine McPhee, Christian Borle, and Megan Hilty as Ivy Lynn, a veteran actress who was favored to land the Monroe lead until Karen (played by McPhee) came into the picture, and finds herself competing with the newcomer.
Coming in for a recurring is newcomer Leslie Odom, Jr., who’s having the best start to a career after spending over 10 years of working on various theater productions.
Not only is he on TV, but he recently starred on the big screen opposite Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the George Lucas, Tuskegee Airmen film ‘Red Tails,’ and will also reprise his role in the musical play ‘Leap of Faith,’ which is coming to Broadway in the spring.
Blackfilm.com recently caught up with Odom, Jr as he spoke about his role in ‘Smash,’ and his career is going so far.
What role do you play on the show?
Leslie Odom, Jr.: I play Sam Strickland and he’s a dancer on Broadway, where he’s lives and tours like so many of my friends. I came up in this world and I know it so well. He has pressure from his family to get a real job. It’s something that so many of my friends have dealt. His father is a businessman and his brothers are doctors. With my character knocking on 30, they’re wondering how long will I continue as a dancer on Broadway. So Sam has his personal drama on the show. I think that when I’m inside of the character, he’s actually a guy that lives in the moment and is having a really good time right now. I don’t think he has given thought to 10-15 years down the road, which is unlike me. Sam is also best friends with Ivy, who’s played by Megan Hilty. They have been best friends for 10 years and met on the chorus of Chicago. The funny connection I have with Megan is that we actually have been dear friends for over 10 years. We both went to Carnegie Mellon together. We were a year apart and she’s one of the most talented people I’ve ever known. Now I get to watch her be introduced to America. She’s doing astonishing work.
As an actor looking for work, was TV a venue you thought you would do?
LO: Are you kidding me? This whole career so far has been wonderful and career is a hard word to say. I’m just now starting to use that word ten years into the game, but I wanted to do anything. I’m so surprised by this journey. I had no idea I would take this route. I went to theater school. When I came to New York at 17 and in a Broadway show, I was a practical kid. Even the Broadway thing was a shock to me. I was 16 when I started auditioning. I thought that if I started early in my career, I would retire by the time I hit 35. I couldn’t see beyond that. When I came to New York, there was another guy Michael McElroy who had done six or seven Broadway shows at the time and he managed to make a living on this and mentored me. He had gone to Carnegie Mellon so I went to Carnegie Mellon and then theater school. I wanted to be exactly wanted he had because it was all I knew. When I went to LA and there was interest in me to do television, I had no idea about this world and it’s been a surprise. Television, commercials, films, theater. I don’t care what it is. I feel privileged to make my living in this thing that I loved for so long.
You also did some work with Don Cheadle on ‘House of Lies.’ How much fun was that?
LO: It was life-changing. Nobody works harder than Don Cheadle on that set and he’s number one on the call sheet. He’s the first one there and the last one to leave. I came in as a recurring guest star and when they would come in and get us from our trailers to shoot our scenes, Don would be in the van every time. He actually was the first one in the van. His work is just great and exciting.
You will also be back on Broadway doing ‘Leap of Faith.’
LO: Yes. It starts in April and the opportunity to have ‘Red Tails’ in theaters and ‘Smash’ on TV and ‘Leap of Faith’ on Broadway is almost more than I can stand. The schedule with ‘Smash’ overlaps just a little bit so we’re desperately trying to make it work.
How was working ‘Red Tails’?
LO: That was great. I played Declan ‘Winky’ Hall and I can’t say enough on how grateful and thankful I am for that experience. I’m just humbled by it all. We shot ‘Red Tails’ nearly three years ago and for it to come out at this moment and to think beyond that, George (Lucas) had been wanting this on screen for 23 years. Had he made it when he had the idea, I wouldn’t have been anywhere near it. Anthony (Hemingway) was the director and he championed me to be a part of the film. I’m grateful for the steps on the journey.
‘Smash’ airs on NBC, Monday nights at 10pm
