Buffett tunes set for B’way
PAY attention. There’s a new kid in town.
Name’s Paul Alexander Nolan. He stars in singer/songwriter/guitarist Jimmy Buffett’s soon-due Broadway musical “Escape to Margaritaville.”
“When I tested for the role, I was laid-back. Not showy,” he said. “Christopher Plummer says, ‘Wear the right shoes at auditions.’ It’s like a dialect. Flip-flops, boots, heels, dress shoes affect your stance. Your inside feeling.
“This show’s islandy. Set on a beach vacation. So, dead of winter, I came to the audition carrying a bag of clothes and, like a lunatic, changed into resort wear, sandals, Hawai- ian shirt, a guitar on my back.
“There’s so many screw-ups trying out a new show. Once onstage, I’m playing the opening lick. Singing loud lyrics to a Buffett song. Suddenly I blanked. Couldn’t remember what’s next. So I just asked the audience who were his fans, ‘What’s next?’ and they shouted it out.
“This is no usual jukebox musical. Writers took his songs, extracted his folklore and localized it . . . he’s now from Montauk.”
OK. And who are you?
“I’ve done ‘My Fair Lady [regional],’ ‘Jesus Christ Su- perstar,’ ‘Chicago,’ ‘ Doctor Zhivago,’ ‘Bright Star . . .’ ” OK. Where you from? “Stratford, Ontario. My wife and I grew up in Canada, but we have an apartment here and . . .” OK, OK. Tell me about the show. “To feel Jimmy’s roots, how he started in bars, he made me sing in a packed bar where it’s loud. People continued to talk. I’m used to quiet theater. He did a set, then I did a set. My anxiety was only quelled by my longtime practice. And I learned to keep on, plow through even while the joint kept partying. “You’re going to love ‘Escape to Margaritaville.’ ” OK.