Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Cory Jeacoma About Making His Broadway Debut

Cory Jeacoma’s journey to Broadway is an inspiring tale for anyone who has ever dared to dream. At a young age, the gifted actor-musician set his sights for Broadway. He knew if he worked harder than anyone else, he would one day take that stage. From busking in Central Park to performing at regional theaters around the country. This past September, Cory made his Broadway debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Pop Culturalist caught up with Cory to chat about his beautiful performance as leading man Gerry Goffin.

PC: You’ve said in past interviews that there was a time when you were busking in Central Park just to make rent. Now, you’re here making your Broadway debut. Have you had time to reflect on everything that you’ve accomplished?
Cory: [laughs] A couple of weeks ago, I did an interview with Playbill.com called “Elevator Pitch.” We were at 54 Below, a restaurant that I used to work at. I’m constantly having to take the train to Columbus Circle, which is where I would take my guitar out to see if I could make a couple extra bucks. I’m in the city that’s constantly reminding me where I started and how hard I’ve worked. I want to say it’s surreal, but I knew this was going to happen. I knew that I was going to work for this. I knew that no matter how hard it was going to be and how much work it required, I was going to put in the work because I wanted it. I can’t really use the word “surreal,” but I’m constantly having to pinch myself that it’s happening. It’s incredible. To do it with such an incredible show and an incredible company, it’s not surreal, but it’s wild. It’s beyond my dreams.

PC: Were there ever moments of doubt? How did you overcome those?
Cory: There’s always doubts in this industry. With the closing looming, there’s doubt coming in with every show. I’m having a bit of trouble right now staying present—not on stage so much, but actually off stage when I go home after the show, and I have to check off another show. It’s like, “All right, now we’ve got eighteen.” It’s just ticking down. Staying present is a requirement in this industry because if you’re thinking too far ahead, then you’re going to miss the moment that’s right in front of you. You have to want this. You have to want this more than anything in the world. Whenever kids come to the stage door that are about to go to college or young kids that are in a performing arts program or people my age, they ask, “What’s the best piece of advice you’ve got?” I say, “Be a good person. Work hard because everyone’s talented. The only thing that will set you apart is how hard you work. The third thing is you have to want this more than anything in this world. This industry is hard. It beats you down. [laughs] I know that I can’t do anything else. I don’t want to do anything else. This is the thing that I’m passionate about. This is the thing that I believe I was put on this earth to do. It’s that sort of stuff that I have to remind myself if I ever become doubtful or if I’m beating myself up about a bad audition because they are lots of bad auditions. [laughs] Doubt is inevitable, but it’s how you work through that doubt and how you come out on the other side that matters.

PC: What is it like knowing that you’re going to be the last actor to play Gerry on this stage? Does that bring any added pressure?
Cory: Not so much pressure—it’s more excitement. I’m very excited for the people that are going to be coming into the theater these last few weeks. Getting to play Gerry is an honor as it is, but to get to close a company that’s had such incredible artists playing this role—Evan Todd, Jake Epstein, and countless other guys who were phenomenal in the role—it’s been incredible. To get to close it, I’m hoping Carole comes to see the show. Also, now people are getting to come see it. It’s always that show that people were like, “I’ll get around to see it.” Now that it’s closing, people are coming to see it. I’m getting to tell this story for packed houses, which has been freaking incredible. Being the last Gerry is pretty freaking cool.

PC: You’ve played a lot of iconic figures in music history. How have those experiences prepared you for this role?
Cory: I’ve been very lucky. I’ve gotten to play some pretty cool guys in some pretty cool times in pretty cool stories. Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys was a dream role and show. I feel like I have a thing with singer-songwriters. I’ve been very fortunate to play some geniuses in their own right. To dive into how they think and what makes them tick has been really rewarding for my writing and frustrating for my own writing. [laughs] I’m like, “This is nothing compared to what these guys have done.” I’m really enjoying getting to play these guys. They’re so articulate with their words. They have this way of thinking and putting thought into words. So many people have trouble doing it. I’m having trouble doing it in this interview. [laughs] At the same time, it’s inspiring as a writer to see how they operate and what inspired these songs.

