Alex LeBlanc is excited to spend a chunk of his summer at Theatre by the Sea. The 24-year-old East Greenwich actor is appearing both in “Grease” and “Titanic.”
“This is my first time (at Theatre by the Sea) as an adult,” said LeBlanc in our recent interview. “I did ‘Mary Poppins’ here in 2014. I was one of the Michaels.”
In “Grease,” which opens this week, LeBlanc is playing Roger, one of the Burger Palace Boys. You know, part of Danny Zuko’s gang.
LeBlanc was surprised to be cast as Roger. “I for sure thought I’d be Eugene,” the show’s nerdy brainiac. “I was called back for Eugene all along and then got cast as Roger out of the blue.”
LeBlanc has known he wanted to be an actor since he was six years old. His first show was “Jungle Book” at All Children’s Theater in Providence. He’s done a variety of shows with a variety of theater companies since.
Full disclosure: LeBlanc played Shrek in a community theater production of “Shrek Jr” directed by yours truly. He was amazing.
Professionally, he worked at the Rochester Opera House in New Hampshire last summer, appearing in “Little Mermaid” as Prince Eric and “The Producers” as Carmen Ghia. “Two entirely different roles,” said LeBlanc with a laugh. “It was fun.”
He has worked locally with Trinity Rep, appearing in “La Cage Aux Folles” as Mercedes and several productions of “A Christmas Carol.” He played Dilber, Scrooge’s butler in one production, and Benedict Bell, young Scrooge’s lover. “Last year, I understudied the Ghost of Christmas Present, plus Fred and Fezziwig.” He auditioned for this year’s production and is actively in callbacks.
Back to “Grease,” which LeBlanc started rehearsing early in June. “I’ve never danced so much in my life,” says LeBlanc, “and I’ve done some pretty dancey shows. And I’ve never heard these songs sung so well.”
LeBlanc says that Kevin Hill’s direction in this show focuses mostly on the friendships among the characters. The show “honors the time period. It’s so nostalgic, given a little modern twist with the dancing.”
When he’s not acting, LeBlanc is a substitute teacher in West Warwick, but his ultimate plan is to stay on the acting track. “I want to move to New York soon, probably in January. We’ll see where that takes me. Broadway, national tours, that’s the goal.”
Dream roles for LeBlanc? “I’d love to play Bok in ‘Wicked.’ Frankie Valli in ‘Jersey Boys.’ I do have the falsetto. I was offered it once before, but I had to turn it down because it didn’t work with my schedule.”
Theatre by the Sea presents “Grease” through July 18. For tickets and information, call the box office at 401-782-8587 or visit www.theatrebythesea.com.
