By Khalida Sarwari
Twenty-five years ago, singer Whitney Houston made her acting debut in “The Bodyguard,” a romantic thriller that weaved together such memorable songs as “I Will Always Love You” and “I’m Every Woman.” To this day, the film boasts the best-selling soundtrack of all time.
Stepping into Houston’s massive shoes, Deborah Cox, a Grammy-nominated R&B and pop artist in her own right, will be giving life to the late singer’s character in a new touring musical based on the film, playing through Sunday at San Jose’s Center for Performing Arts.
Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar-nominated film and adapted by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris, “The Bodyguard” is a romantic thriller about Rachel Marron (played by Cox), a music star who is enjoying the pinnacle of her career, but also a mother and businesswoman who learns she’s being stalked so has her team hire a Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard (Judson Mills) who she ends up falling in love with.
Mills is a TV actor known for his performances as Texas Ranger Francis Gage in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and Alexander “Hutch” Hutchinson on “As the World Turns.”
On a professional level, Cox said she found herself relating a lot to her character. Among the more salient similarities are that both she and Rachel have successful music careers and teams that help them make decisions about their life and career. And, they both have young sons.
“I find that I can relate to Rachel in the sense that she’s trying to balance life and career while in the midst of keeping her loved ones close and safe while there’s a threat of a stalker looming as well,” said Cox. “I’d say that she’s a really complex character because she can’t let her guard down for a minute.”
To date, Cox hasn’t had any stalkers of her own.
“I’ve had to deal with people that were extremely fanatic,” she said, but “no, thank God, knock on wood, I’ve never had to deal with a stalker.”
With acting chops like Cox’s, nobody’s the wiser. She said producers initially approached her about the role, and after reading the script, she took an immediate interest, having seen and loved the movie and soundtrack.
“I’d never seen the show, so I didn’t really have any reference,” she said. “I just read the script and I thought it was a really good project that I could sink my teeth into.”
While she came into the role ready for the singing and acting, Cox said she wasn’t quite as prepared for the physical demands required of her character.
‘It’s a very physical role,” she said. “There’s a lot of dancing and I’m on stage about 95 percent of the time. It’s something that I had to really adjust to.”
To cope, she said she has made sure to fit plenty of relaxation time into her tour schedule, along with weekly massages and resting her voice. It’s a regimen she’ll likely continue when she comes to San Jose next week. While she has visited San Francisco and Sacramento before, it’ll be her first time in the South Bay, she said, and she’s looking forward to exploring the area when she’s not on stage or occupied with press functions.
After San Jose and the conclusion of the tour, Cox’s plans for the immediate future are a little less concrete, but they just might include a stop on Broadway, more records and even films. The sky seems to be the limit for the star.
“I plan on continuing to record more and finding more projects that allow me to be a full artist,” she said.
Rounding out the cast of “The Broadway” are Alex Corrado as Tony Scibelli, Rachel’s personal security guard; Jarid Faubel as FBI agent Ray Court; Charles Gray as manager Bill Devaney; Jonathan Hadley as publicist Sy Spector; Jorge Paniagua as the stalker; Jasmin Richardson as Rachel’s sister Nicki Marron; and Douglas Baldeo and Kevelin B. Jones III, who alternate in the role of Rachel’s son, Fletcher.
The sets and costumes are by Tim Hatley, with choreography by Karen Bruce, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Richard Brooker.
Among the many memorable songs featured in the “The Bodyguard” are “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and one of the biggest-selling songs of all time, “I Will Always Love You.”
Cox recorded eight of the most requested songs from the production in a new album released on March 31.
“The Bodyguard” had its world premiere in 2012 at London’s Adelphi Theatre and went on to receive nominations for four Laurence Olivier Awards, including best new musical and best set design.
The national tour is produced by Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc. The San Jose engagement is presented as part of Broadway San Jose’s 2016-17 season.
“The Bodyguard” runs through April 30 at the Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose. Tickets are $43-$128 at ticketmaster.com, 800.982.ARTS (2787) or the City National Civic Box Office, 150 W. San Carlos St., San Jose. For more information, visit thebodyguardmusical.com.
Link: ‘The Bodyguard’ starring Deborah Cox debuts in San Jose
