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“The Heart of Rock and Roll” has been beating strong on Broadway since its opening on Monday. Audiences and critics alike are raving about the show, which features the songs of 80’s music icon Huey Lewis. It’s also the vehicle that probably introduces Corey Cott to many theatre goers. The 34-year-old Mississippi native landed the lead role of Bobby and has been seen previously in Newsies, Gigi and Bandstand. Cott appeared on 710 WOR’s Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning program to discuss why he’ll sing his heart and soul out for the show’s success.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Cott told Berman and Riedel. “We knew people would love the music, but the thing about the show is, actually, it’s incredibly funny. It’s a really tongue-in-cheek, 80’s rom-com, in the style of John Hughes, with Huey Lewis music. And it has a lot of heart, but it’s also really, really funny. You just never know how the jokes are going to land until you get a fresh audience in there, so it’s really exciting to hear that not only audiences are loving it, but that critics loved it, as well.”
Growing up, however, “Playing Sports” didn’t mean spinning a Huey Lewis album to Cott, but rather playing baseball and football. One day, however, the acting bug hit him like a hammer. “I loved sports, and in eighth grade, a friend of mine was like, hey, do you want to come and try out to be in this musical, Les Mis, with me? It’s a community theatre production… and I got cast as one of the students in Les Mis, and from then on, I was bit by the bug. I studied at Carnegie Mellon University, the drama school, for four years, and then right after school I moved to New York and booked my first show. That was twelve years ago, and I’ve been going after it ever since.”
Despite the show’s success, Cott is taking things in stride; in fact, the experience of talking to Huey Lewis still makes him giddy. “It’s amazing, he’s this rock and roll legend and he’s so willing to do whatever it takes to make the show great. I’ve really, really enjoyed just spending time with him, and I feel like I have a new friend. It’s so funny, I’ll get a text or a call from him just giving me an idea for the show, and I have to pinch myself. I go, Huey Lewis is freakin’ calling me on the phone right now, this is wild!”
“The Heart of Rock and Roll” is now playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 West 48th Street. Tickets are on sale at Telecharge.com or by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or 800-447-7400.
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