Video: Casey Cott Looks Back on His Spectacular Debut in MOULIN ROUGE!

Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge

Casey Cott, who is best known for the role of Kevin Keller in the hit television series, Riverdale

is making his Broadway debut as the newest Christian in the smash hit musical Moulin Rouge

and I caught up with him here at The Civilian. First of all, it's great to see you, my friend

You too, you too. It's been a while. It's been a minute, yeah. Okay, and now you're on Broadway

Now I can say it. Welcome to Broadway. Thank you. Thank you. How does it feel

It's amazing. Yeah. You know, I'm in my third week. It's been incredible

I could have never imagined, you know, you dream about it as a kid. And then it kind of happens, and you're just surrounded by all these incredible people

And the cast of Molyne Ridge is incredible. So they've just welcomed me in and kind of showing me the ropes

I feel like just ushering me around the first. few weeks and it's been amazing. Okay, Broadway debuts are really magical. Your brother had them

You were there for his. I mean, so talk about that first performance. Like, what do you remember

about that night? I don't remember much of my first show. I just remember everyone being like

remember this. Like, take it in. And I was like, ah. I got to get through it first. It was the most

yeah, just an incredible night. You know, the audience was amazing. My whole family was there

and just the support of the building, I just felt them loving me no matter what happened

They just were giving so much love, and I think that you just never forget it

It was incredible. And getting to do with Courtney and the cast who were all just, you know

literally at moments pushing me around stage or whatnot, they were just awesome

Okay. Well, Courtney Reid, the sensational Courtney Reid, who we all love, is your Satin

You both went in the same night. Does it make it easier, does it make it a little less stressful when the two leads go in together

You know, I haven't experienced the other way. So I think there's definitely some pros to going in together

I think being with such a professional like Courtney is phenomenal. Also, she did the tour, so she knew the show so well

And I think that having her is kind of a backboard whenever I didn't know where I was going

was super, has been super helpful and just encouraging. and she's incredible and the most kind

So I think a definite pro is having her. Sure. Go in with me for sure

So how do this all come about? Like it's like I'm going to come to Broadway. It's like Moulin Rouge, what a fabulous show

What a fabulous role. You know, I was thinking about that on the way here. I feel like I've been extremely fortunate to just have people take chances on me

in the past 10 years. I've been super interested in. playing this role for many years and I think I had a pleasure of working with Bill

Dmaschki and I've met Alex Timber a few times and the whole team I kind of knew through

various facets of life and you know whenever it was ending this opportunity arose and I

couldn't be more excited or thrilled that I get to be here okay what was the musical numbers in

the show were amazing what was the first song you learned and what was the last song you

learned the first song we we worked on a lot was the opening number, which fun enough is, you know, I don't sing too much in that number

but just the dancing and moving around. I think we really hammered that one home

And then the second one we really worked on is the pitch song, which is an act one with

you know, Zee Ler, Santiago and I, where we're pitching to the Duke, this show we're going to do

Just the moving pieces of that, it took quite a minute to figure out in the cadence of it

So we really worked on those, and they've become two of my favorite numbers

throughout that process. The first time you're on stage with the audience

it's like so exciting. And then pitch song is always just so much fun

It's hard not to laugh out loud every single night. So it's great

Okay, so opening night, it's a Broadway rock concert going to Moulin Rouge

So the second people walk into that theater and fall in love with everything about that show

So you make your entrance, it's a roar of applause. Like, where is your mind, like that first night

I think my mind was literally just don't fall off the stage. just try to go to the right place at the right time

and say the right thing and do the right thing and try not to lose my voice

and just take it all in and you know we made it through

the thing I do remember is all of a sudden the show was over and I was home and I was with my brother

and my wife and just like no idea what just happened at all

but just thrilled and sweating all day just sweating all day Just sweating all day

So I was it asked you, the bow that night. Do you remember anything about your bow? I remember Courtney grabbing me and kind of like helping me through it

I remember the audience was just so encouraging. Yeah. I do remember just being like, I think that just happened

That was everything I dreamed about as a kid. And, you know, as theater kids, you just embrace the moment and it was amazing

Yeah. Let's talk about the role of Christian. Okay. Such a wonderful role, but there's so much to it

I mean, what are the biggest challenges for you, like vocally and stamina? Yeah, I think, you know, for someone like me who hasn't been doing musical theater for quite a while

I think just learning those tools again and trusting the team has been a great learning process for me

