A genie can dream and conceive that very dream.
It was in the first moment of speaking with him that I had an instantaneous understanding of the kind of person he was: sincere and humble. It is these pleasantly-surprising qualities plus Iglehart’s easy-to-work-with personality, which resonates onstage and off, that contribute to his success as he graduates from a flying carpet to another prestigious achievement: James Monroe Iglehart has been dually-cast as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in Broadway’s Hamilton.
Iglehart has as sparkling of a future ahead of him as the magical lantern he is stepped out from, bringing with him a marvelous Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical in 2014 for his role as the Genie during his run in Aladdin The Musical.
One of the things that I admire about James Monroe Iglehart is his fluid comedic timing and bare-all approach with his audiences.
James Monroe Iglehart has the trademark of pure triple threat synthesis.
With Broadway dreams of my own, it was heart-stopping and refreshing to see the essence of my mind’s eye brought to life as a complete reality while experiencing the stage presence of James Monroe Iglehart.
I was quite curious to see the kind of magic, Iglehart would bring to his next Broadway role and had the unique opportunity to speak with him recently regarding his new and exciting endeavors right as he stepped out of Disney’s magical lantern:
The role of the Genie is definitely a role that requires a constant exuberant output. What will you take with you from the Genie as you prepare for your role in Hamilton?
The funny part is because there is so much energy in the Genie, there’s actually a lot of energy in the role of Lafayette (First Act of Hamilton). Lafayette was only 19 when he came over to America to be a General – General Washington. He was very energetic. Thomas Jefferson is definitely a home character. I can bring that same energy to that Thomas Jefferson. The Energy of Lafayette is the same energy that is a part of the Genie, but probably less manic!
What is your pre-show ritual?
I always have a Prayer circle. Also I like to listen to really fun music. I listen to everything from Disney movies to the Muppets. You have to be hype to do what I have to do. It puts a smile on my face so that when I go out there, I can put a smile on people’s faces as well.
Yes pray I’m all about pray! Hallellujah!
Yes! Definitely have a pray circle.
Is there any line of advice you would give a young Rising Star who wants to achieve what you are doing?
Enjoy time in your own life before you go into the business. Bring joy from your own life to stage when you perform. It is a job, but have as much fun as you can doing it. Enjoy the life you have so you can bring that joy onto the stage. If you want to do it, do it now! Find a place that you can do what you love to do so you can get yourself ready for what’s about to happen in your career. It is very, very important to surround yourself with positive people. Surround yourself with people who have a dream themselves…so you can push them to that dream and vice versa.
What does success mean to you in your own words?
Success used to mean being the star and everyone knowing me but success now, just means having fun doing what I love to get to do. If I can make money doing what I love to do then I’m successful, I’m happy. I used to think success is a place, but now, no. Success is a journey and I know it sounds cliche but it’s really true.
Yes it’s, so true!
Hey, if I can pay my rent doing what I love doing, then I think I’m doing pretty good!
I would say so! That is part of my mantra and the other part of my mantra is: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. So I have done everything in my own life to be a true triple threat, singing and dancing and acting; After graduating from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts I started my One-Woman Show: Rising Star Alexa Politis, where I perform my repertoire of Broadway hits with full on dancing for all of the Queens & Nassau Public Library System. I work every day to story-tell to my greatest potential and aim to make even more people happy doing what I love so I can uplift people and by doing this feeling fulfilled.
It is definitely a dichotomy of those two things.
Have you ever dealt with doubt? How have you dealt with negativity and rejection in the audition process?
I have dealt with doubt and I deal with doubt now. You know sometimes there are times where doubt just gets you. And you’re like, ‘ Oh my gosh, I can’t do it. But there is that drive in you that tells you this is what you really want to do, so you keep going!’
Yes!
You’re always going to deal with negativity, but you have that thing that keeps telling you that this is what you really want to do. Just surround yourself with positive people and don’t listen to those negative folks. Your always going to have doubt and fear but your DREAM and DRIVE are STRONGER THAN YOUR FEAR and YOUR DOUBT.
