Norm Lewis

Norm Lewis (born June 2, 1963^[2]) is an American actor and baritone singer. He has appeared on Broadway and in London's West End, film, television, recordings and regional theatre. He is also noted for his wide vocal range.^[3] Lewis was the second African-American actor after Robert Guillaume to perform in the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera and the first one to do so in the Broadway production.^[4] In 2023, he reprised the role in the show's sequel, Love Never Dies, in the West End.^[5]

Lewis is also known for his many different performances as Inspector Javert in Les Misérables, first playing the role in the 2006 Broadway revival and later reprising the role in the West End, in the 25th Anniversary Concert, and at The Muny in St. Louis.^[6][7][8]

Some other major theatrical productions that he has been involved in include Porgy and Bess, The Little Mermaid, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.^[4]

Early life

Norm Lewis was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and grew up in Eatonville, Florida. He graduated in 1981 from Edgewater High School, Orlando.^[9] He worked at the Orlando Sentinel prior to his acting career.^[10]

Career

1992–2005: Early career, Broadway debut and Miss Saigon

Lewis credits the kickoff of his career to Ralph Petillo, who ran Theatre on Park in Winter Park, Florida.

Lewis was featured as Agwe in the Gateway Playhouse (Bellport, New York) production of Once on This Island in 1992.^[11]

Lewis made his Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy (1993).^[12] He was a replacement in Miss Saigon as John Thomas. In 1997, he originated the role of Jake in Side Show. He also appeared in Michael John LaChiusa's Broadway musical The Wild Party as Eddie Mackrel. Lewis was in Michel Legrand's short-lived musical Amour in 2002, which also featured Melissa Errico, Malcolm Gets, and Lewis Cleale. He played the racketeer Eddie Satin in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of Golden Boy in March 2002.^[13] He played Billy Flynn in the Broadway revival of Chicago in February 2004 and March 2004.^[14] He performed in several benefit concerts, including Dreamgirls (2001), Chess (2003), and Hair.^[14]

In 2005, Lewis starred in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park revival of a musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona.^[15] He played the role of Nathan in the Lincoln Center 2005 production of Dessa Rose.^[16]

2006–2013: Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, and Tony nomination

Lewis has played Javert in the musical Les Misérables several times. He first starred in the role in the 2006 Broadway revival, making him the first African American actor to play the role in a professional English-language production. He later reprised it in the West End production. At London's O2 Arena, he sang the role in the 25th anniversary concert of the show. Lewis again reprised the role opposite Hugh Panaro as Jean Valjean in The Muny, St. Louis production from July 15–21, 2013.^[6][17]

In 2007, he originated the role of King Triton in the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid.^[18] He went on to sing as King Triton on the original Broadway cast recording.

In regional theatre, he played the title role in Sweeney Todd, the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, at the Casa Mañana Theatre, Fort Worth, Texas, beginning November 10, 2009. He had previously played this role at the Signature Theatre in 1999.^[19]

Lewis was featured in the musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim, which premiered in the Roundabout Theatre's Studio 54 in 2010. The production, conceived and directed by James Lapine, also featured Barbara Cook and Vanessa L. Williams.^[20] His rendition of "Being Alive" was one of the evening's outstanding highlights.^[21][22]

Lewis appeared in a revised version of Porgy and Bess, as Porgy, first at the Loeb Drama Center (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in August through September 2011 and then on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starting in previews on December 12, 2011. This American Repertory Theater production was "re-imagined by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray as a musical for contemporary audiences."^[23] He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical at the 66th Tony Awards^[24] and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his performance.^[25]

Lewis released his first solo album, This Is the Life! in 2008 under the Seahorse Productions label.^[26] His other notable recordings include the cast recordings of Side Show, The Who's Tommy, the 1998 cast recording of A New Brain as Roger Delli-Bovi, Scott Alan's Keys and the 2001 New York cast recording of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens in aid of the Momentum Aids Project.