And trusting myself has been something that I've been working on a lot. When you sing 10 songs, you really have to trust your instrument

and not push and trust Courtney. Courtney has been so helpful and Eric and Ricky

and Andre, they've just been so encouraging and loving and when they encourage me, listen

and when they give me advice, listening, along with, you know, directors and everybody

But I think just trusting, trusting the script, trusting the process and trusting the audience

is gonna love these songs. That's been the first couple weeks just focusing on that

And I think the more I do that, the more it kind of, just comes out a little easier

What a great role. Tell what you love about him and your Christian. I love

you know, I think we've been able to really identify this young guy

who's just so wanting to be loved and wanting to be validated by these

cookie awesome people and just being thrust into this world that is he kind of the only human in this world so to speak just being thrust into that and observing it and loving it and then

being welcomed in, I think, is my favorite thing and each night it feels like they're just wanting

me to be a part of their gang. And that's the greatest feeling you can have as human too, it's just wanting to be welcomed in

So they've been great both in the show and backstage. No, because it's great about this team and Alex, your director, because he's let everybody be themselves, bring their own person to the roles

I mean, that makes such a big difference. Yeah, you know, I mean, it's incredible playing this role after the two guys who have done it previous in this production

You know, everyone's the biggest Aaron Tivade fan. And also, Derek Clonaut, you can't think of two guys that are more incredible

So I've had the pleasure of kind of building off of what they've created, too. and, you know, Alex and the music team has really built on the things that they've found playing this role

And so I'm lucky to have them as well that have kind of helped this process. And I still hit up Derek every once in a while like, hey, what do you get your haircut or whatever

And he tells me right where to go. So he's, it's been a blessing to have those guys too

Yeah. The first time you saw yourself done up in the mirror as Christian, clothes everything

Like, what went through your mind? That was awesome. Yeah. That would have been, we did this photo shoot with Courtney and it was crazy

It was, it was, that was the first time where I thought, oh, this is real. And we were in the dressing room and it was, it was really exciting and hot

I was like, oh, this coat's kind of warm, we might have to get, but it was very, very exciting. Yeah

It's like, it's going to happen. Yeah, I was like, I'm going to be wearing this on stage in like a week. This is crazy

And this picture is going to be like all of my phone. Yeah, but it was awesome

It was really cool. Luckily, there was a lot of people taking photos in Vianx. I was just geeking out the whole time

Well, let's just talk about the success of this show. Were you a big fan of the film? Were you a fan of Lernerner

Yeah, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Tell me about that, yeah. I'm a huge Baz fan. And then, every movie he makes is incredible

From this to Elvis most recently. Sure. He's just the best. But this movie in particular, I think, transcended at the time

his genre, so to speak, like this incredible explosion of so many things

And if you watch it the careers that these actors have had since, it's like unbelievable

So I've always been a big bass fan. I hadn't gotten to see the musical

because I was in Canada for seven years. So getting to come see it finally

right before I joined, I got to see it like five times. I went every night, and it was just so exciting

I was like, whoa, this is crazy. So, yeah, but big, big Bazfan for sure

Yeah, investment great. You're like, oh my gosh, I'm going to be stepping into this role. I'm stepping into this show

Yeah, I was like, are you sure? This is crazy. I don't know. And I was also like, I'm going to need a lot of coffee to get this energy going

But it's great. It's the most fun ever. Like, you just go out there and raise the sign

and all of a sudden, the boom claps come in, and everyone starts cheering. And it's, every night, it's crazy

It's awesome. People fly in from all around the world to see Moulon Rouge on Broadway

Not once, not twice. sometimes three and four, they're huge fans. Why do you think people fall in love with this musical

Well, I think there's tons of reasons too. I think you come watch it and you have to know at least some of the songs

I think there's 70 songs in the show. So you have to know some of the songs and when they come on

you can just feel which part of the audience is connected to that song

or loves that song and wants to sing along with the song. I think the characters are also unique

and they all hold such a great place in the story. And they all bring something so different

And I think it's written in such an intricate way that each character kind of has its own moment

And all those things blend together to this crazy explosion of flights and action and music

and humor and joy and love and death. And, you know, there's just something for everyone

at some point of the show. So it's really fun. And it's fun to feel that on stage from the audience when you can feel them connecting to certain points

You know, it's really awesome. You know, Broadway is back bigger than ever

I mean, it's coming back. It's back. I mean, meeting the fans. Have you been able to meet some of the fans

