By. Kevin Ray Johnson (Staff Writer for OnStage Blog)

I would like you to meet the oh-so-talented James D. Gish! You can catch James making his Broadway debut at The Gershwin Theatre 8 times a week performing the role of Fiyero in Wicked! Other credits for James include the National tours of Beautiful (Gerry Goffin) and Les Misérables (Feuilly). He has also performed regionally as Jervis in Daddy Long Legs at Phoenix Theatre Company, Tony (West Side Story), Jack Kelly (Newsies), and Toxic Avenger (The Toxic Avenger). James Toured with solo album So in Love (#6 on iTunes Classical Chart, 2017) which was produced by DW Music at Warner Brothers, Nashville. Making it to Broadway is a goal for many young performers and Fiyero is genuinely on the top of many performers' lists for dream roles. James is truly a talented performer that you always dream of having in your show! I am very thankful that he took the time!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a Performer?

I enjoyed performing a lot as a young child. I subjected my family to many a living room concert but lost interest for years until a buddy of mine heard me singing on the radio and recommended I join our high school's choir. I said no, determined to be an athlete (I'm hopelessly uncoordinated), but my mother overheard the discussion, and needless to say, I ended up joining the choir. I immediately loved it. My high school was putting on "Beauty and the Beast" the same year and needed a last-minute replacement Beast. I jumped in and fell in love with that, too. By my senior year, I knew I had to try to make a living out of it.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors that truly helped make you the Performer you are today?

Coming from the small town of Bullhead City, Arizona, I didn't feel that I had a good enough understanding of what I'd be up against to want to major in musical theatre, so I studied Business Management at ASU. At the same time, I started performing at a local regional theatre, Phoenix Theatre Company and learned a great deal from the directors and actors there--chiefly Michael Barnard, the Artistic Director. I was very lucky to get to learn the trade and hone my technique by watching and doing some good ol' fashioned trial-and-error. And there were LOTS of errors. But from high school teachers and voice coaches to NY-based acting coaches, producers, and friends, I've had a full village of mentors guiding me along the way. I certainly wouldn't have gotten far off the ground without them.

Wicked is truly one of the most popular musicals ever that have its fingerprints all over this industry(especially when it comes to the Amazing Wicked Alumni Pool). How does performing in such a great show as Fiyero on Broadway feel?

In a word: daunting. But in the best way. There's a distinct sense of responsibility performing there each night, because Wicked is one of those shows that gets people hooked on theatre at a young age, and that's due to the years and years of unbelievable performers they've brought through the Gershwin. My role specifically has already been embodied by numerous industry legends, and it's very surreal to be sitting in the same dressing room and getting to tell the same story. I don't take any of it lightly, and it's not an understatement to say getting to join a show of this scale has really reinvigorated the "theatre bug" in me. My inner theatre kid is losing his mind about 99% of the time. I've been here a couple of months, and I'm still in awe every night.

Are there other shows, performances, or moments in your career that will always stick out and be near and dear to your heart?

I'm fortunate to say there are already many. I performed a solo concert five years ago in my hometown and was gifted the key to the city by our mayor. It now resides on its own shelf in my parents' house in Bullhead. As an ASU alum, I was later honored with the "Rising Star Award" at Gammage in Tempe when my tour passed through. The cherry on top was my cast peeling off their costumes to reveal t-shirts with my face plastered across the front the moment after we finished bows and I received the award. Those experiences will always mean the world.

What advice would you give any young artist who would like a career in the performing arts?

My experience has taught me that it's all about people. It sounds basic, but it's SO important: never be afraid to shake a hand, say hello, or ask for advice. The worst anyone can say is no, and most of the time, that won't be the case. There are a lot of aspects of the industry that can't be googled, so people are the best resource, and expressing gratitude afterward is the best way to ensure they'll want to help you again. I've always been shocked at how often people are surprised when I thank them. It's so simple a thing, and I'm so glad my parents instilled the importance of it in me.

Wicked is currently playing at The Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. For more information please visit -https://wickedthemusical.com. And to learn more about James make sure you follow him at@jamesdgish and visit his official website at - www.jamesdgish.com

"Never Be Afraid to Shake a Hand, Say Hello, or Ask for Advice." Chatting w/ Wicked's James D. Gish!

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