Bryan Batt, star of
AMC’s hit show
Mad Men, came and spent lunch with Joan today during the Joan Hamburg Show. Although it was not the usual “martini lunch” his character Salvatore Romano is use to on the show, Bryan entertained as he does so well with stories of his passions both on and off screen.
Bryan first off discussed the event he is promoting which takes place Sunday, September 27th called the Broadway Cares Flea Market & Grand Auction which is setup to help fight AIDS. The auction takes place right in the heart of the theater district and there is so much going on during the event. This is Bryan’s eighth year participating in the fundraiser, which helps generate money by selling and auctioning off memorabilia from various Broadway shows. You can meet the stars, get autographs signed, and take home a piece of Broadway history with you.
Bryan and Joan then discussed the roots of his career which all start in New Orleans; a place he still calls home to this date, He owns and maintain a store there which sells designer home furnishing. The store originated in Manhattan, but his partner and him brought the operation to New Orleans, his hometown. Turmoil unfortunately came in the form of Hurricane Katrina just two years after their opening in Louisiana. Although the city is still suffering from the aftermath of the powerful storm, Bryan says that the store is going strong and the city is beginning to thrive again. He now spends most of his time there in between filming in L.A. and coming to visit his third home, New York.
Bryan then told Joan of the beginnings of his career and success on Mad Men. Oddly enough, the audition came during the time he was evacuating from Katrina. Bryan had relocated to his mother’s residence in Sonoma and could not get back into the city after the hurricane hit. His partner and him decided to treat family that had helped with the boarding up of their store by going on a trip to Paris as a way to say thanks. Bryan got a call from his agent asking him if he would be interested in this part for a new television series during the time away. Figuring he would not get a part for TV, Bryan said he would go in if the studio and producers had not found anyone they liked. Time rolled on with no success and eventually Bryan decided to go in and perform the audition. He simply went in once and came out with the part. The rest at this point his history,
The two brought the interview to the end with a discussion about Bryan’s role as Salvatore Romano, art director for the Sterling Cooper agency. Sal, as referred to on the show, is a successful man with a perfect wife, but is a closet homosexual who finally let his true sexuality show during a slip in a scene this season. Bryan says his character has not absorbed him, but is a ton of fun to act. Once he jumps into the suit and slicks the hair back, the character comes alive.
Additional information on the 23rd Annual Flea Market & Grand Auction
www.broadwaycares,org
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