Kevin Talks Justin Timberlake, Lou Pearlman, BSB
At 30, Kevin Richardson is not only the oldest member of the
Backstreet Boys, but he is also a studio boss, political activist, environmental crusader and part-time actor. This week, the Kentucky native will take the stage in the San Francisco stop of the national tour of "Chicago," reprising the role of Billy Flynn, the shady lawyer whom Richard Gere popularized in the movie. Richardson played the part on Broadway last year. After
his San Francisco run ends Aug. 26, he will move on to London to make his West End debut in September. .


Q: So, you're playing a crooked lawyer.

A: Yeah, with the industry I'm in, I was able to pull from personal experience.

Q: When you worked at Disney World, you used to play Tigger, Aladdin, Sebastian the Crab and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. How did that help you prepare for this role?

A: It didn't. I've been taking acting classes in Los Angeles for the
past two years, so I've been honing my skills that way.

Q: Have you ever done theater before?

A: Growing up, I did high school and community theater. I was in " Barefoot in the Park" and "Bye Bye Birdie." When I was at Disney World, I was working in the park during the day and doing dinner theater at night. I used to play an Italian gangster in a musical review where we played songs from "Chicago," "Guys and Dolls" and "Cabaret."

Q: Was it hard having to constantly hide your occupation from your friends?

A: No. I had a blast. I was 20 years old and getting paid to do
something I love, which is to play a character and perform in front of people.

Q: Are you sure that's enough experience to land a major role in a Broadway musical?

A: Well, the Backstreet Boys were taking a break in 2001 and I was home in Kentucky for Thanksgiving, and I got a call from my agent saying that "Chicago" called and asked if I would be interested in playing Billy Flynn on Broadway. I said, "Hell, yes!"

Q: How did that go?

A: It was a dream come true. I did it on Broadway for seven weeks during the blizzard and musicians' strike and everything. And the movie was just coming out as I made my debut, so there was this resurgence of interest.

Q: At what point did all the screaming girls in the audience start to bug out the producers?


A: It's not like that. They are very respectful. A lot of people
misconstrue it. We do have a lot of young fans, but we also have a lot of them that are older. We touch a very broad audience, and I was glad to do something different and have people see that I have more dimension to me than just being the oldest guy in the Backstreet Boys.

Q: How does it feel to see Justin Timberlake out there mopping up all your old fans?

A: You know, I'm so happy for Justin. He's such a talented young man and he's very humble. And when I do see him on TV, I do miss it and want toget back out there. But I'm enjoying the break from the constant go, go, go. It's nice to sit back and breathe.

Q: Are the BSB officially D.O.A.?

A: If and when we're all inspired to do another record together, then we will. We're all on great terms with each other and we're just enjoying the opportunities the Backstreet Boys has given each of us. At the same time I have a production company, I'm working with some unsigned artists, I'vegot my own label, my own recording studio in Boston, and I'm opening a
music school here in Kentucky. And I'm working on my acting. So I've got a lotof things going on.

Q: How big a cut of your "Chicago" salary does Lou Pearlman take?

A: Ha! He's out of our lives financially. I remember one time he said tome,"If you open a hot dog stand, I get a percentage." We're no longer under that contract.


Source: SFGate
Credit: Backstreet Dirt