Sam Button-Harrison, a 25-year-old straight actor who lives in Edgewater, was admittedly nervous at the world premiere earlier this year of the musical Under A Rainbow Flag, based on the life of gay World War II veteran Jon Phillips, a 91-year-old Chicago-area resident.
UPDATE: "Under A Rainbow Flag" has been honored with a Non-Equity Jeff Award. See www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-Pride-Films-Plays-wins-two-Non-Equity-Jeff-Awards/43085.html .
Sure, there was a "classy" gay scene involving Button-Harrison and, ironically, another straight actor. But actually it was the fact Phillips was watching the performance that made Button-Harrison a wee bit nervous.
"It was a little intimidating when I first found out (I had the role) because I've never played someone who I've actually gotten to meet before. My worries were that he'd come see the show and say, 'That's not me; that's not how I'd do that,' or something like that," Button-Harrison said.
Instead, Button-Harrison was right on in the role, pleasing himself and making Phillips proud.
The play—which Pride Films and Plays produced and David Zak directed, with music direction by Robert Ollis—ended its Chicago run April 21. The musical is up for 2013 non-Equity Jeff Awards for Best Musical, Best Director (Zak), New Work (Leo Schwartz), Music Direction (Ollis), and Supporting Actor (James Nedrud).
"As I've gotten to know Jon, he's one of the nicest people I've ever met. It's been fascinating to have this wealth of information and stories to draw from," Button-Harrison said. "It's been really valuable having Jon and all of his stories, and it's been really amazing how much of myself I could find in Jon, and really focus on those parts."
Button-Harrison said playing a role long before he was even born was not too challenging, and with both actor and the real Phillips carrying Midwest roots, that seemed to help, he said.
Phillips said he saw himself in a whole different light through the play.
"I think the biggest thing that I got out of [the play] was, the friendship with Jon, who is now kind of a mentor to me," Button-Harrison said. "I didn't have a lot of issues connecting with [the character I was playing] because I do feel like Jon and I are very similar in a lot of ways. We're both just nice guys who enjoy getting to know people, and are open-minded. I think I was able to find a lot of myself in the character."
Playing gay was not an issue for the actor, who has a lesbian sister and many gay friends through his musical theater background.
But there was a "classy [gay] sex scene," he said.
"I remember the first time that actor and I [practiced] that scene," Button-Harrison said. "We busted out laughing midway through because we're both straight and, well, neither of us really knew how it worked. It wasn't something that was awkward; we just weren't too familiar with it."
A Des Moines native who has lived in Chicago for two years, Button-Harrison said the play was "a blast," and "a great show to be a part of."
"We got a lot of great feedback on the play, which I think has something for everyone—happy moments, sad moments and everything in between. It's a love story that covers every aspect of love," Button-Harrison said. "My parents came and watched the show. Sure, it may have been a little weird for them to see some of the [gay] things that happened in it, but they came out after watching the play truly loving it. Jon is such a fascinating person. He's met everyone, has befriended so many people in his life."
Phillips said the play "helped clarify who I was," and added that Button-Harrison "had an innate sense of what the gay Jon Phillips would be like.
"I've loved more men than I've loved women, and in his case, he's loved more women than he's loved men; I'm sure there's a form of love with male friends, just different from the men I loved. He did such a good job," Phillips said.
Under A Rainbow Flag is up for 2013 non-Equity Jeff Awards for Best Musical, Best Director (Zak), New Work (Leo Schwartz), Music Direction (Ollis), and Supporting Actor (James Nedrud). The awards are June 3 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage.
For the original interview with Phillips, see www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Chicagoan-Jon-Phillips-reflects-at-91-on-a-life-well-lived/41192.html .
