The Broadway actor explains how he channeled Gaston in the gym to bulk up for his role as ‘Beauty and the Beast’s’ resident himbo.
Amid the many familiar faces of “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” — including Josh Groban, Martin Short, Shania Twain, David Alan Grier and Rita Moreno — is one TV viewers may not know yet: Joshua Henry as Gaston, the hunky himbo in pursuit of Belle (H.E.R.). With his powerful baritenor voice and a striking facial resemblance to the late Sidney Poitier, Henry steals the show by performing with lengthy locs, subtle prosthetics and, as Gaston himself says, “biceps to spare.” (The chest hair and cleft chin are fake; the bulging muscles are real.)
It’s genuinely rare for a male actor this — strapping — to take center stage as Henry does here, singing, dancing and landing punchlines. But if you’ve arrived at this story after thirstily Googling “Who is that??” during Thursday’s telecast, know that the 38-year-old performer has built an impressive resume.
Though ABC’s two-hour anniversary special, streaming on Disney+ starting Friday, is arguably Henry’s most high-profile screen project to date, Henry — who was born in Winnipeg, raised in Miami and lives in New York City with his wife and three sons — is a three-time Tony Award nominee, previously appeared in Netflix’s “Tick, Tick… Boom!” movie and has established a career on the stage with roles in “Hamilton,” “Carousel,” “American Idiot,” “In the Heights” and “The Scottsboro Boys.”
Hours before a Broadway performance of “Into the Woods,” Henry spoke with The Times about getting heavier — and hairier — to play the beloved character, releasing a new single and where he hopes his new physique might lead next.
Singing, dancing, lifting barrels and swinging around Lefou — as Gaston, you look like you’re having a blast.
Yes! This number is just huge and iconic and boisterous, and I get to use my full chest voice and sing with all that bravado and gusto, and dance and have so much fun with Rizwan [Manji] who plays Lefou, and find so many different comedic beats. Of course, people have seen this number before, but they haven’t seen it with Jamal Sims’ unexpected choreography. When I saw him do it for the first time during rehearsals, I was like, “OK, I gotta live up to what they’re doing to fit into this amazing puzzle.
