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Rising Star Interview: Jeffrey Scott Parsons
Tell us about your latest solo project.
Last year, I had the opportunity to create a one man show for Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal in North Hollywood. I knew pretty immediately that I wanted the show to be more than a showcase or concert. I wanted there to be storytelling and humor and lots of tap dancing. I also knew I wanted it to be personal. The concept that bubbled out of all that was this lesson I continue to learn: that the most profound experiences we have in our lives are often uncomfortable. They push us past the horizon we’re used to. I first discovered that as an artistic kid in a small farm town, then as a young missionary at 19 years old, and then as an adult, living with a sexuality and religion that often seem to be at odds. I first performed COMFY in January 2018, and since then it has taken on a life of its own. I’ve been able to perform it in different cities all over, and each time, the conversations I’ve had with audiences have filled my soul. I’m very grateful to say it has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my life.
What was the place of your birth including reference to its influence on your character today?
I’m a proud farm boy from Willard, Utah though I’m prouder now than I was as a kid. Growing up, Willard was mainly a farming community. My grandpa was a livestock cattleman, and we all lived on and around the property. We were a tight family and I think of my childhood as a great mix of fun and hard work. That’s what living with farm folk is all about.
How did your rearing as a child affect the artist you have become today? (parents, siblings, other relatives)
While I lived in a small town, my family was surprisingly artistic. I think that’s something you find a lot in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. After all, the church is responsible for the most famous choir in America, so music is very present in our culture. We sang a lot as a family. My mom played the piano. My older brother played the guitar and my older sister, the flute. My dad would dust off his saxophone and play something like “The Days of Wine and Roses” a couple of times each year. My parents were very intent on helping all five of us kids find something special we could be passionate about. I feel like it took me a long time to find it, but my parents were very patient. I tried tee ball, soccer, karate, and then finally I found dance.
What are the specific circumstances surrounding your basic education including preschool, elementary school, secondary school, college, graduate school? What are the major features of the schooling which have prominently affected you today?
I was good at school. I enjoyed figuring out the rules and excelling at them. I liked getting to know my teachers. I think all of those things made it confusing when I would then tell school counselors I wanted to go into show business. That’s who I was, though. When I got to Jr High, I felt as if I had moved to the big city, so I really enjoyed it. By the time High School came around, though, I was ready for the next move. My senior year, I began an early college program. I went to Weber State University for a year and a half before leaving to serve a mission for my church. I know two years as an LDS missionary isn’t a traditional form of education, but that was probably one of the greatest learning experiences I’ve ever had. I served in southwest Texas as a Spanish speaking missionary, and I look back on it as laying the groundwork for who I am as an adult. After I came back, I transferred to Brigham Young University where I got a BFA in Music Dance Theatre. I enjoyed my education at BYU because it provided me a safe place to look beneath all the layers of rules and conformity that I had really excelled at and make space for the creativity I hadn’t been nurturing.
During your basic education, did you cherish a particular teacher? If so, why?
My third grade teacher was Mr. Yates, and I loved him. He would read to us a couple of days each week, and one of the books he read us was The Outsiders. Is that book too much for third graders? Who knows. The important point is I was so engrossed by the story that one day I went to the library and got the book because I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. That was the first real book I ever read. Coincidentally, Mr. Yates’s brother was my English teacher in High School, and I loved him too. Good teachers must have run in the family. They really stirred my appetite for good storytelling.
At what point did you recognize that you possessed a special talent which might allow you to pursue a life in the Arts?
In the fifth grade, I auditioned for the role of Michael in Peter Pan at the local high school, and I got it. I think I got it because I was loud, but regardless, I was convinced I had hit the big time. I got to fly. I was performing with high schoolers. What else was there?? My elementary school even came to see the show! Afterward, one of the 5th grade teachers pulled me aside and encouraged me not to go into theatre. He said he had studied it in college and even played the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, so he obviously knew what he was talking about. Even though I was very young, I specifically remember thinking, “What the crap is wrong with this dude?” Seriously though? His college production of The Wizard of Oz was supposed to be the great parable for where my career path should lead?? That production of Peter Pan was the experience that taught me how much I loved being onstage, and how weird that made some adults feel. I’ve learned to embrace both.
Do you remember any personal performing disasters during your schooling?
At BYU I was in a production of Elton John’s Aida, and at 30 minutes to the top of the show, I ran to the bathroom and threw up…twice. It was food poisoning. I couldn’t move, but I also had to go on because there were no understudies. Thankfully, I didn’t have a big role. I went on and performed the first two numbers, and then came off stage silently sobbing because I was in so much pain. I threw up again when I was supposed to be onstage doing “The Dance of the Robe.” I covered up my microphone, so the audience wouldn’t hear what was happening. It was a total disaster. Coincidentally, that was the production I realized I couldn’t perform for free anymore. hahaha.
