TEN TENOR Q&A with Graham Foote
Graham Michael Foote
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Zodiac sign: Libra
Audition song: ‘What IS it about her?’ from “the wild party” by Andrew lippa
Special skills: piano, conducting
First Broadway show ever saw: oliver!
If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be? The original production of ‘west side story’
Current show you have been recommending to friends: ‘jersey boys’
Favorite show tune: ‘who can I turn to?’
Performer you would drop everything to go see: an alive Freddie mercury
First stage kiss: ‘fame – the musical’ in 10th grade
Favorite pre-show meal: something simple – meat and vegetables or chicken pasta
How you got your Equity card: for Australia yes! It’s a bit more difficult to get one for the us!
Worst flubbed line: it can’t be printed in any format without being offensive. Suffice to say that it involved a mix-up involving the words “duck” and “flapjack”.
Worst onstage mishap: playing jesus in “jesus Christ superstar”, I was probably the first person to be crucified horizontally because the cross failed to rise when it should. Then, when the cross was ordinarily supposed to be lowered and myself removed from it for the final moments of the play, the mechanism decided to work and started elevating me!
Worst costume ever: being dressed as a geisha – don’t ask!
Who have you played on “Law & Order”? Which edition? Oh, it was…umm…the…umm…2nd…episode of…umm…law and order: culinary disasters unit…and I played…umm…irate chef 3…yeh, that’s right!
Who would play you in the movie? I’d like to think it’d be someone like Johnny depp or Robert downey jnr, but they’d almost certainly end up casting some unknown person of limited height.
What roles were most rewarding? Whilst understudying in the professional show in korea, I was fortunate to play judas in “jesus Christ superstar”. It’s a pretty amazing emotional journey. It really asks a lot of you both dramatically and vocally, and is a truly exhausting role.
Worst job you ever had: I’ve been quite lucky with jobs. But working at ‘sovereign hill’ – a historial re-enactment village – as a university job during winter and chopping wood 8 hours a day wasn’t great fun…
TV or commercial gig you most enjoyed: singing the Australian national anthem at the Melbourne cup in front of 100,000 people live and millions on television.
What leading role have you been dying to play?: Frankie valli in “jersey boys”
What non-traditional/gender-switching role would you love to play?: I’d love to be the voice for an animated pixar or dreamworks picture!
Who is your favorite director to work with; and why?: the gentleman who directed me in “jesus Christ superstar”, paul warwick griffin, is not only a visionary and very gifted at what he does, but also a singularly wonderful person.
Who influenced you the most to get into this business?: my grandfather fostered my passion for music from a very early age. My first childhood memory is from when I was about 8 months old with him helping me play the melody from prokofiev’s “peter and the wolf” on his piano.
MAC or PC: mac all the way baby!
Most played song on your iPod: the 2nd movement from chopin’s 1st piano concerto in e minor.
One CD (or album) you couldn’t live without: “a night at the opera” by queen
Last book you read: “naked empire” by terry goodkind
Must-see TV show: 30 rock
Last good movie you saw: I’m quite critical of films, but probably the last one that affected me deeply was “atonement”.
Favorite board game: /Favorite card game: monopoly / blackjack
Pop culture guilty pleasure: I really love a mcdonald’s thick shake!
Cats or dogs: dogs
Favorite cereal: muesli
Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream - favorite flavor: lemon sorbet
Cook at home, or eat out: cook at home, because we almost never get that opportunity.
Favorite mode of transportation: cars
Favorite city in the world: paris
Favorite vacation—cruise ship, adventure on your own; hiking the Andes, or …: since I was young, I’ve always had this idea to travel from London to Melbourne without using flight of any description. I’d love to just wander through Europe, the middle east and asia at my leisure.
How many tattoos/piercings do you have: 2 piercings and 2 tattoos.
Favorite reality show: American idol (or local equivalent) because it gives talent the opportunity to be heard
Favorite karaoke song: “I’m still standing” by Elton john
Secret superpower: ability to fly
What are you good at cooking: thai green curry
Is your life best described as a: sitcom, soap opera or primetime drama: an after-midnight chat show
Pirates or Ninjas: pirates
What food grosses you out: mushrooms because I’m allergic, and raw tomato for some reason. I eat everything else.
What is your favorite word? vociferous
What is your least favorite word? umm
What turns you on? The curvature of a woman’s lower back
What turns you off? Cultural insensitivity
What sound or noise do you love? An orchestra tuning
What sound or noise do you hate? A tenor tuning
What is your favorite curse word? Fuck – it has astonishing versatility
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? Travel journalist
If heaven exists what would you like to hear God say when you arrive? What took you so long? And why are you naked? And why do you have that big grin on your face?
Where do you prefer to play ~ beach, desert or mountains: beach
What is your favorite watersport/ocean activity: Frisbee on the beach followed by bodysurfing
Sailboat or power: sailboat – it’s more relaxed
When and how did you get your first sunburn: when I was 16 and I fell asleep in Australian summer sun. never a good idea!
If you had a day off and weren’t traveling between cities, what famous San Diego attraction would you see: I’d love to see a padre’s game.
Where would your perfect night out be spent locally: somewhere eating seafood on the water – any good suggestions?
November 17th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
The “Fellas” were in SD on 9/11, sang National Anthem at Padres game, did they get to stay for the game?
November 19th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I believe they stayed for the first couple of innings, then hit the hay. We’d picked them up at 5am to start their day around San Diego. They were tired men.