James Royce Edwards is a San Diego native and received his B.F.A. in music, dance and theatre from Bringham Young University. James has recently finished up a seven month run off-Broadway with Altar Boyz and has toured with Mamma Mia, Hairspray, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Also: Footloose for the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista, California; Les Miserables for Theatreworks/USA; Fiddler on the Roof, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Cinderella for Robert Redford's Sundance Theater; The Scarlet Pimpernel and Children of Eden for Musical Theatre West in Long Beach; and a wonderful seven months in San Diego's resident company of Forever Plaid. Television credits include roles on NBC's "Passions," Sci-Fi Channel's "The Chronicle" and a special appearance on the "Rosie O'Donnell Show." James attributes all his success and happiness to God, his family and his incredible wife Karin.

Interviewed by Joanna Parson

When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
I kind of always knew that’s what I wanted to do, but didn’t really do anything about it until college. I do remember when I was about 8 or 9 and I went to see my older brother in a high school musical. I thought it was magical and I really wanted to be a part of the special experience I knew the actors were having up there. When I got to high school I wanted to participate in drama but I also loved to play sports, and they were both after school activities. I ended up singing in the school show choir and participating in football, wrestling, and volleyball.

You were an Eagle Scout! You went to Brigham Young University! You’re a Mormon! Some people may be surprised that a guy like you would drawn to musical theatre? Do you want to disabuse them of that notion?
You’d be amazed at how many Eagle Scout, ex-missionary, overachieving, crazy Latter-day Saints are actually in the biz. I have many friends from BYU who are very successful on the stage, on TV, and in the movies. I don’t know why I was drawn to musical theatre, but I was. I remember watching Les Miz when I was very young and being extremely moved and inspired. I wanted to be able to share that with others. I also couldn’t think of anything more fun to do with my life than always getting to be someone new and telling a new story.

Have you been able to find a supportive Mormon community here in New York?
There is a very supportive Mormon community here in NYC. Actually more so than anywhere else I’ve ever lived. There’s something about living in the city that seems to bring families and people together to support one another. But I have found that the whole theatre community is like that here in NYC. It’s a much different feeling than LA. I’ve really felt a strong sense of camaraderie and support amongst my fellow artists here, whether they be huge celebrities or newcomers to the biz.

How do you think your religious background helps you as an actor?
My religious background helps me as a person which in turn helps me as an actor, especially with the whole business side of the biz. Actors have to handle a great deal of rejection and criticism and my faith helps give me a sense of security and a good grasp of who I am and what is important in life. This may sound cliché, but I really don’t sweat the small stuff when I’m looking at the bigger picture of what life is about and what really matters.

You’re just finishing up a six-week run in Altar Boyz, the off-Broadway hit about a Christian boy band group. Did you have any negative reactions from family or friends about the show’s sweet-hearted goofing on religious stereotypes?
I actually just finished up a 7 month run with the Boyz. I did 5 1⁄2 months as “Luke,” and 6 weeks as “Matthew.” I loved the show and thought it was not only hilarious, but had lots of heart and a great message. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it if it made fun of what others hold sacred. The whole direction of the show is such that the Boyz are completely sincere about their faith and devotion. That’s actually what makes it so funny. None of my family, who came numerous times, had any negative reactions whatsoever. True, there were a token few who would get up and leave many a night, but overall, the show was very well received by rabbis, priests, and nuns alike.

James with John Pinette in Hairspray

How did you first audition for your role in Altar Boyz?
I was first asked to audition for the Boyz back when they were about to begin their off-Broadway run. The director, Stafford Arima, saw me do the role of “Ren” in Footloose at the Sacramento Music Circus and thought I might be a good fit for the show. I flew back and forth from California a half dozen times and ended up not getting the one role that was open, “Matthew.” I got a call from Hairspray with a job offer on the same day I found out I didn’t have a job in Altar Boyz and I ended up going on the road with them instead. 7 months later, I got a call from the Boyz, saying that the role of “Luke” was opening up. It was a much different character, but they wanted to see what I could do with it. I went in and gave it my own interpretation (a kind of cross between Marky Mark and Joey from ‘Friends’), and the rest is history. A while after that, Scott Porter, who played “Matthew,” left the show for another project and they asked me to take over that role for a little while. Both were a lot of fun.

You studied dance extensively in college. How important has dance been for you? Do you still take classes?
I wish I had started dance earlier. It is sort of the bane of my existence. I did karate and some gymnastics growing up, but when I got to college and took my first dance class, I was in way over my head. I’ve worked my butt off to get better and I can usually get the choreography into my body after a little while but I still wish I had been doing it since I was little. If I had time to take classes I would.

How did you first begin training vocally, and do you continue to train?
I started singing my sophomore year in high school when I had to choose an elective class for that year’s schedule. I figured choir meant no homework and a 4 to 1 girl to guy ratio. Excellent! Anyway, one thing led to another and here I am. I took private voice all throughout college, but haven’t taken since. I’ve honestly been on the road so much since then that I haven’t really been able to find someone who I could see on a regular basis, although I think it would be very good for me. I think that doing a variety of different shows can teach you a lot about your own voice and the stage has been the best classroom for me these past years.

