Justin Keyes adds a touch of sexy passion to his role in DTC’s stirring production of ‘Les Miserables’
JUST JUSTIN | Keyes appears in ‘Les Miz,’ but it’s not his first time on Dallas stages — he was in ‘Give It Up!’ at DTC and toured with ‘Mary Poppins’ at Fair Park Music Hall. (Photo courtesy Karen Almond)
ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Executive Editor
Dallas Theater Center’s acclaimed rendering of Les Miserables has been praised for all the invigorating changes made by director Liesl Tommy, especially the modern dress. But if you’re paying attention, there’s one big change that improved upon the show immeasurably: The character of Marius is interesting for once.
Marius — the starry-eyed lover-boy whose main purpose seems to be cooing and singing love songs, and surviving until the end — has always been a dramatic blind spot in the musical. To paraphrase Tolstoy, saccharine love affairs tend to all look alike. We have Justin Keyes to thank for upping the game.
The out singer and actor not only brings a beautiful voice (and handsome face) to this diverse and talented cast, but his passion makes a three-dimensional person out of the stereotypical moon-faced romantic.
“That was part of our discussions with Liesl in the beginning,” Keyes says over a cappuccino in the Arts District. “All these characters are very well-known, and we were [concerned] about them not becoming stock versions of Les Miz. What happens with lovers in musicals is, a lot of their language is so grand [we disregard it]. We decided to activate that language more.”
He readily admits the modern dress element no doubt contributes to the way audiences relate so emotionally to the characters.
“There is a little bit of a disconnect” when actors are in period dress, he agrees. “I love the costuming in this production obsessively. It’s probably my favorite thing” in the show, he says.
This isn’t Keyes’ first foray into the Dallas musical theater scene. He created the role of Tyllis, one of the basketball players in the original musical Give It Up!, which eventually moved onto Broadway with the title Lysistrata Jones. And before that, he toured with Mary Poppins at Fair Park.
“I’m two-for-two at [the Wyly],” he says. “One of the things that caught my eye [in the audition notice] was that I was familiar with the theater [from Give It Up!]. I like the idea that I did one show here that was a brand new work, and now a modern classic that everyone knows.”
Keyes talks about musicals with the intensity of someone who takes them very seriously. He’s interested in the use of language, how songs can be used to illuminate character and advance plot, and how powerfully a scene can communicate information. (“I find myself being especially vigilant when I talk about Les Miz, because so many people know it even better than I do!” he says.)
Keyes may also look familiar to local audiences for a different role — one not on a stage, but on TV. Keyes filmed an HIV public service announcement for the Logo network (he played a man whose partner was trying to convince him to have unprotected sex) that aired frequently during RuPaul’s Drag Race. But it was his co-stars who got most of the attention: They were Avenue Q puppets.
“That made me quite a celebrity for a while!” he laughs. “It was so hilariously written, but it was great to raise awareness. And those puppeteers I would put up against the best improvisational actors. It was a real education working with them.”
He’s not just a fan of Dallas because of his career highlights here. Despite being a native of the cooler climate of Northern California, Keyes is a fan of the city.
“Dallas reminds me of California, other than the heat and the politics. I love the food and the people, and all the development, even since I was last here,” he says. But there’s one part of the experience he feels he’s missing out on.
“I’ve been told this is a mild summer [for Dallas], but I’m ready for the 110 degree weather,” Keyes says with an absence of caution.
You can say that, Justin. But trust us: It’s better this way.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 1, 2014.