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Do that now? Yeah. What's I've been like for you? It's amazing

I mean, it's amazing because I still feel like I'm still them

I don't feel like I am. I'm definitely them. So even when I'm backstage, I find myself just wanting to go talk to all the cast and be like, you know, like, tell me about when you're on waitress or whatever show you're in

And then when I get to go out, I feel like a high school kid again at the stage door and just meeting and talking to them

And it's something so unique that theater has too. In film and TV, you don't have this kind of way of sitting and talking right after

you perform with an audience. So, unless you're doing a sitcom, I guess, but this is, it's so unique

So you get to go out, and when the show is viving and the audience is viving

and then right after you get to all be together, it's, it's really, it's really cool

It's really cool. You know, theater is life-changing. It's unlike anything else

I mean, people like, oh my gosh, people do this line. You know, it's like, and because of your success in other mediums, people may be coming

to witness a show, a Broadway show for the very first time. Yeah

which happened to all of us. Yeah. What that means to you

Yeah, I think that, it's funny you asked, this is something I was thinking about today as well

When you hear someone say it was my first Broadway show, there's like this little tug at your heart that just, you know

we all remember the first Broadway show. And it's really the greatest honor you can have as an actor

to be a part of someone's first Broadway show. Hopefully they like it

And they come back for a second one. But, yeah, it's the best

What was your first Broadway show? that changed it for you? The first one was Wicked. Wow. Wicked

Original Broadway cast. Yeah, it was a while ago. Yeah, but not too long ago

Actually, I think Megan Hilty had taken over at that point she was in. That was life-changing for you

Wasn't it to say? It was. I thought, oh, this is so cool. I think it was my brother's first as well

We were all there, and we saw, I think we saw Lion King that trip as well

But the first life-changing, so to speak, I think, was fun enough watching

Aaron Tevate actually the Tony in Next to Normal on that cast being like that is so unlike anything I ever seen And I think that was one of the first times where I thought I want to do that I don know what that is but that sounds really cool

So, yeah. All those things kind of come together to create some chaos in your brain that makes us do what we do

Because you and your brother were theater kids, but you weren't brought up in a theater family, were you

No, in fact, he started, my brother started when he was young and kind of really was always into it

I didn't really catch the bug until I was 16 or so. I was a little bit later

But I always loved watching him and finally just jumped in and loved every second

I haven't turned back. Was there a defining moment for you when you said, I think I want to do this for a living and try to make a living at this

Yeah, I think I did a production of Guys and Dolls in high school

Would you play? Sky. And I had a broken ankle, so I had a boot and I just kind of like walked around

Sky and a boost. Yeah, actually my high school friends came to Milan Rouge two nights ago and we were laughing so hard about it

But that was a big one. I remember telling my parents I really wanted to do this

We had this high school performing arts high school for half the day in our town

I remember telling my parents I wanted to do that because I wanted to audition for schools. And they sat me down and said, you know, you can do this

But it's very, you know, difficult. It's, you know, there's a long road ahead

but we're going to support you if you want to. And so that was that

Because you've done some wonderful stage roles along the way. Yeah, I've been lucky to do a couple things here and there

You know, Tommy at the Kennedy Center was awesome. How incredible was that

It was incredible. I mean, that show was incredible. And I really was really wanting to do some theater at that time

being in the film space for a couple years. And the Kennedy Center is a very special theater, as we all know

And another time where a cast just really gave me everything I needed

And that was quick. It was really quick. I think it was about three weeks all encompassing

Did you know the show well? No, I didn't know. I mean, I knew the album, but I didn't know the show well

I knew it well enough. I mean, we all grew up with Pimball Wizard, so I knew it well enough

But I was, it was amazing. It was just like Mulan Rouge where these opportunities rise in your, I don't know

it's the most overwhelming, humbling experience you could ever have. Especially when you get to work with such great actors

I think that's the best thing ever. Yeah. But you've always found pockets

Like, you do parade. Did parade, yeah. I got to see that the other night too, which was awesome

Amazing, right? Yeah. Who did you play in parade when you did it? I played Frankie Epps and a young soldier

Yeah. I saw it like three or four days before my debut

and I was just a mess because I was thinking about, you know

I think it was 10 years ago. Yeah. And that production obviously was amazing

But just thinking, hearing those songs, thinking about singing those songs a decade ago

and about to make my Broadway debut is just awesome. Yeah. And you did the Prince of Egypt