You were the lead in Star Child, a religious-themed musical filmed for television and distributed at many Church of the Latter Day Saints bookstores. What should actors know about the Christian entertainment market, and how to keep informed about what kind of work is available?
First of all, Star Child is going to be that film that they show on Jay Leno to embarrass me if I ever make it big. I actually don’t know a whole lot about the Christian entertainment market. It was my goal to not separate myself from the rest of the entertainment community as a Christian actor but to try to bring myself up to a high professional standard and share it with the world while remaining true to what I believe. I think there are some exceptional films and television programs made for the Christian market and I tip my hat to all those who have been able to bring that into the mainstream as well.

You met your wife in college. How have you been able to keep your relationship strong throughout the traveling you’ve done for touring productions? Many theatre couples spend long periods of time apart, but you’ve managed to do some touring together.
Yeah, I’ve spent most of my married life, over 7 years, on the road. My first tour was doing an original version of Les Miserables for Theatreworks/USA. That one was a little tough to bring the misses along because we were packed into vans driving around the country. But Karin would come out wherever I was every couple of weeks. Since that tour we have always been able to be on the road together and take our Chihuahua, Chispa, as well. My wife is a research psychologist and can do her work wherever she has a computer and is near an airport. So for Mamma Mia, Hairspray, etc…, we were always together. Actually she would usually end up doing something with the different companies as well, like merchandise. We’d usually have to book our own travel and housing because of the dog but it really wasn’t a problem. It’s been a fun adventure for us both. I know lots of couples make their relationships work even through long periods of separation, but it’s not for us.

You’ve developed a second career as a physical trainer. Why do you think this is so complementary to your acting career? Are you using similar skills in both professions?
I first got my personal training certification while on the road with Mamma Mia. I had lots of friends in the company who wanted to train with me and I wanted to do things right. I researched which certifications were the most widely accepted and I ended up going with ACE, the American Council on Exercise. I studied really hard and took the certification exam in 2002. Since then I’ve trained people in Hairspray, Wicked, Tarzan, Altar Boyz, etc… More than extra money, it has been a great thing to strengthen friendships. I also get a lot of personal satisfaction from helping others reach their health and fitness goals. I really feed off the positive energy it brings and I think it benefits me as much as the person I’m training.

What are the biggest mistakes actors make in terms of their own physical fitness?
I think a lot of actors don’t eat right when they are doing a show, especially a very physically demanding one. They either eat too much, or too much of the wrong things while on the road, because it can be difficult sometimes. Or actors, don’t eat enough of the right nutrients to replenish their bodies of the things their bodies burn during the show. During Altar Boyz, for instance, I knew that I was going to be burning a lot of extra calories, and that I would need to eat a lot more protein or my body was going end up eating it directly from my muscles.

I would also recommend that actors continue to do different forms of activity or exercise while they are doing a show, but don’t overdo it. They figure, hey, I’m doing this crazy aerobic show, I don’t need to do anything else to keep in shape. The truth is, the body will adjust to the demand you put on it, and then you will begin to plateau. It’s then that you can see, while eating the same way, you might start to put on weight or begin to feel fatigued. Continuing to exercise outside of the show is good for the psyche and body. But it is essential that you get plenty or rest each night. This is when your body recuperates, and your muscles grow.

Finally, don’t drink alcohol or smoke if you really care about your body.

Down to brass tacks—how do you get those washboard abs?
Awww shucks. To see my abs it took mainly will power. I got hired in Mamma Mia and I realized that I was going to have to spend most of the show with my shirt off in front of thousands of people each night. This was the motivation that I needed to say, hey, I’m finally going to do something about getting my midsection like I always wanted. I quit eating junk, except for my free day, once a week where I eat whatever I want. I ate a lot more protein, and I trained my abs 2 or 3 times a week. There is no magic formula, it just takes time of being consistently disciplined. (I wrote an article about Ab training that is coming out in next months issue of Maximum Fitness Magazine if you want more specifics. Sorry about the shameless plug.)

Many actors who are developing secondary careers are afraid of splitting their focus when it comes to self-promotion, division of resources, et cetera. How do you keep two careers running smoothly without losing track of your dreams?
I am so blessed to have lots of support. I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends who believe in me and support me. My personal training and acting seem to go really well together. I get to keep myself in shape and network with other artists at the same time. As an actor I want to look and feel my best when I present myself and being a personal trainer also motivates me to stay in great shape. So one career really seems to compliment the other.

Actors are faced with lots of decision-making—should I take this role or that, should I continue to tour or stay in one city, do I believe in the message that this project is conveying. How do you make decisions that best promote your career and help you, as Oprah would say, to live your best life?
You have to trust your gut. There is more to life than just work. I’ve seen many people who have been on tour for a long time and are making a lot of money but are miserable. They might mention that they really want to leave but are scared to because of the uncertainty of this business. I don’t think you should ever make decisions based on fear of the unknown. Instead I personally try to take stock of what I really want out of life and what will really bring me and my family happiness, and then I go after it. You only get one life, there is no dress rehearsal. I think if you feel like theatre is your calling then you need to trust that spirit that has inspired you. It’s really hard to do it alone sometimes, so again I say surround yourself with those you love and you know love you too. Trust their advice when you’re too close to something to see clearly. In the end, I believe if you stay true to what your heart is telling you, you will be happy, no matter where it might take you.

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