Douglas Lyons discusses Chicken & Biscuits & Your Forever Winding Path!
Douglas Lyons is someone I have truly admired for many years now. When I saw that his play Chicken & Biscuits was heading to Broadway, I instantly thought, "it could not have happened to a better person." To say that he is well-deserving is truly an understatement. Douglas is a Writer, Actor, and Teacher. Some of his other projects include Musicals such as Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, Pete(her) Pan, Five Points, Beau, and Breathe.
Douglas is an artist that I honestly could talk about for hours, so I will end by saying this: you will hear his name many times in the years t come. I truly feel he has only just begun his amazing journey in the arts, and this industry is truly a better place for having talents like him in it. I am beyond honored to have the chance to feature the one and only Douglas Lyons!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to go into the arts?
My mother says I started singing in church when I was 3 years old. I'd say I caught the Theatre bug when the national tours of Rent and Cats came through my hometown of New Haven, CT. Something about the stage beckoned me. Thank goodness I listened.
Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped shape you into the amazing artist you are today?
I'm a proud Hartt School B.F.A. Musical Theatre graduate. I entered the program with some natural talent but truly left with a tool belt of useful skills that have maintained the past decade of my career. One of my mentors is Charles Randolph Wright (Motown). Very early on in my career, he saw all the things I could be. He constantly pushes me towards my greatest potential.
I cannot express how excited I am for your play Chicken & Biscuits to be heading to Broadway with a dream cast. What does this mean for you, and is there something that you are most excited about?
Chicken and Biscuits' arrival on Broadway is a community moment; It doesn't just belong to me. There will be countless Broadway debuts on both sides of the table. Zhailon Levingston will make history as Broadway's youngest Black director. This Black story of joy, family, and healing will forever be sketched into the American Theatre cannon. That's the win for me, and in the larger picture, for all of us.
Are there any other shows or moments in your career that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?
My favorite memorable moments in the theatre are: 1) Walking on stage at the Eugene O'Neill for the first time during my Broadway debut in Book of Mormon; 2) Seeing Passing Strange on Broadway three times; 3) Watching Lillias White belt out Lyons and Pakchar at Lincoln Center; 4) Sitting on my couch in Astoria listening to our Beautiful OBC cast album for the first time; And 5) Watching my best friend, Christine Dwyer, literally "Defy Gravity" as Elphaba at the Gershwin.
What advice would you give any young aspiring artist?
Keep going. Your path is forever winding. Don't compare it to others or you'll get lost. Hustle beyond what you see because no one is waiting for you. You have to claim the territory you want and not apologize for that desire. Back-up plans don't make you a failure, they make you a smart business. Also, don't center your life around show business. Coronavirus has reminded us all to live a full life, for at any moment it can be taken away.
Chicken &Biscuits begin previews at Circle in the Square Theatre on Thursday, September 23 and will officially open Sunday, October 10. The limited engagement runs through Sunday, January 2, 2022. To learn more about that and Douglas, make sure you visit his official website at - https://www.douglaslyons.net