By: Ashmar Mandou

You most likely were swept up in the glitzy and complicated world of “The Great Gatsby” whether you read it in high school or have seen it on the big screen. Now, the story comes to life in a Broadway musical at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. “I think, in my opinion, I think the story is a fantastic adaptation of the book,” said Joshua Grosso, who plays narrator Nick Carraway in the musical. “I think F. Scott Fitzgerald did such a brilliant job, and I hope this musical kind of serves as the gateway or doorway, if you will, to go ahead and read the book. I think what makes an adaption a good one, one worth reading or watching, is one that serves the story, the points of the story, the justices of the characters, but also gives its own interpretation and has its own flavor to it.”

Hailing from Colombia, Grosso, who has appeared in national tours such as Les Misérables, In The Heights, The Band’s Visit, and Urinetown, discovered his love of plays from a very early age. His passion led him to become a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University BFA Musical Theater. Grosso is excited to bring this Broadway musical, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel, to life for the Chicago audience. “This show is filled with glitz and glam and I know the audience will love it.” Prior to opening night, Lawndale Bilingual News spoke to Grosso about his interpretation of Nick Carraway and what the audience should expect.

Lawndale News: What inspired you to pursue a career in acting?
Joshua Grosso: Oh man, honestly it was my family. My dad was a pastor; my mom was also part of the ministry. I don’t know. I think from a young age I was part of church plays. I didn’t really think about it seriously. And I would say it was my parents that noticed that I had some sort of gift or ability or talent for it. They kind of started investing in me, as one does. They started sending me to classes. But I think it was early high school when I first really discovered musical theatre and saw that you could act and you could sing at the same time [laughs]. I realized this was the one thing I could do because it wasn’t math [laughs].

LN: How do you begin to build your own interpretation of the character Nick Carraway while there are several iterations out there?
JG: We all go back to the book, right. So, I did the step of the simplest thing, which is going back to the book. Just reading and doing a surgical kind of homework at how the 1920s were like at that time and how people lived. In terms of making the character my own, I have this kind of philosophy in terms of acting that I don’t have to worry about it being different because it’s me and I’m not anyone else. It’s my own experiences, my own take on the whole thing. So, what I try to do is look for the parts of the character that I really don’t understand or that really make me uncomfortable and really dive into that because those are the parts that are the furthest from me. But I mean, the whole entire book is Nick so it’s kind of a joy to be there and just kind of receive it and soak up all that information.

LN: What do you enjoy most about playing Nick Carraway?
JG: I love the fact that it’s the role of being the narrator, essentially, which allows me to witness a lot of the hard work, and lot of the beautiful work that our cast is doing on stage. My favorite moments are the ones where I don’t have to speak or where I don’t have to do anything but just be there and experience what’s happening on stage with the audience.

LN: Is there a moment or song that you personally look forward to witnessing or performing?
JG: Oh, that is a good question. Um, New Money, I know is good. I know it looks fantastic. It’s hard to really say, because I know it looks good and I’m in it. It’s hard for me to say how it looks from the outside looking in, but everybody has said that it looks fantastic. In the second act, La Dee Dah, has got to be one of my favorites because almost the entire cast is on stage at the same time and that is…when you get those opportunities like that, that’s a lot of fun. We are just all out there and we are doing it. So that’s enjoyable.

LN: What message do you have for those who want to follow in your footsteps and pursue a career in acting?
JG: Know why you are doing it. You don’t have to know now when you’re twelve or fifteen, or necessarily at any given age. But every time you check back just make sure that it nurtures you and that it nurtures everyone around you.

“The Great Gatsby” is currently playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through May 3rd, for dates, tickets or general information, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com.

Photo Credit: Broadway in Chicago