Princess Stephen Schwartz, right? Like the Premier. Scott Schwartz. Yeah, we did a reading

with Slea Pfeiffer and Stark Sands. Look at that group that you were with

I know, I know. I got to see that. I was texting Slick. She just started, obviously

She's the best. But yeah, I've gotten to do some really cool things. And working with Stephen is a dream

And Scott Shorts, they're just the dream team. And Bill Domashki, actually

So the first connection. I didn't realize that. Okay, see? First connection. Full circle moment for you. Yeah

So opening night, we got to have that moment of, you know, full circle. Yeah

How early did you like to get to the theater? I go early. I need, I go an hour and 15 before

Good. And then just kind of have some tea and warm up and then annoying Courtney for the next 45 minutes

That's great. That's great, though. Yeah, because what are some of your pre-show rituals

Are those? I, just stretching, I've noticed. I'm not 20 anymore. So you got to really stretch, warming up their voice

And that cold way is. A lot, right? The coat weighs a couple of pounds. Just, I'm still in the face, too, of making sure I remember everything I'm supposed to do

So I kind of just go through the show right now. And then when it's time to go, it's time to go

Yeah. What's the last thing you do before you hit the stage? I have to walk backstage around, kind of backstage, and all the cast is kind of over there

So we all just have, like, a fun, like, fist bump or hug and rally each other up

because we're about to bring so much energy. And we just kind of like, here we go

It's like being on, you're at the locking end of the roller coaster, about to get on, and you're not getting off once it starts

Yeah. So that's kind of the vibe. And then I walk out and raise a sign, the boom clap start, and we get going

And then the show is over. Exactly. And then you take your bow. Exactly

All of a sudden we're bowing. But then you're in the whole show now, right? There's a lot of glitter in my hair

I'm trying to get that out. And then, yeah, next thing you know, you're at home eating cereal

I love it. It's a cereal. It's a cereal. Oh yeah, gotta have those grains

I was to say, how do you unwind after this show? It's a big show

Yeah, I think, you know, just I go home and if my wife's awake, we just chat

Yeah. She's asleep. I have a cup of tea and watch TV and then have a bowl of cereal, and then the next thing I know, I'm asleep

And that's morning. Yeah. So just kind of watching TV, I guess

Yeah. I'm not too exciting after the show. What are two show days like for you? Two show days are great

You know, there's, it's a learning process for me. So much fun

Another roller coaster, but this roller coaster is double as long. It's almost like they don't let you get off, but you're kind of excited to go again

The audiences are crazy fun. I actually, the matinees get to be really fun because the cast is just incredible

So there's moments where you're like, this is crazy. It's singing Roxanne at 3.30, but the audience gets into it and all of a sudden you're

on that ride and it's amazing. It's so much fun. And then I sleep for an extra hour that night

for sure. And being back in New York what it means to you, because you've been away for a while

Yeah, it's the best. It's the best. I love New York. And, you know, getting to travel to other

places for work is incredible But after seven years away I really enjoyed my time there My family there have my family now But I was so ready to be back in New York And to come here with my family now is amazing

And we're having our son here. And to just be in the theater community again is amazing

And, you know, it's, it's, I love New York. Well, let's talk about being a dad

Okay. How has being a dad changed the way? Well, we're, we got one more month

Oh, okay. Three more weeks. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's coming in hot. All right

Coming in hot. So being a soon to be dad. So almost being a soon to be dad, how is it life-changing view of how you look at your life

and how you look at your career? I mean, it puts everything into perspective

Being a dad, I've watched my brother do it. And a lot of my friends do it

And you never know until you until it comes. But I think it's just been nice when I'm really hard on myself

to remind myself, you know, there's a lot more going on in life

And if you crack here, you do something there, it's okay. Because the show goes on, and eventually you're home having your cereal

and soon I'll be feeding in milk while I have cereal. And Derek actually had his son during the run as well

So he's been amazing, giving me tips in the feeders already. And yeah, it's going to be awesome

It's going to be crazy. And I can always tell him, I was doing a Broadway show when you were born. And that's just the question

Because your brother... And he had his during bandstand. We were all there. Yes

I think your dad would... They were all going to hospital. It was pizza day

It was pizza day. It was pizza day, right? Yep. He had his right..

