BWW Interviews: SYESHA MERCADO, An 'American Idol' Turned 'Dreamgirl'

During what was called "Andrew Lloyd Webber week" of the seventh season of the hit TV talent competition AMERICAN IDOL, Webber, the prolific musical theater icon himself, predicted to an audience of millions that Syesha Mercado will "bring the house down" with a sexy, splashy take on one of his many musical hits. And that, she did. Then 21, she eventually lasted on the show to become the second runner-up—the last female standing—just behind the dueling Davids (Archuleta and Cook). Fast forward two years later, and she is now in the midst of a multi-city national tour of the rebooted DREAMGIRLS stage musical, where she nightly plays Deena Jones, the beautiful and eventual front-woman of the semi-fictional musical group The Dreams.

No stranger to the world of musical theater, Mercado performed in various productions near her hometown of Sarasota, Florida and soon majored in theater at Florida International University before getting the TV performing bug. She first competed on ABC's short-lived series The One: Making a Music Star then went on to win Florida Super Singer, before making that leap onto the Idol stage and the subsequent American Idols Live concert tour. Now, she's back on the road again, entertaining a new generation that may only know the recent film version of DREAMGIRLS (that awarded an Oscar® to fellow Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson). The tour is now making its way back to Southern California, this time on the stage of The Orange County Performing Arts Center, where the musical will play from April 21 - May 2. But before she makes her triumphant Orange County stage debut, Mercado spoke with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about life on the road, her AMERICAN IDOL roots, and what it takes to become Deena Jones night after night.

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BWW: Hi Syesha! How's the tour been going?

SM: It's amazing! I've been having a lot of fun traveling to different places and meeting new people!

Well, on behalf of Orange County, we're so excited that DREAMGIRLS will be coming back to Southern California to play here, after such a long stay in nearby Los Angeles!

And we're so happy to be coming back!

Are you familiar with Orange County at all?

I think I've been to Orange County once before... it's beautiful there!

Do you have any favorite cities that you've visited so far on the tour?

Favorite cities? Well... L.A.! [Laughs] We're just going to be so happy to be back in California. So far it's been very cold in every city we've been to... It's even cold right now in Portland! The only thing, though, about California is that it gets cold at nighttime, so that's one thing I don't like... but in the daytime, it's beautiful!

And you have your days free, so you're able to explore the city and see the sights, then, right?

Exactly. But, well, when I was in L.A.—because I'm working on an album as well—my schedule was very, very jam-packed. So, it was fun... but at the same time, I was kind of looking forward to [leaving L.A. and] actually going to Seattle and Portland because my schedule was so crazy just being there [in L.A.] trying to get so many things done.

So upon your return to the area, are you going right back into that kind of schedule again?

I'll probably have a few things to do, but for the most part, I'm just trying to pace myself... because, you know, the most important thing is that I'm focusing on my job, which is to sing on stage as Deena Jones! So, you know, I always want to do my best, and that means getting a lot of sleep and pacing myself. But when I'm feeling up to it and feeling good, I'll schedule a meeting here and there or find some studio time to write.

Great! So, let's talk a little bit about the show. The DREAMGIRLS tour was launched at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. How did it feel to perform the show there first?

Oh, it was amazing! I was kind of speechless because just being at the Apollo, and knowing how many great artists have performed there... Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr. Just so many legendary people have performed there and graced the stage... that I was on! So I felt so privileged and honored just to be amongst history. And, you know, DREAMGIRLS is its own brand. So we were actually on stage at the Apollo in the first act's opening scene... right there [in the real Apollo Theater]! And then later in the last scene, we were, again, right there! It was all a little surreal, because, you know, the characters are talking about it and... we're actually there.

Wow. Now, as you said, DREAMGIRLS is a brand... such an iconic show. You yourself are taking on a role that has been played by everyone from Sheryl Lee Ralph to Beyoncé. How did you feel about stepping into a role like that with such a rich history?

At first it was a little scary, because I knew... [Pauses] Well, Beyoncé played the role in the movie and then Sheryl Lee Ralph pretty much paved the way. So, yeah, it was a little scary and intimidating when I thought about it that way... because, I thought, there were big shoes to fill, and a lot of people were going to be watching me to see what I was going to do differently or what I was going to copy. But I tried to take all of that out of my head, and when I went into the rehearsal process, I just tried to take certain parts [of the character] and find the similarities and see how I could relate to Deena Jones and how I could make her real and honest for myself... and just play that every night. Hopefully people are able to relate to her and appreciate her.

Were you given much leeway as far as shaping your own version of Deena Jones?

There was a lot of direction from our director, Robert Longbottom, but he was also very open. He allowed all of us a lot of freedom when it came to creating our roles and making the roles our own. I was very privileged to work with a director who was very open.

Perhaps I may be taking this the wrong way, but your character, Deena Jones—at least in the beginning of the story, as compared to the character of Effie White—is seen as, maybe, "less talented" comparatively. But you, Syesha, are, in reality, actually a great singer! Did you have to kind of back off a bit in the beginning in your performance when you sang the role so Effie can appear more "showy?"