In 2012, Lewis joined the cast of the ABC political thriller television series Scandal, in the role of Senator Edison Davis.^[27][28]

In 2013, Lewis starred as Prospero in the Public Theater's PublicWorks Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest at the Delacorte Theater. He was one of five professional actors heading a cast of 200 community participants.^[29][30]

He is an investor in the company Lolly Clothing, which was created by his good friend and fellow Broadway actor Chad Kimball.^[31][32]

He appeared in the Stephen Sondheim-Wynton Marsalis staged concert for Encores! titled A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love Affair, at New York City Center, from November 13 to November 17, 2013. The concert was directed by John Doyle and also featured Bernadette Peters, Jeremy Jordan, and Cyrille Aimée.^[33][34]

2014–present: The Phantom of the Opera and further success

On May 12, 2014, Lewis assumed the role of the titular Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. This made him the first black actor to play the role on Broadway and the third worldwide.^[35] He succeeded Hugh Panaro and joined fellow returning cast member Sierra Boggess, who returned as Christine Daaé on the same date. On February 7, 2015, Lewis ended his tenure as the Phantom with a performance at the Majestic Theatre. Coverage in Playbill credited him for his "impressive Broadway resumé". Being succeeded by actor James Barbour, Lewis remarked that he had been a fan of the musical for many years and felt that obtaining the part finally had been akin to winning the lottery.^[4] Lewis is a recipient of the 2014 AUDELCO Special Achievement Award.^[36]

In 2016, Lewis reprised his role of King Triton for a live Hollywood Bowl concert production of The Little Mermaid. He also began playing Agwe in Once on This Island on January 8, 2018, at the Circle in the Square Theatre and played the role until March that same year.^[37] Lewis reprised his role of Sweeney Todd in 2017 in the Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street receiving an AUDELCO Award for his performance.^[38]

Lewis portrayed Caiaphas in the live televised concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar on April 1, 2018, Easter Sunday. In February 2019, Lewis played Harold Hill in the Kennedy Center production of The Music Man. When asked about appearing in the show, Lewis said "It’s one of those fun shows that is an American musical theatre classic, and I just think it is a good fit for me."^[39] Lewis was in the 2022 to 2023 North American tour of A Soldier’s Play as Captain Richard Davenport. In 2023, he reprised the role of the Phantom in the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, in London's West End.^[5]

Theatre credits

Sources: Lortel.org;^[44] PlayBillVault^[8]

Discography

• A New Brain: Original Cast Recording, 1998 (as Roger Delli-Bovi)
• Disney's The Little Mermaid: Original Broadway Cast Recording, 2008 (as King Triton)
• This Is the Life!, 2008
• Les Miserables In Concert (25th Anniversary Edition), 2010 (as Inspector Javert)
• Dracula, the Musical Concept Album, 2011 (as Abraham Van Helsing / John Seward)
• Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event), 2018 (as Caiaphas)
• The Norm Lewis Christmas Album, 2018

Film credits

Television credits

Awards and nominations

See also

• This Is the Life!