YES! Oh my gosh, that just really hit home. I’m not even kidding. That is exactly how I feel at this point in time. That is all you have to do you just have to block out the negativity, you just gotta stay focused, keep yourself happy, healthy, and you gotta keep moving forward, that’s it.
Yup! Yes. As long as you are happy with it, then have fun with it! You don’t have to care about anybody else.
Exactly! Your dream and drive ARE stronger than your doubt. Tell us how you first linked up with Lin Manuel Miranda. We know you had a freestyle troupe together called Freestyle Love Supreme?
I met Lin many years ago. Chris Jackson, the guy who used to play George Washington, he and I did a show together and he told me, he saw I could rap, and he asked me to audition for Freestyle Love Supreme, and that’s when I met Lin and the rest of the guys so I have known them for-wow- eight, nine years now. We have done everything from talent shows to tv shows, so its been a lot of fun!
What do you admire about Lin Manuel Miranda?
It’s funny. I love that fact that I know a guy, who had a dream, and took it all the way through. His dream was to write musicals, and from writing musicals he went on to be superstar of the year but also I love the fact that he is so down to earth, so cool, so relaxed, he is a real person, not a star, he just happens to be famous. The best part is he has one of the biggest hearts in the world. The nicest guy ever. I love that guy! He is amazing.
What song / sequence are you most excited to perform on Hamilton?
I really, really like “MY SHOT.” “MY SHOT” is so much fun too, it is the biggest dance number, but there is a song called “GUNS AND SHIPS.” It’s not really a dance number, but it is a lot of fun. It’s so much fun to do.
What does it mean to you to be joining this cast?
It is an honor to be a part of such a brand new and game-changing show. It’s also just fun to be apart of something where not only can people enjoy, but also learn from too. It is groundbreaking and historical and fun , and I am just honored that they want me to be a part of it. It is a cool place to perform. Hamilton is a jammin’ musical, and not only is it educational, but it is fun and up-lifting.
I remember when I first got the Hamilton soundtrack. I was listening to it in the car with my family, and I thought to myself, “I am really learning about history through this.” And it’s history from a humanistic point of view, which is very refreshing. It is not just history from a rudimentary point of view. You can actually understand Alexander Hamilton as a person and all the people in his life and what they went through during this time period. The fact that it’s history through a musical is very powerful and can even influence the historical learning curve for the second generation of millennials.
Yes. It is the kind of show that demonstrates although we have come very far, we still have have a little farther to go.
So many stars come see Hamilton. Who would you love to see at the show during your run?
I am really excited about watching my family watch the show. They’ve supported me for so long throughout the show. All of their hard work that they put into me is finally paying off.
You always want to surround yourself with good people, just like our director, our music director Alex Lacamoire. Always surround yourself with good people, those are the people you strive to work with, whether it be with him or free styling with Hamilton – or the other two projects it’s so cool because all the people around are so wonderful to meet. The music director for my show How the Heck Did I Get Here, at 54 Below, is named Bill Sherman and I met him through Freestyle of Supreme.
Are you excited for the live action Aladdin that is in the works? Would you like to make a cameo /appear in it?
Yes! I am currently the voice of the cartoon character for the Tangled Series called Lance Strongbow. I will always be a part of the Disney family and I am interested to see what a live action sequence could be, it would be fun. A big moment would be great it would be fun every actor wants that.
What other projects would you like to share?
I am working on a show called How the Heck Did I Get Here? which is a cabaret at 54 below and also the one that is in California and in NJ as well. I am trying to do more stuff with it and have more fun, it’s basically about me being a little kid growing up wanting to be a performer. And hopefully I can expand and make it into something. We will see. Right now it is cabaret, but I definitely want to make it more expanded, more of a show and see what happens with it! There are fun moments in the show where I can make people laugh, I want to incorporate more sketches and things like that. I love making people laugh.
