HARRY CONNICK JR ROLLS WITH PAJAMA GAME DANCING

Performing live eight shows a week proved to be a challenge for Harry Connick Jr who was nominated for Best actor in a musical in The Pajama Game. Harry is used to handling a microphone but singing and dancing at the same time caused a few on-stage mishaps.

In the show Harry’s got some pretty fancy footwork to master while singing the show’s signature song, There Once Was A Man opposite Kelli O’Hara.

“Every night something happens man. I’m always messing lines up and messing choreography up. I happen to thrive on those situations. I really dig, I like that. That makes it more spontaneous and it makes it awkward. I’ve always liked not having a routine. I don’t do it on purpose but when it happens it’s a lot of fun.”

Singing comes more naturally for Harry who can still remember the very first time he performed in front of a live audience.

“I’ve always kind of moved around on stage and have danced around by myself but I’ve never really been choreographed before. If you liked it at all you need to credit Kathleen Marshall because she had to really wrangle me into place to do that stuff, you know.”

If you haven’t had the chance to hear Harry on Broadway you can buy his new CD Harry on Broadway Act I which features the music from The Pajama Game and Thou Shalt Not.rnrnrn

“I was five years old and I played the National Anthem at the opening of my dad’s campaign headquarters. He was running for District Attorney at the time. That was the first time I actually got in front of a crowd and played.”