Yesterday, James D Smith was acclaimed as one of Australia's most promising emerging artists.
Today he truly emerges, leaping into a coveted blockbuster role.
Showbiz supremo John Frost, who knows more than a thing or two about investing in top talent, has announced Smith as a new cast elevation in Dirty Dancing for its October opening in Adelaide.
For Adelaide audiences, this is particularly pleasing since they remember Smith very fondly for his Fringe concerts at the Promethean, not to mention headlining with Pete Murray and The Whitlams at the Fringe 2013 closing concert.
He is one those for whom success has been a steady path, assured by diligent honing of the skills in broad and constant showbiz experience. He came from a musical family wherein his father taught him guitar early on. He went on to gain a degree in musical performance from the Ballarat Arts Academy.
He's made all the right moves, working wherever work was to be found, showing his discipline with long stage seasons as in four years playing Boq in the hit musical Wicked as it toured the world. He's sung Carols by Candlelight concerts in front of massive open-air crowds. He has entertained the champagne-sippers on cruise ships. He sung clubs, bars and backing. He's been where the work has been.
He has been touring with Dirty Dancing as Mark Vincent's understudy in the role of Billy Kostecki for some time and now, just as in all the showbiz dream-come-true stories, the understudy door opens and he is granted the prized role.
While Smith's training encompassed operatic singing, he has become known in the pop/indie genre. Very different from that of his predecessor in the role, Smith's voice is of a lovely light tenor character with some very beautiful and unusual resonances. Bert Newton has been quoted describing it as "a magnificent voice which reaches out and touches all emotions" while the Promethean's David Grice swooned: "Quite simply his is the best male voice I have ever heard. I was sitting there not actually believing I was hearing what I was."
Dirty Dancing showcases that special voice with two of the best songs in the show - The Time of My Life and The Still of the Night.
The season commences in Adelaide on October 2 at the Festival Theatre.
Samela Harris
When: 2 Oct to 1 Nov
Where: Festival Theatre
Bookings: bass.net.au