PC: You touched upon this a bit earlier: there have been so many great actors who have played this role. How challenging is it for you to not be influenced by their interpretations?
Cory: It was really hard in the beginning to not copy. When I was in rehearsals, I was coming to the theater every night just to watch. I wanted to get the juices flowing. I was watching Evan Todd and Nathan Scherich (who’s the understudy). They’re phenomenal in the role. They’ve been doing it for a long time. In my head, I was like, “That’s it. Just do that.” Then I started to copy. Once I got into rehearsals, I was taking too much of their Gerry and not enough of my own. So I stopped seeing the show because I was like, “The only way that this guy is going to be real—the only way that I’m going to flesh out this actual human being—is if I get him into my body.” You stop taking other people’s ideas. Sure, steal like an artist, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. But at the same time, you have to create this person who’s real, who lives and breathes. After I stopped seeing the show for a little while and once I was in rehearsals and started operating on my own terms, I started to find my Gerry and what makes him tick. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’m still figuring it out.

PC: It would be easy to write Gerry off as this unlikable guy, but he’s struggling with a lot in his life. How have you been able to find that balance?
Cory: It’s been hard. It’s been hard to find what makes Gerry redeemable. In the show, without saying any spoilers, he’s the antagonist of the musical. Carole King’s one piece of advice for anyone playing Gerry is don’t let the audience hate him. She loved him, even until the day he died. According to many people, she still wears his ashes around her neck. I’m not sure if that’s confirmed. She still has a huge, huge love for this man who’s hurt her in many ways. Thinking less about how Gerry operates on Gerry’s terms but thinking how Gerry operates in Carole’s story was a huge priority of mine. Regardless of what he did and why he did it, Carole always knew the best of him. He was a good guy; he wasn’t a bad guy. He was flawed in many ways. He had a ton of mental illness. He dealt with manic depression and bipolar. He received electroshock therapy until the day he died. He was a flawed man. He wasn’t a bad man by any means. It’s been interesting getting to play him and find what makes audiences hate him but also what makes audiences understand him and empathize with him.

PC: Great answer! There are many important lessons in the show, including finding your voice and following your passion. How did you find your voice? Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Cory: Oh man! I listen to so much music. John Mayer is a huge influence of mine. Allen Stone is a huge influence of mine. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are huge influences of mine. Also, my parents taught me to be who I am and to love everyone and all that stuff. I’ve been very fortunate that everyone in my life has pushed me and brought me to where I am. I would not be where I am today without every single person in my life. My theater mentors in high school, Jennifer and Peter Jones at Starstruck Performing Arts Center, taught me discipline. Everyone at my college—I could go on and on about the people who have influenced me. That’s what got me where I am today. That’s what’s molded me. As a performer, I think I bring a lot of myself to my work. I have everyone to thank for what I do because there’s a lot of Cory in everything that I bring to the table. I’m proud of where I came from.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that you eventually want to release an EP. Are there any updates?
Cory: [laughs] Oh man! I said it out loud, so now I have to follow through with it, right? I have a bunch of songs. I have maybe six songs that I’m proud of that I want the world to hear, but I don’t know if it’s one cohesive collection. I know that an EP is sort of here’s what I do. But part of me wants my first EP, my first tape, my first shot to be one thought. So I’m trying to find the through line right now. I’m hoping to find that through line by middle of next year. My goal was to release it by the end of 2019, but then Beautiful happened, and I got a little busy.

PC: When October 28 rolls around, what is going to be the biggest takeaway from this experience?
Cory: When I was joining the company, everyone was saying that the people, the people, the people. You’re joining one of the warmest companies on Broadway. When you’re going to a theater, a regional theater, or you’re working on a show, everyone—like everyone—who works there is great. You’re going to love it. I’ve worked at some incredible, incredible theaters with some incredible people. But everyone was right about this. On October 28, when I wake up not having to warm up for the show, there’s going to be a little part of my heart missing, as cheesy as that sounds. The people have taken a huge piece of my heart in only a month and a half. It’s remarkable. I did Jersey Boys for two years, and we created this beautiful, beautiful family that I still cherish to this day. The fact that I gained that familial relationship in a month and a half is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I’m going to really, really miss the people here. That’s definitely what it has to be.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

To keep up with Cory, make sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Catch his Broadway debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical through October 27 at Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

Photo Credit: Caitlin Mcnaney from Broadway.com