I kind of play Deena, in the beginning, as very shy and innocent. And vocally the songs are very "pop," so you can call those songs a bit, you know, easy. But I don't tell myself while I'm singing to "hold back" or "don't do it great!" I just become Deena Jones and sing however Deena Jones is supposed to perform. Like in the song "Dreamgirls," that's how I perform it... you know, very light and not too belty. There were some parts where I was given direction on how to sing certain things because it's the way the director and the musical director had in mind. I listened to their direction but at the same time, like I said, I was very lucky to be working with people who are very open. My way [of singing as Deena] is a mixture of direction and doing my own thing. And I sing "Dreamgirls" as well as all of Deena's songs as a pop singer would sing. Effie White is the one with the soul! [Laughs]

But then later on when you and Effie [played by Moya Angela] do a duet on "Listen," you guys both get to belt it out!

[Laughs] Yeah, she rubs off on me a little bit at the end!

It was certainly awesome to hear! It reminded me of how great I thought you were on AMERICAN IDOL.

Awww. Thank you!

So, for someone reading this and, for some reason, has been living under a rock or something and has never heard of DREAMGIRLS... How would you describe what this show is about?

Well, the director really wanted to get across that this version of DREAMGIRLS is about family and the bonds that they share. So for me, it just tells the story of managers, agents, musicians, and artists during the 1960's... their struggles and particularly the struggles of African Americans who were trying to get their music to a broader audience. It follows the story of these girls and what they had to go through in the music industry and the battles they had to fight. And you also see three women growing up and coming into their own and discovering themselves for the first time... finding their voice and then breaking away from opposing voices.

How was the audition process for you to land this role?

It was... tedious. [Laughs] It was a six-month-long process for me! It was very difficult, actually, because every time I would go in, I would get a different scene to learn... a different side [of the character]... a different musical number... So by the end of the audition process I pretty much had a great amount of work under my belt. I pretty much knew all the scenes and all the music! I have never read a script of DREAMGIRLS in my life, so the first time I saw the script was the first time I had ever read the material. But, yeah, the audition process was very, very long. And I remember being outside Radio City Music Hall, getting a call from my agent telling me that I got the part! I was jumping up and down for joy! [Laughs] I was still in New York at the time because I had to wait after my last audition. I was just waiting for the phone call and got the phone call the next day! I was just out walking around with my friend and got the call and... I was the happiest person in the world!

That's great! So for you, what has been the most exciting thing about being part of the show?

The fact that I get to work with such talented people every day that teach me new things... We are all also like a big family, so it's not just fake chemistry on stage. It's real. We all have fun together... we're all friends. We all hang out. I had game night when we were in L.A. We all make sure that we stay close and talk to each other and go exploring the city together... because that all helps us when we're on stage. So that's been really fun. And also, for me, just the experience of being on the road... I'm learning so much about my body. I'm learning so much about my voice and how to pace myself and just how to do things when it comes to an extensive tour.

So... do you have any funny or interesting stories from the road?

Well... live theater is very interesting because things can go wrong all the time, and you just have to keep going! The show must go on, as they say. So, you know, I've had wardrobe malfunctions... wig malfunctions... and I just had to keep going! Most of the time I'm freaking out about it and I'm thinking it's a big deal, and the audience doesn't even realize something went wrong. [Laughs] But yeah, it's very interesting... the world of live theater. 

Well, it's understandable! You guys have so many costumes changes, sometimes within seconds! It seems like you're in a different outfit each time you reappear on stage!

Yeah, literally! We're always in a new wig and outfit. I, myself, have 22 costume changes and 17 wigs! The time period is from, like, 1964 to 1972... so we're showing you ALL the fashions from that time. There's a lot of clothes to go through and wigs to go through to tell the story.

Okay, so once the tour ends, is their one piece of clothing or any of the outfits you want to, you know, steal for yourself? [Laughs]

Oh! Well, let me tell you... William Ivey Long did such an amazing job with the costumes! All of them were hand-beaded and hand-sewn... they put a lot of time and effort into everything. The details are just amazing. But, I would say, at the beginning of Act 2, there's this one outfit that we're only in for less than a minute... [Laughs] ...and it's the most comfortable one that I can breathe in because, you know, most of our outfits have corsets underneath them! So, on top of singing, you have to work with your dress... so it's kind of difficult. But this one outfit is really comfortable and really cute that I like... it's the one I call the "Tina Turner dress." I would pick that one!

Cool. Maybe they'll let you have it after the tour ends. So, I was able to catch the show during its 6-week stop at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. The one thing I noticed about the show compared to previous productions is that it feels so much more like a live concert spectacle, with all the light panels and the video/multi-media displays. How do you feel about this new treatment of the show overall?

