Last night I interviewed Ben Vereen for ON THE SCENE. He’s starring in a new play, “Fetch Clay, Make Man” debuting at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.
Extremes in someone’s life are interesting to talk about, I think, and Vereen has certainly had that. So many career highs on Broadway, (“Pippin”, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Wicked”) and horrendous personal lows. He’s had a stroke and was hit by a car and injured so badly that for a while it looked like he’d never perform again.
The thing that makes an interview great is a surprise. Getting an answer you did not expect will turn the conversation around and that’s what I love. And that happened with Vereen.
I asked him, “of all the people you’ve worked with who have you liked the most?”
“Everybody,” he said. Stars never want to answer that question because they think somebody will get offended.
“I know you don’t want to leave anybody out,” I said, ” but take a shot!”
He bowed his head in silence and then slowly raised his face to me, tears in his eyes. “I would say my friend Gregory Hines, I miss him so much.” He went on to leave me spellbound with a story of when he was recovering in a rehab center and went to see Hines on Broadway in “Jelly’s Last Jam.” Vereen was on crutches when he came to see Hines in his dressing room after the show. “When can you be ready?” Vereen said Hines asked him. As if he didn’t see his injuries, Hines wanted to know when Vereen would be in shape to take over one of the roles. “He believed in me.” Vereen went on appear in the show and got his career back.
Of course, the story is much more powerful hearing it from Vereen himself. It was a memorable moment for me, and hopefully will bring some inspiration to people out there who need it when we bring this interview to television, soon.