What was your first professional performance? (show title, role, venue)
After graduating college, I went to St George, UT to perform for the summer at Tuacahn Center for the Arts. It’s a gorgeous outdoor venue that really has to be seen to be believed. The production I was in? Peter Pan. That show is my first musical both as an amateur and a professional. Talk about full circle.
Is there a particular theatre of which you will be eternally grateful for your development as an Artist?
I would be very ungrateful if I didn’t mention Kathy Brombacher and Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, CA. They really allowed me to step out of the ensemble early in my career and play leading roles, some of which I was probably too young for, but were simultaneously dreams come true and opportunities for huge growth and understanding.
Were there any critical reviews which remain expressly memorable? (show title, role, venue, critic, exact quote or other details)
People are so kind and generous, but the truth is I tend to more easily remember negative criticisms. I’m working on that! The best review I’ve ever received, however, came after a performance of Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Welk Theatre in Escondido, CA. I was playing Molina, and it sometimes took me a few minutes to come back to earth after that show. After that particular performance, I got ready and exited from backstage, and the audience had left except for an older couple waiting outside. They waved me down, so I went over, and the husband told me the year before their son had committed suicide, and watching me in that show gave his son back to him for a few hours. I was very moved, and we shared a long hug. In moments when I’m feeling down, that memory is everything.
Where do you live today at this stage in your career?
I strive to do work I’m proud of with kind people I respect. That means, first and foremost, I have to be someone like that. In my experience, you don’t have to be cruel to be talented, but you have to be insecure to be cruel. Theatre is fascinating because opportunities to improve ourselves as humans pop up quickly, in such rapid succession, and in very high pressure situations. There’s nothing like a rehearsal room to help you understand what you need to work on in your life. It’s an incredible chance to better yourself while creating something that, hopefully, brings audiences a lot of joy. Being grateful for that privilege is honest to goodness where I try to live most.
Where are you headed as an artist in the future? (aspirations, goals)
The older I get, the more important I feel it is to push myself creatively both onstage and off. There is so much “burn out” in this business, and I’ve found that to be my cure. I want to continue bouncing around from performing to directing to choreographing, producing, and writing… With that kind of diversity, how could I ever get burned out? It allows me to constantly flex different muscles, both literally and figuratively. More specifically, I love to write, and I have a lot of ideas. My one man show COMFY has been a great introduction to that side of my career, and I’m pretty thirsty to create more. I’m also not afraid of getting older. I look very young, but the last time I did West Side Story (for the third time), it almost killed me.
Fun Stuff:
Example(s) of (a) skill that you possess which is/are far removed from performance arena?
I really love playing tennis. That’s my sport. I can watch Wimbledon all day long
Example(s) of guilty food or drink embarrassment(s)?
I am not embarrassed to say I could eat ice cream every day of my life. And those artisan shops with crazy flavors like lavender chrysanthemum? Sign me up.
How do you keep yourself entertained when boredom knocks at your door?
There is so much to be consumed in this world, if boredom ever sets in, it’s because I need to reset and go somewhere in nature like the mountains or the beach.
Would you do nudity on stage?
I already have!! Yikes. I did a production of The Full Monty years ago. I loved doing that show, and I’m grateful I did it, but at the same time I can’t believe I did it.
Performer(s) past or present that you revere?
SO MANY! Gene Kelly (obviously), Madeline Kahn, pretty much every female comedienne come to think of it… I was rewatching “All About Eve“ last night, so that whole cast. Who else? Chita, Gwen, and Donna… There’s so much talent out there.
Most amusing backstage anecdote(s) that you have witnessed – or, if you care to admit, in which you were a participant – during your performing career (N.B. Reveal names at your own peril).
I used to be annoyed when things would go wrong in a live performance because I wanted everything to be always perfect. But that’s not theatre! Now I live for what makes each performance feel a little bit unique. If you want to see the same show over and over, watch a movie. Once I was doing a production of White Christmas, and unbeknownst to the theatre company, the actual theatre had lubed the fly system because it was squeaking every time the scenery would go in and out. That meant little droplets of silicone had been dropping onto the stage, and when the ensemble made their entrance from backstage for the big opening number, people started falling down like it was White Christmas On Ice. It was hilarious and terrifying and they had to stop the show and clean the stage with Dawn dish soap before we could continue.
Is there a particular role that you wouldn’t mind playing over and over again? (show title, role)
Thankfully I’ve never played a role where I thought, “Well, I never want to do that one again,” so bring them on and bring them back!
Date Interview Submitted: 7/5/19
Bill Reese
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