Interview by Jeremy Kinser
Photography by John Skalicky
www.skalickyphoto.com

Tom Korbee stars as the title character in the world premiere mythical adventure musical Pilgrim, which runs through April 23 at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, 1615 N. Vine St., Hollywood. For tickets, call (800) 595-4849, or visit www.tix.com.

For more information, visit www.whatispilgrim.com.

Tell us about your show Pilgrim.

It's a love story that follows Tinker, or "the pilgrim," on his journey for freedom. Along the way he falls in love with a girl who is of a higher class than he is and he faces all these obstacles. There are a lot of metaphors for things we have to go through to find happiness.

When and where does the story take place?

The setting is this other world that's not today or yesterday. It's almost a dream version of Renaissance time.

OK, so you've got the comic book/sci fi-fantasy nerds covered. How will you get the gay and lesbian audience to see the show? Do you wear skimpy costumes?

(Laughs) I'm pretty much bare-chested the whole show. I've heard that will be helpful.

Since this is an original musical, how does creating your character differ from portraying a familiar role in a well-known musical?

I think it's more challenging because no one has seen this character before. When you're playing a character that everyone knows there are traps you can fall into very easily. You can do the same thing other actors have done. With a character everyone knows the biggest challenge is to find something new about the character that people haven't seen before. With this, everything is new. I think it's more freeing as an actor because there is really no right or wrong in doing the character unless (laughs) the writer doesn't like what you're doing.

You've written and produced two musicals of your own. What do you enjoy most about the creative process?

I'm a singer/songwriter first and foremost. I've been writing music since I was 6. The first musical I wrote when I was a senior in high school. I produced it and it was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot. The second show was during my senior year in college. I got the Cincinnatti Conservatory of Music to produce it. It was a really huge success. A lot of my songs are pop rock, but some are written in the musical theater genre. I'm used to singing all my music so when I handed the songs over to a bunch of really talented singers, they took on a whole new meaning.

What are some of your career highlights so far?

Opening in Pilgrim and I originated another role in a show called Show Tune, which is a Jerry Herman song book. I got to do that off-Broadway. That was my first gig out of college. It was me and these big Broadway names in a small cast of six. I got to work one-on-one with Jerry Herman on the songs and it was a very, very exciting experience.

That will look sweet on your resumé. What are your plans after Pilgrim?

I just signed a recording contract.

Congrats! Will you be recording your own music?

Yes, it'll be all mine. I like to say if Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen had an orgy and had a kid it would be me. The reason I moved out here was to get into the music business once and for all. I'm finally feeling successful.