BY SCOTT C. MORGAN
During Kristoffer Cusick's Broadway stint in the ensemble of Wicked, he developed a reputation among the cast for his uncanny ability to point out the cute guys in the audience. Now that Cusick's starring in the Chicago production as Fiyero, the male romantic lead, he doesn't have as much down time to scan the throngs of Wicked fans.
'I can only do that now during the bows,' laughed Cusick during a recent telephone interview.
Since June, Cusick has been singing and 'Dancing Through Life' ( his big number in the show ) alongside Chicago Wicked co-stars Ana Gasteyer as the misunderstood green girl Elphaba and Kate Reinders as her rival/friend Glinda. Cusick has been with Wicked since its 2003 San Francisco tryout and also played Fiyero on Broadway as an understudy. But he didn't get the chance to fully make the role of Fiyero his own until Chicago.
The fact that Cusick's sexuality didn't prevent him from being cast makes him eternally grateful to the show's producers.
'They didn't have an issue with me being out,' Cusick said. 'It's sad to say that even in this day and age, so many performers are denied the chance to perform because of their sexuality—maybe not so much in the theater, but in other areas of entertainment.'
As an out performer, Cusick understands why this revisionist Wizard of Oz prequel speaks to so many people, and not just the well-publicized mob of teenage girl fans. He sees how many gay and lesbian fans identify with Elphaba's plight because her greenness is a difference that people distrust or make fun of.
'It's about being comfortable with who you are and being different,' Cusick said. 'That's the show's biggest message.'
Performing eight shows a week, Cusick admits that he 'sometimes becomes a bit of a robot,' though it's never just going through the motions—especially when it comes to performing alongside former Saturday Night Live star Ana Gasteyer.
'She can make it so difficult to keep it together because she's so quick and witty,' Cusick said. 'She would never ruin the integrity of the show, but there are times when she sings that she'll put in a little Mariah Carey or Celine Dion riff or motion that just makes you want to laugh out loud.'
And though many people never see it, Cusick says he's typically smeared all over with his co-star's green makeup by the end of the show.
Cusick is enjoying being back in Chicago ( he was last here in 1997 and '98 in a national tour of Rent ) , even though the California native normally calls New York home. When his schedule permits, the 31-year-old actor enjoys hanging out at North Halsted haunts like Sidetrack and the new non-smoking Minibar ( full disclosure: Cusick has friends who are co-owners ) .
'It's just hard to go out when you have to do two shows the next day. And all the smoke is another factor,' Cusick said, adding that he prefers going out in Los Angeles and New York because they have clean indoor air acts. 'Even walking through Sidetrack to get to ( the non-smoking bar ) is enough to send me home. All that smoke makes it difficult to sing the next day.'
Cusick says he is dating now, though he won't disclose exactly whom. Still, he enjoys meeting fans who wait to say 'hi' after shows at the stage door and responding to fans on his Web site.
Even after two years, Cusick is still amazed at how fanatical people can be over Wicked.
'When we were first a hit in New York, I'd see guys at ( the club ) Splash jumping up on the bar using towels or leather jackets as a cape to sing along with ( Elphaba's big hit song ) 'Defying Gravity,'' Cusick said. 'Just the other Monday at Sidetrack, we heard a commotion in the smoking area and there was this guy on a table surrounded by people holding up candles while he had his hands spread out singing ( 'Defying Gravity' ) for Jesus. The bar wasn't even that crowded, but people were screaming the song at the top of their lungs. It made me proud to think that I'm a part of this and that people still get excited over the show.'
Kristoffer Cusick is contracted to play Fiyero in 'Wicked' through June 2006 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph, Chicago. Tickets are $25-$125. Call ( 312 ) 902-1400. Cusick takes part in a live 'Broadway Across America' online chat at 2 p.m. Nov. 17. Visit his Web Site www.kristoffercusick.com .