Well, I never saw the original production and I have never seen a [stage] production of DREAMGIRLS, so this is all very new to me. I have nothing to compare it to. The only thing I have seen to compare it to is the movie. And I really don't like to compare things because they're different. With film you get to do three takes or five takes or however many takes you need to get it right. But with live theater it's, like, you say your line and... you have to be in the moment because that's what the people are there to see. That's the beauty of this production... it's live! I think with the moving LED panels, everyone is in awe after they leave. I think it all adds to the story. And I think it's kind of cool that we're not working with, you know, your normal kind of set. I believe that with the original production, they were kind of like that too in that they didn't have much going on; the actors are pretty much what told the story in the way they dressed and the way they moved. I'm just happy to be a part of this... I think it's new and very refreshing. So, yeah, I really don't have anything to compare it to... and I don't even get to see it while I'm on stage, so I don't even really know what it looks like! [Laughs]

Well, maybe you can call out one night and sit in the audience for once!

I know, right? And watch! [Laughs]

So, of course the show itself is a behind-the-scenes look into how a pop group is created. Now, you yourself are no stranger to this kind of phenomenon with your history of being a part of this, oh, little show called AMERICAN IDOL. Do you think being a part of that program helped you prepare for what you're going through now?

Oh, absolutely! Because I can relate to what it feels like to have overnight success... Like Deena, Effie and Lorrell, they were at the Apollo, competing in a talent competition... and they didn't win. Then all of a sudden there's this man, Curtis Taylor Jr. who tells them, "okay, I have an offer for you to sing back-up for James 'Thunder' Early!" And, the girls are, like, yes! So, immediately, they're thrown in the spotlight and have this amazing opportunity. And that's kind of how it was for me. I mean, I go audition... and now all of a sudden, I see my face everywhere... I'm on TV! I'm online, people are talking about me... There are the critics. There's the press. There's the paparazzi. And so, yeah, I know the feeling of what it's like... and I know the feeling of what it's like to have to go through that process with your family and having to explain things for them. [Your family] may think you're changing, but you're like, "No, I'm not changing. My life is just changing!" There's a lot that comes with fame, so, you know, I can relate to Deena Jones in a way.

One of the things that I've always wanted to ask someone who has competed on AMERICAN IDOL in the past and are now doing musical theater concerns this whole notion of being criticized in a negative way by the judges—especially by Simon Cowell—as sounding "too Broadway" or "too musical theater"... like it's a bad thing to sound that way. For me personally, at least, I think some of the best singing voices, like yours for instance, DO come from musical theater. What's your opinion on this?

I think there's a difference between sounding too musical theater and being too musical theater, if that makes sense. The person could mean in regards to the way you perform, like it looks too Broadway or too big. Now, I don't necessarily agree with that because I think, when you're performing, you ARE putting on a show, whether it's an acoustic show where it's more intimate, or whether there are lights, a band, and I'm on top of the piano, like when I did "One Rock And Roll To Many" [on American Idol]. You know what I mean? I think your audience and your fans enjoy that—when you put on a show—because that's what people want to see. They want to be entertained when they come to a show! So for me, that's a compliment. Now, when it comes to sounding musical theater, I don't necessarily know what that means because when you come to a show like DREAMGIRLS, the sound is completely different from what it was like in the 80's. It's more Pop/R&B and not so much straight tones. But, rather, you hear people doing vocal rolls and riffs.

[Pauses] You know, when [Simon Cowell] told me that, I took it more as a compliment, because it just means, oh, okay... I'm a performer! [Laughs]

Exactly! Okay, so what's next for you after the DREAMGIRLS tour wraps up?

Well, absolutely... my album. I just finished my web site SyeshaOnline.com, and it has links to my Facebook and Twitter pages, so I can keep everybody updated. And, so, yeah, I'm going to put out some great music. Eventually, at some point, I'll be doing films and will be venturing into some other things. So it's only the beginning.

Sounds exciting! Well, thank you so much, Syesha, and we here in the O.C. look forward to seeing you and DREAMGIRLS!

Photos of Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones in DREAMGIRLS by Joan Marcus.

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Tickets to see DREAMGIRLS start at $20 and are now available online at OCPAC.org, at the Center's Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts for 15 or more, call the Group Services office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is 714.556.2746. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, May 1 will be sign-language interpreted.

FREE TALK-BACKS with DREAMGIRLS Cast Members:
OCPAC has scheduled two post-performance talkbacks with cast members on April 22 and 29. During the talkbacks, which will follow the performances in Segerstrom Hall, audience members can speak to the cast and ask questions. The talkbacks are free, but tickets to the April 22 and 29 performances of DREAMGIRLS are required.

In addition to Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, DREAMGIRLS will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James "Thunder" Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Patrice Covington, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.

DREAMGIRLS is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound deign by Acme Sound Partners and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch. DREAMGIRLS features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen with additional material by Willie Reale. DREAMGIRLS is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions.

For more information, visit OCPAC.org or visit the official DREAMGIRLS Web site at DreamgirlsOnStage.com.