by
Since making his stage debut at the age of 11 in “South Pacific,” Bonale Fambrini hasn’t been able to find his way off the stage.
The 23 year old can next be seen starring as Johnny Cade in the touring production of “The Outsiders” musical, which is coming to the Fox Theatre Nov. 25-29. “The Outsiders” is based on the novel from S.E. Hinton as well as Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film adaptation, and follows the conflict between two rival gangs in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The musical, with music and lyrics by Jonathan Clay, Zach Chance, and Justin Levine and a book by Adam Rapp and Levine, won Best Musical at last year’s Tony Awards. Fambrini’s character Johnny is the best friend of the main character, Ponyboy Curtis, and plays a pivotal role in the story.
Ahead of the performances at the Fox, Rough Draft Atlanta spoke with Fambrini about his journey to “The Outsiders.” This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Before we jump into “The Outsiders” tour, I’d love to hear a little bit about your career. When did you decide that you wanted to act or perform professionally?
Bonale Fambrini: It was definitely out of the blue for me. No one in my family is really into theater, even music, per se. I watched the Broadway show “The Phantom of the Opera” back when I was in the fourth grade, and after doing combat sports my entire life, I had gone to my family and said, “Hey, I want to sing a song.”
I ended up singing something for my fifth grade talent show. I guess it must have just stuck, because I heard good things about it, but also I really enjoyed it. I started doing community theater, smaller local stuff. And then I was very fortunate, and I booked a larger show at something called the Paper Mill Playhouse back when I was in sixth grade. From there, it progressed. I was doing shows in the city. I made my Broadway debut in eighth grade. From then, I’ve just been continuing it. I’ve been doing shows in the city. I filmed a movie out in Vancouver a couple of years back. I’ve been very fortunate in trying to continue with this and staying with it.
What was it about “The Phantom of the Opera” that you think really drew you in? I feel like that’s a pretty common one for young kids.
Fambrini: Especially me, being at such a young age, I think I definitely had a little difficulty understanding the story to a degree. But I think seeing that chandelier fall, and him rowing a boat in a sea of fog and candles – you know what I mean? There’s the ambience of it, and seeing everything visually, and the unbelievable music with it and everything – how can I not think this is super, super cool? I think that was, at the time, the biggest thing that drew me in.
Read in full at RoughDraft Atlanta
Used with permission. Follow RoughDraft Atlanta here.
