For many actors landing a spot on Broadway is a dream, but for Creighton James, an Ohio State alumnus, it has been an overnight dream come true. James received a role as an understudy in the Broadway show "The Homecoming" shortly after receiving his master's degree at New York University.
"I am just lucky enough that it happened in less than five months." James said. "It's something you always think about but a part of you thinks it might never happen."
It is almost impossible to get on Broadway without an extensive background or a good agent, James said adding that it takes some young actors years to even get even an audition.
"I could not imagine anyone without either being very established already or at least having something to get you in the door, and for me it was a masters degree," he said.
James, 32, grew up in Youngstown with a goal of becoming an accomplished actor. After getting his bachelor's degree in theatre at OSU, James and four other OSU alumni started Ensemble Actors Theatre. After two years he left Columbus and began his education at NYU in its fine arts department, which led to a spot on Broadway.
"When I got into NYU I saw I was getting closer," James said. "Wow this might be more than just a dream; this might actually happen."
James has many skills that go beyond acting. He is the author of 10 full-length plays and several shorts produced in New York. James, along with Allyson Morgan, an OSU graduate in theatre, also founded a theater company called New York Theatre Experiment.
"The only way to go about it is to work your ass off, meet people and be likable," James said. "It is by far who you know."
Being a part of different theater companies and having a hardworking management company gave James the opportunity to audition for a lot of great roles. "The Homecoming" features some very prominent actors such as Ian McShane and Michael McKean. James is an understudy for three of the roles. The show will run eight times a week until April 13.
"The show is awesome ... I work with some really brilliant actors," James said.
"The Homecoming" has had some great reviews by the New York Times and the Associated Press.
"I felt a since of accomplishment... I had given myself five years to get onto Broadway and then I was going to give up on New York and move to Los Angeles," James said.
Broadway has been a huge boost to James' career. He has already been offered a role playing Mr. Darby in "Pride and Prejudice" for DIVA, a Theatre company in Rochester, NY.
"Once you have done a Broadway show and have that credit to your name, you can always go off and do something else," James said.
After the "The Homecoming" stops running James will venture to L.A. with plans of pursuing his acting career in television and film. He hopes to land roles that depicts either a heart-felt working class character or one with a harder edge, such as a gangster or a killer. For James it is about longevity.
"Once you get there you want to stay there," James said.
Whitney Miller can be reached at Miller.3859@osu.edu.
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