The Musical-Theater Dancer
Wicked cool gig; Auburn native enjoying 3-1/2-year run in blockbuster musical
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
Aug 27, 2010
Spencer in the Broadway National Touring Company of Wicked
by Richard Duckett
Some people complain about having to work the swing shift.
Not Spencer Jones.
Being the "swing" in the national touring production of the musical "Wicked" has worked out well for the Auburn native. For one thing, it has provided steady employment. Jones has been with "Wicked" for three and a half years, a period of stability that most actors, singers and dancers looking to make a living in theater can only dream about. Now he's going to be close to home for the next seven to eight weeks as "Wicked" - the hit musical telling "the untold story of the witches of Oz" before Dorothy showed up - plays at the Boston Opera House Sept. 1 to Oct. 17.
In theater, the swing is someone who can step in at a moment's notice and take over a given part in the show. For "Wicked," Jones has learned nine ensemble roles, which includes knowing all the choreography and singing that each character has to perform. He is also the understudy for the character of Chistery, a flying monkey. So on any given night, he could be a monkey, student, palace guard or regular citizen of Oz.
"It's such an amazing show. Not having to do the same part all the time, I don't get burned," Jones said during a recent phone interview when the show was in Columbus, Ohio.
People can miss their regular turns for a number of reasons, including injury, sickness and personal days. That's when Jones steps in. How often can vary, but on average for an eight-show week, he'll likely appear in four of them, he said. And when he's not needed, "I just get to sit backstage and do whatever I want to do."
European cast of Grease
That sounds wicked good, as we might say in Worcester. It's also on some levels wicked surprising. His bread and butter in "Wicked" is his dancing, as it has been in other shows he has appeared in such as the national and European tours of "Grease," "A Chorus Line," "Footloose," "The Music Man" and "Radio City Christmas Spectacular."
And yet Jones took to dancing relatively late - at age 17.
Pictured above we see Spencer and friend in costume for the "Romance on Broadway" show aboard the Volendam, one of Holland America's Cruise Ships.
He had been singing and acting since he was 10 and was seen in almost every show at Auburn High School while he was a student there before graduating 10 years ago. But he figured he needed to have dancing ability if he was to have a chance in professional theater, where producers are often looking for a "triple threat" - someone who can act, sing and dance.
Jones enrolled at the Jo Ann Warren Studio at 321 Grafton St., Worcester. He caught on quickly. "It's so crazy to think that everyone else was doing it since 2 or 3 years old," he said. "I just had it in me, I guess."
In an earlier interview, Warren recalled, "When he came here, he was anxious to learn, never thinking he was going to be a dancer. He had a lot of heart and desire. He picked up very quickly, and he's very intelligent. He worked hard. He was here all the time."
His first dancing job was at Busch Gardens in Virginia. During the Boston run of "Wicked," Jones will give a couple of classes at the Jo Ann Warren Studio.
He's looking forward to the New England leg of the tour - "Boston in the fall is the best time to be there." His base is now New York City, but he's touring so often he's rarely there.
However, Jones doesn't seem to be tiring of the "Wicked" life. Meanwhile, "the show is so popular, there is no close date," he said.
Spencer (right) and the Rockettes
"Wicked" opened on Broadway in 2003, where it is alive and well and the winner of three Tony awards. There are two North American touring shows, as well as companies touring the world. When "Wicked" was last in Boston in 2007, it broke box-office records and sold out in record time.
"I really haven't thought about what to do next. I did get my real estate license," Jones said.
He seems to feel right at home dancing and singing in the ensemble regardless of the show. There seem to be no heady dreams of taking the lead in a show, or to play it straight and become a Hamlet.
"No, that's not my cup of tea," Jones said perfectly straightforwardly. "I enjoy being in the ensemble, the chorus. I enjoy this type of work."
Life aboard a cruise ship can get pretty tough. Especially when you're surrounded by lots of pretty girls.
At the age of 17, Spencer Jones was an accomplished vocalist, pianist and actor with plans to study musical theater in college. He enrolled in dance classes at JAWS to round out his performance skills with some basic dance technique.
A talented performer, Jones picked up dancing very quickly. Immediately, I included him in competitions and studio productions to help him gain experience and poise. I also allowed him word at the studio to offset some of the cost. Jones trained intensively at my studio for one and years before leaving to study musical theater at Wagner College.
After one year of school Jones was anxious to perform. Recognizing his talent, I encouraged him to take the risk and follow his heart.
He did. Jones accepted a position at Bush Gardens and never returned to Wagner.
Holland America Cruise Lines
Within six months of returning from Bush Gardens, he was dancing professionally for Holland America Cruise Lines.
Today, Jones is living out his life-long dream, appearing in the national touring production of “The Music Man.” He has danced in European and national tours of “Grease,” “A Chorus Line,” and “Footloose,” as well as productions of “Miss Saigon” at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey and “The King and I” at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in New York. I am proud to say, Jones is frequently hired to dance in these productions and later surprises directors with his vocal and acting ability!
