Sarcasm is my only defense

And what motivates you to do this story, not only as an actor, but also as a producer, having won two Tony Awards, for best musical and best actor? CRISS – My general calling as an artist is connection. And that’s my goal every day. It’s to try to minimize distance and to share as many ideas as possible. And this show is one of the most accessible pieces I’ve ever been a part of. And what I mean by that is, I’ve been a part of things that maybe resonated with a certain age group or experience or background. I’ve never been a part of something that could, without a shadow of a doubt, invite as many people as possible of all ages and experiences, people who know everything about theater, people who know nothing about theater, whether you hate it or love it. It’s been able to withstand every kind of advantage or obstacle. So I’m glad it was able to happen, but when I initially said yes, it was because I just thought it was something so special and original, which is very hard to do. How did you prepare for the show, which required a lot of physical fitness? CRISS – Well, I have a background in physical theater and physical theater traditions that come from a lot of inspirations around the world, like European theater, Commedia dell’arte, clowning and mime, and a lot of this physical storytelling that’s been around for hundreds of years. I would also mention a lot of East Asian theater, particularly Japan and Kabuki. And a lot of those physical traditions and the way you tell a story that goes beyond dialogue. You use your body and the mask, the mask being your face and the way you speak. You know, those are all tools to use. So I used a lot of those tricks that I had up my sleeve to create something that was kind of contemporary.

PANROTAS – We want to see the show because of the awards, the Tonys, because of the history, but also because of you. How long are you committed to the show? CRISS – For now, until August 31st. I hope this is the show that I’ll be a part of for the rest of my life. I’m looking forward to seeing the show open all over the world, in different languages ​​and times. That’s the goal. We’re just getting started. It’s funny, I’ve done over 250 shows, and yet we’re just getting started. The great thing about the Tony Awards is that they actually renew the contract for a lot of shows, and we’ve been very fortunate to have this new contract, so we can attract people from outside of our little New York. What were your biggest learnings or things you will take with you? CRISS – I don’t know, it’s hard to say because we’re still in it. I think it’s going to be a lifelong process. I’m still trying to process, on a personal level, what happened on Sunday at the awards. You don’t really have a lot of time to sit on that because you go straight back to work. I go straight back to my personal life, I go straight back to my professional life. You can’t just sit on the beach thinking about your life. You keep moving. So I got the flu and then I went to work and then I came here and did a show last night in New York, so it’s just bang bang bang bang bang. I really haven’t been able to think of anything because you just have to keep working, it’s not over. So I don’t know the answer. I mean, John Lennon said that life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. I don’t know what I’ll say definitively about what I’ve learned or what I’ve taken away with me, because it’s still happening and I’m still very close to the microscope. I’ll know soon enough. But all I know is that I’m constantly overwhelmed with gratitude and pleasure. It was a huge privilege, one of the greatest privileges of my life, to be part of this program. PANROTAS – Could you talk a little about traveling? You said you love to travel. You’re from San Francisco. Where do you like to travel to? Is there a dream destination you haven’t visited yet? CRISS – Oh my gosh, so many places. I mean, it’s a huge world. I’ve traveled a lot, more than, yeah, probably most people. I think of travel the same way I think of great movies or great books or great plays. You’ve heard about them, you’ve been told they’re great, and you don’t make any active effort to avoid them. It’s just that there’s only so much time in your day and in your life that you can make for those things. So, just like the great art of the world, the great cities of the world are works of art that should be appreciated and experienced by everyone. And so, there’s a lot for me. I would love to go to India, Iceland, Antarctica. There are some mountains I would love to climb, I would love to hike. There is so much on Earth, not just cities, that I would like to see. I would like to spend more time in South America. There are a lot of trains around the world that I love. I am a huge fan of trains, so there is no shortage of places I would love to go and things I would love to do.

PANROTAS – And which destination do you like to return to? CRISS – Well, if I can help it, I always try to go somewhere new if I have time. I try to… whenever I plan a trip, which is rare these days, but if I have to travel, I don’t go back to a place unless it’s with someone who’s never been there. And it’s also going to be in a city that neither of us have been to. I always want to move forward and I think when I’m older, I’ll pick my favorites and stick to them, but that’s one of the great things about being a musician and being on tour, is that you get to go back to a lot of your favorite places, so I certainly have my favorites, but yeah, there’s a lot to see that hasn’t been seen yet. PANROTAS – Tell us about some of your favorite places. CRISS – I won’t be the first person to say that Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Everybody knows that. It’s like, it’s just true. I have a lot of favorites. Look, we’re in Chicago right now. I love Chicago so much. I had an amazing time in Chicago. It’s one of my favorite places to eat and drink. One of my favorite museums in the world is here in Chicago, the Art Institute. Mexico City is another amazing place. So, as an art fan, Chicago is a place that I always go back to. I used to make a point of coming here at least once a year, when it’s nice to go to some restaurants, see some friends. I’m not just saying that because we’re here, I would say it’s a city that I love to come back to. New Orleans is a city that touches me deeply. I have a lot of history there.