Musical theater grad takes on a cat-like persona in new role

Southeast Missouri State graduate Keith Johnson went from headlining shows at the River Campus to making his step towards fame after being cast in the theater production of "Cats" at a theater in San Diego.

Johnson graduated from Southeast with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in musical theater and currently works at a gymnastics studio as a trainer and choreographer. He also choreographs a show for a 400-person chorus along with being an assistant basketball coach. Along with preparing for his role in "Cats," Johnson will soon be working with a voice over studio in St. Louis.

"Cats" will be produced for three weeks every Thursday --Saturday starting on March 19 at the San Diego Professional Musical Theater.

How exactly did the whole audition process go for CATS?

Well, I get like a mailing list for Playbill and they give me all the auditions that are happening that are important and "Cats" came up and all my friends know that I love it. So I asked my mom if I could go and she was like, 'Yeah, here's the money. Go. Don't come back unless you have a job.'

The audition was on a Thursday, so I got on a plane Wednesday night at like 5 p.m. to San Diego. On Thursday I woke up, did my normal workout routine to get warmed up for the audition. I went there and they taught us a combo, and the thing is I know "Cats" like I know my name. It's stupid what I know, so the combo wasn't anything. What was weird though is, at some points, she cut the music from the movie and changed the movements around, but it was fine. I still knew the movement. So we learned the combo, we auditioned it in groups and I did the jumps. I did the choreography, and I acted like a cat. Then we sang after that, and I had a song prepared and then I went in there and sang and it went great. Then I went home and I thought I nailed it. Like I ate that up. Audition: murdered it. Then they emailed me that night and they said 'You know, we'd like to call you back for Macavity,' and I was so excited. Macavity is not the character that I wanted. It's not my dream role, but he is one of the coolest roles because his costume and his mask that they put on him is amazing. He is so cool. So I was like, 'Done. I'll be there.'

So they sent me some music that I had a short amount of time to learn, a little over 24 hours, which I had already known all of the songs so it wasn't really an issue. So Saturday was the call back. I came in and I went into the audition feeling very strong. I will say, at the call backs there were some really talented singer, actors, dancers and acrobats there. I mean it's California. But I didn't feel like I was completely outdone. So we learned the same combo, with some minor changes. Then she split us up into our characters. It was a lot of sitting around honestly.

So after we danced, here's where the storm kind of hits, then we sang. Normally, I would have no problem at a singing call. I'm very comfortable with my voice. For some reason, I walked in there and I gave the guy my music and he started playing and the second I opened my mouth I was like, 'These are not the right notes. I'm not in the right key. I'm not singing the right thing.' Just everything that could've went wrong went wrong. So I finished that, picked up my music and I left and it was horrible and it was like my dreams were gone. It's over. So then I went about my life and tried to forget about it.

Then at like 11 p.m. that night I received a call that I got the job and I was so excited. I was running around like a mad, black man outside in the streets of San Diego. I was half dressed. It's fine. I went crazy, and I sent snaps on snaps on snaps to everyone. All my friends snap-chatted my back. It was crazy. I felt so supported. I mean, the people who know me know I'm all about that show. It was better than winning the freaking lottery. It's still not really real to me, but it's real.

When do you start rehearsing and what are you doing to prepare?

I start rehearsal Feb. 22. I'm going to leave Feb. 20 just to make sure I know what's going on and all that good stuff. Some people don't go crazy like I do, but I like to know everything I can know before I walk into that room. * So I already had the whole score and the script and everything about "Cats." So I want to make sure that at least the music is learned to the best of my ability. The only hard thing about "Cats" is, if you haven't seen "Cats" it's like an opera ballet. It's a lot of singing, a lot of dancing, a lot of acrobats and acting like a cat. And you can't act like a cat because when you start trying to act like a cat it turns into a non-genuine thing. You have to be a cat. When you're in "Cats" you cant think about acting like a cat, you just have to be one. The show is so much more than what the audience may see. It's not for the weak, that's really mean to say, but it's just not for the weak or the lazy.

How do you think, specifically, SEMO has helped you in gaining this role?

I feel like anywhere you go, regardless of your school, it is what you take out of it. In high school I was an all-state basketball player, and I did theater like on the side. I thought I was going to do it for fun, so I came into theater at SEMO not knowing anything. The music and theater department did teach me how to be professional. They taught me physically and mentally how to look at the art. They were really tough, I mean those instructors, they're really no joke. They brought me from the bottom up. Judith the voice teacher, Joe, Ken, Amy, whose not there anymore, but she's still amazing. Hilary Peterson taught me a lot about ballet. She was one of my first real ballet classes and she just knows her stuff, and Michelle Cantrino taught me everything else. She knows it. One thing Judith has always told me is 'It's never over.' That's in any profession. I mean, you always have to continue to get better. She always taught me to fall in love with your work. I also have a great support system. All my boys and Leshay, but she's a girl.

If you could play any other role in any musical production what would it be?

Top five would be Rum Tum Tugger from "Cats." That's the character that I actually wanted. It's a dream role. Cameron from "Bring It On." I really want to play Cinderella's Prince or the Wolf in Into the Woods, because he's the villain and I love playing the villain. Javert in "Les Miserables," but I wont be able to play him until I'm older. And either Scar or Mufasa in "The Lion King." I mean talk about iconic roles. I don't know how I just narrowed that down.

What's a piece of advice you have for young theater and dance majors at SEMO?

I get asked this question a lot, and I feel like it always changes because I'm at a new point in my life so I have new advice to give. I would definitely tell them to work. I know everyone says that but really though. Why do you pay money to go to school for something that you're not trying to be awesome at? Be about something. One of my friends, whose a huge influence in my life, sent me a quote that said, 'Your meaning in life is to find your gift. Your purpose of life is to give it away.' And I feel like that really resonates with me. My other thing is be your own hero. Be your own freaking hero. You have to be able to live with yourself at night. You have to live. There's no rule that says you have to act your own age, nobody says that. When you're at home by yourself. Be a kid. Run around the living room and be a super hero or be a cat. Be whatever you want.

What's next in the books for Keith Johnson?

I just want to do everything, but I guess I'm going to try to get a job in San Diego. Right now I choreograph junior high at home, and I really love inspiring young kids. I get inspired easily. I was once told, 'A good performer inspires themselves, but a great performer inspires others.' Ideally I'm going to audition for Sea World and some theaters in San Diego and LA and some TV and film and some modeling.