Jessica Biel Makes Musical Stage Debut
posted by Maggie's Nest at
7/29/2009 
Hollywood bombshell Jessica Biel will make her musical stage debut in "Guys and Dolls in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl" on Friday. She will play Save-a-Soul Mission Sgt. Sarah Brown and will act opposite Broadway's big star Brian Stokes Mitchell who plays her love interest Sky Masterson.
Nineteen years ago, Jessica Biel went with her mother to a voice lesson just because her mother could not find a baby-sitter for the 8-year old Jessica. It was the time that Jessica Biel's love for singing was born. However, it took her quiet a long time (18 films and a decade on the 90s hit TV show 7th Heaven) to "take her singing beyond the shower stall."
"I've struggled a lot in the last five years or so with my own insecurities, having done some film. Will I be accepted? Is my voice good enough? I think I finally feel confident enough to do it," says the 27-year old actress.
Confident as Jessica Biel is, the Frank Loesser musical classic is still giving creeps to the actress since there is an expected 17,000 audience who will attend the event. "Hopefully faceless people, 17,000 faceless people," the actress says with a laugh.
Playing the role opposite Brian Stokes Mitchell also adds to the pressure as Jessica says, "he's such a talent and his voice is strong. I definitely know I have to match him and not get swallowed up by his incredible sound. It is kind of a daunting idea. But working with that caliber of people, you have no choice but to take your game up to the next level and just bring it. I know that sounds dorky, but you really do."
When Jessica Biel auditioned for the musical play, the director Richard Jay-Alexander (who's world has only revolved in the theatre world) was not able to recognize her as "Jessica Biel, the Hollywood actress." It was only after the actress finished her audition that he came to know who she was so that he "got chills three times."
"Her voice is silvery. It glimmers, and the higher it goes, the more it shimmers. It's a very interesting instrument," says the impressed director.
But what makes one already famous Hollywood actress like Jessica Biel try musical stage plays which are far from the usually highly-promoted, big-budget films?
Jessica Biel says she just wants to be out of the box - expand her acting career from an industry that often limits the roles of beautiful women to screen-siren image.
"I just don't want to be in a box ever where anybody feels I can only do one thing, because it's boring. I feel I have a lot to explore and a lot to give and try and probably fail doing something, but I want the shot to do it.
"The only destination I'm hoping for is longevity. I want to be able to keep working until I'm 105 years old. I want the choice. It's difficult for women in general in entertainment. They peak earlier and the men peak at 30, 40. It's kind of scary. But you can't tell Meryl Streep she can't do a part. You can't say to Cate Blanchett 'I don't believe her in that.' They do anything they want because they have explored the range, which is endless for them. That's what I want."
Nineteen years ago, Jessica Biel went with her mother to a voice lesson just because her mother could not find a baby-sitter for the 8-year old Jessica. It was the time that Jessica Biel's love for singing was born. However, it took her quiet a long time (18 films and a decade on the 90s hit TV show 7th Heaven) to "take her singing beyond the shower stall."
"I've struggled a lot in the last five years or so with my own insecurities, having done some film. Will I be accepted? Is my voice good enough? I think I finally feel confident enough to do it," says the 27-year old actress.
Confident as Jessica Biel is, the Frank Loesser musical classic is still giving creeps to the actress since there is an expected 17,000 audience who will attend the event. "Hopefully faceless people, 17,000 faceless people," the actress says with a laugh.
Playing the role opposite Brian Stokes Mitchell also adds to the pressure as Jessica says, "he's such a talent and his voice is strong. I definitely know I have to match him and not get swallowed up by his incredible sound. It is kind of a daunting idea. But working with that caliber of people, you have no choice but to take your game up to the next level and just bring it. I know that sounds dorky, but you really do."
When Jessica Biel auditioned for the musical play, the director Richard Jay-Alexander (who's world has only revolved in the theatre world) was not able to recognize her as "Jessica Biel, the Hollywood actress." It was only after the actress finished her audition that he came to know who she was so that he "got chills three times."
"Her voice is silvery. It glimmers, and the higher it goes, the more it shimmers. It's a very interesting instrument," says the impressed director.
But what makes one already famous Hollywood actress like Jessica Biel try musical stage plays which are far from the usually highly-promoted, big-budget films?
Jessica Biel says she just wants to be out of the box - expand her acting career from an industry that often limits the roles of beautiful women to screen-siren image.
"I just don't want to be in a box ever where anybody feels I can only do one thing, because it's boring. I feel I have a lot to explore and a lot to give and try and probably fail doing something, but I want the shot to do it.
"The only destination I'm hoping for is longevity. I want to be able to keep working until I'm 105 years old. I want the choice. It's difficult for women in general in entertainment. They peak earlier and the men peak at 30, 40. It's kind of scary. But you can't tell Meryl Streep she can't do a part. You can't say to Cate Blanchett 'I don't believe her in that.' They do anything they want because they have explored the range, which is endless for them. That's what I want."
Labels: Jessica Biel
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