Fresh off a run in the beloved Broadway revival of Into the Woods, Alex Joseph Grayson is back on Broadway, starring as Jim Conley in the Michael Arden-directed revival of Parade.
Similar to his involvement with Into the Woods, Grayson began his journey with this production of Parade in 2022 at New York City Center, earning praise for his take on Jim Conley and show-stopping moments “That’s What He Said” and “Feel the Rain Fall.”
Now reprising his performance for the Broadway production, which officially opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Thursday, March 16, 2023, Grayson took time to answer 5 questions with Broadway Direct, explaining the road to his theatre degree, why Ariana DeBose and Jeremy Pope are inspirations, and how Parade will haunt audiences.
1. What inspired you to become an actor?
I have been a bit of a theatre exhibitionist since I was very young. When I was 19 living in Oakfield, NY I was encouraged by my voice teacher to audition for the local community theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Through that experience I learned that many of the young people I was working with had the intention of pursuing a degree and hopefully a career in theatre. Soon after I found myself in an elective acting class in community college. Halfway through that semester I was completely obsessed with learning everything I could about becoming a working actor. I changed my major from Gen. Ed. to Theatre immediately.
2. Who in your field inspires you?
I am inspired by artists that push boundaries. On the business side, I love to watch as actors manage to lift themselves out of anonymity and traverse the many levels of gatekeeping that try to quantify the value of the art we make. We all know Jonathan Majors at this point. His rise has been meteoric for all the right reasons. Ariana DeBose and Jeremy Pope have also managed to launch themselves and provide a blueprint of always pushing to reach a wider audience.
3. What will audiences be most excited about seeing in Parade?
That’s hard to say. I think the story is captivating and upsetting. The performances on stage will probably haunt audiences.
4. If you didn’t need to sleep at night, what would you spend your time doing?
I would probably walk around New York City just watching people.
5. What is your favorite NYC spot?
The Highline!!
You can catch Alex Joseph Grayson in Parade at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, and follow him on Instagram here.