References

1. ^ Norm Lewis website:Bio Archived June 11, 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 6, 2009.
2. ^ "Norm Lewis". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
3. ^ "Music" Archived July 14, 2011 at the Wayback Machine Norm Lewis website, Retrieved November 6, 2009.
4. ^ Hetrick, Adam and Daniels, Karu F. "Norm Lewis Ends History-Making Engagement in Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera'". Playbill. February 7, 2015.
5. ^ Norm Lewis Will Lead LOVE NEVER DIES IN CONCERT at Theatre Royal Drury Lane This Summer
6. ^ "Cast of St. Louis Muny 'Les Miserables'". Playbill. Archived June 6, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ PHOTO CALL: Norm Lewis in London Les Miz
8. ^ "Norm Lewis Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
9. ^ Palm, Matthew J. (2014-04-12). "Norm Lewis inducted into Edgewater High Hall of Fame in Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-04-21. Lewis, [...] was a graduate of the Edgewater class of 1981.
10. ^ Pal, Matthew J."Norm Lewis Interview". Orlando Sentinel. August 27, 2010.
11. ^ "Playbill, 'Once On This Island'". Gateway Playhouse. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
12. ^ "Norm Lewis". Broadway.com.
13. ^ Gans, Andrew, Robert Simonson and Christine Ehren (March 21, 2002). "Encores! 'Golden Boy' Begin to Shine March 21". Playbill.
14. ^ "Norm Lewis Broadway credits". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
15. ^ Brantley, Ben (August 29, 2005). "Shakespeare in the Park Review; Enter 'Two Gentlemen' For a Sexy Sip of Sangría". The New York Times.
16. ^ Simonson, Robert (March 21, 2005). "La Chanze and Rachel York Bloom in Antebellum 'Dessa Rose', Opening March 21". Archived October 12, 2012 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.
17. ^ "BWW Exclusive: 'Les Miserables' at The MUNY Summer 2013 Scrapbook!". Broadwayworld. July 31, 2013.
18. ^ Gans, Andrew (November 29, 2007). "Mermaid Will Resume Nov. 29 and Will Officially Flip Her Fins Jan. 10". Playbill.
19. ^ Hetrick, Adam (October 23, 2009). "Lewis Will Attend the Tale of 'Sweeney Todd' at Casa Mañana". Playbill.
20. ^ Jones, Kenneth (March 19, 2010). "'Sondheim on Sondheim', a New Musical Reflection of a Life in Art, Begins on Broadway". Archived March 1, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.
21. ^ Suskin, Steven (April 23, 2010). "Review: 'Sondheim on Sondheim'". Variety. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
22. ^ "Sondheim on Sondheim". Entertainment Weekly. April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
23. ^ Gans, Andrew, and Hetrick, Adam (June 29, 2011). "Norm Lewis-Audra McDonald Porgy and Bess Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre". Playbill.
24. ^ Jones, Kenneth and Hetrick, Adam (May 1, 2012). 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Once Earns 11 Nominations". Archived May 7, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.
25. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 3, 2012). "'Once', 'Tribes', 'Follies', 'Salesman', Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein and More Are Drama Desk Winners". Archived June 6, 2012 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.
26. ^ Listing. Archived July 14, 2011 at the Wayback Machine, normlewis.com. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
27. ^ Gioia, Michael (August 17, 2012). "'Porgy and Bess' Tony Nominee Norm Lewis Lands Role on ABC's 'Scandal'", Playbill. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
28. ^ Furlong, Maggie (August 16, 2012). "'Scandal' Season 2 Casting: A 'Grey's Anatomy' Alum And A Broadway Star – Plus A 'West Wing' Reunion?". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
29. ^ Hetrick, Adam (September 6, 2013). "'The Tempest' Featuring Laura Benanti Norm Lewis and Todd Almond Sweeps Into Central Park". Playbill. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
30. ^ "PublicWorks 'The Tempest'". Public Theater. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
31. ^ "Norm Lewis", broadway.com.
32. ^ "Show People With Paul Wontorek: Norm Lewis On YouTube-ing Himself & the Ladies of B'way". YouTube.
33. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 11, 2013). "Norm Lewis and Jeremy Jordan Will Join Bernadette Peters in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis' A Bed and a Chair'". Playbill.
34. ^ Fullerton, Krissie (November 13, 2013). "Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis and Jeremy Jordan Debut Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis' 'A Bed and a Chair'". Archived March 2, 2014 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.
35. ^ [1] tumblr.com
36. ^ "Andre De Shields to Receive Audelco Special Achievement Award at 42nd Annual Gala, 11/17". Broadwayworld. November 13, 2014.
37. ^ Hetrick, Adam (December 19, 2017). "Norm Lewis and Tamyra Gray Joining Broadway’s 'Once on This Island'". Playbill.
38. ^ See Norm Lewis and Carolee Carmello Take Over in Sweeney Todd
39. ^ Why The Music Man’s Harold Hill Has Always Been Norm Lewis’ Dream Role—And How He Hopes to Bring It to Broadway
40. ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 27, 1999). "Norm Lewis Will Wield the Razor in Signature’s 'Sweeney Todd' Sept. 7-Oct. 31". Playbill. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
41. ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 24, 2009). "Murney, Blickenstaff, Lewis and More Will Sing Kander & Ebb in Arlington". Playbill. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
42. ^ Hetrick, Adam & Daniels, Karu F. (May 12, 2014). "Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess Join Broadway Cast of The Phantom of the Opera May 12". Playbill. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
43. ^ Children of Eden Manhattan Concert
44. ^ "Norm Lewis Off-Broadway", lortel.org. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
45. ^ Grobar, Matt (2023-06-28). "Vertical Acquires Crime Thriller Mother's Milk Starring Hilary Swank, Olivia Cooke & Jack Reynor". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2023-06-29.

External links

• www.normlewis.com
• Norm Lewis at IMDb