First week of bandstand. So we're actually using the same doctor they used

So you can't write it. You can't write it. So this is going to be the same thing

You're going to have your son... Right there. While you're on Broadway. Mm-hmm

Because I've asked Jeremy Jordan the same thing. I've talked to Jeremy a lot and I've talked to him all during the course of before he had his

baby girl and during and now but she's getting older. But just how it changes of how you look at everything

I think it opens your eyes a lot because, well, I mean, again, I'm going to learn more in

three weeks, but I seem a lot less important, which is a good thing

I think as actors sometimes we think a lot about ourselves. I don't know about anybody else

I know I do. So I'm excited to, along with my wife, have two people to really do the show for, you know

and really elevates it, I think. So we'll see. That and hopefully I get a little more sleep than I'm expected

I don't think you're going to. I don't think so enjoy the rest

You're getting between two show days now. I'm catching up now for later. There's no type of cereal after the show

I know, I know. We'll see what we can find. We'll see. Power bars

What are you loving the most about being here on Broadway? I mean, it's something like I said, we all dream and this as a kid

We come in, we see something and you say maybe one day I can work in this business somehow

And now here you are at the Al Hirschfeld, the old Martin Beck Theater. Walking through that stage door eight times a week

I think the surprising favorite thing for me is the process of learning the show

Your first show is nothing like you would expect it to be. It's better and worse and different and cooler and weirder and funky

And then you get to go do two shows the next day. And then you finish that week and then the next week you go back and you learn so much more

And I'm in my third week and I'm still all day, just thinking about things that I'm trying to figure out vocally and here and there

And if you really love that process, it's the coolest thing ever. But you have to trust the process, and that's something that they've been telling me to do

But I really like learning and learning new things and trying new things. And eventually, I think you kind of find this playing field that you operate in

So I'm excited to get there, but we're getting closer. No, because people always told me it's not just the onstage track you have to learn

Oh, yeah. Like Gwen Varden always said she taught all the charities. the backstage track

Oh, she goes, I have two seconds to sit here to take a sip of water, or I sit down for two seconds, and then I get up

So what's Christian's track like offstage, or is there one? Scotty is my guy

He's with me, the entire show. He's my incredible dresser. Who moves you around

He does everything. I couldn't tell you my track because he literally tells me where to go

and he does everything. He's the best. And then sometimes a castmate will just, like I said

physically grab me and put me wherever I'm. need to go. But it's a little bit of a dance back there for sure. And every once in a while

they go, hey, after this song, can you make sure you go, no, no, no. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, but I have no idea. And I just hopefully find my way around. And they're the best. That backstage

is so much fun. The biggest lesson I learned joining the show is how much fun you have backstage

It is the greatest party in the world. It is so much fun. They are just dancing, singing

and moving around, having the best time, every show. So it's all. awesome. Okay, so I made my Broadway debut in the prom. I did a Wednesday matinee. Oh, no way. Yeah, as the

interviewer. And I worked really hard on this. Yeah? And I'll tell you, I had to open the show. I had to listen

to the overturn that I had to did, I had to watch the curtain go up. That whole entire cast was just

having so much fun on stage. And they were trying to make me laugh. Oh, yeah. And I was like

I am focused. I was not going to miss my entrance. For sure. So it's like it happens at Moulon Rouge

too, right? Oh, yeah. Yeah. But luckily, a lot of the times we're trying to make each other laugh

the scene so it works out. And now you're comfortable with that. And now we're comfortable with it

Yeah, the first night they definitely weren't. But now every once in a while, I get a couple sad eyes or whatnot

So there's never a dull moment, we'll say that. It's crazy back there

Oh, yeah. It's hilarious. It's the most fun. Let me tell you back to opening night for a second. Who was there from your family, your loved ones, your theater peeps

Who was there that night that made it extra special for you that first performance? I think just my family being there, a couple of my castmates from Riverdale got to guys

some of my great friends in New York were there. Going back, you learn

maybe your first show, you give people a couple weeks before they come, but I would have never changed the thing

about all those people being there. And after they just give me a hug, my college roommate was there

his wife. Yeah, just seeing my family, seeing my parents after, I think

was the most special. And I think, you know, seeing my brother and my sister

and, you know, my wife, it was just, it was awesome. I was so tired, though

Yep. I couldn't imagine. The most exhilarating exhaustion of all time. Well, there's nothing like it

We were so excited when I heard that you were announced to come here. I was like, finally

You know, but like I said, just enjoy this whole entire time. So you're in for a nice limited run

Right. Right. I'm excited. It's going to be so much fun. Welcome to New York

Welcome to Broadway, my friends. So good to see you. Always good. Always a pleasure

Yeah