Ben Vereen is crazy about public television. Saying the actor-singer-dancer is passionate about PBS stations might even be an understatement.
You might have seen the emphatic, all-smiles commercial hyping Vereen’s fundraising date tonight at the Newman Center in which he exclaims: “It’s our station! It keeps us informed! It’s for the arts!”
He’s talking specifically about Rocky Mountain PBS, Channel 6 in the Denver area, and even though Vereen doesn’t live in Denver, you can tell it has become a pet project.
When asked about his fundraising date here on the telephone recently, Vereen responded immediately with the excitable tone of a cheerleader: “It’s the people’s voice. It’s educational for our children.”
Vereen isn’t talking about his show, “Steppin’ Out” — a sneak peek at his Broadway production debuting later this year. He’s talking about Rocky Mountain PBS. And he needed an arm-twisting to change topics — to that of his time with Rat Packer Sammy Davis Jr., legendary choreographer Bob Fosse and even R&B star Usher.
Q: How did this gig come about?
A: There’s a woman named Dr. (Carolyne) Fuqua, or Isis, and she’s with Circles of Light, a spiritual group that I have been associated with that brings enlightenment to the planet. She called me and said she wanted to do this thing in Denver, and since it was PBS, I was thrilled to.
Q: Tell me about “Steppin’ Out.”
A: It’s a CD I recorded in Hartford, Conn. “Stepping Out” is a show that talks about my steppin’ out of Brooklyn, on my way to Broadway and to the theater. It starts in my early days and works through the people I worked with — Bob Fosse, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Big Ben and “Sweet Charity” and “Cabaret” and Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra and the list goes on and on. It’s a celebration of the American theater. And I have some great musicians who are going to be up there with me.
Q: Sounds like a big production.
A: This show is the ingredients for a show called “Tenacity,” and I’m taking it to Broadway in July. It’s in development. It has wonderful surprises, and Denver gets to see it before it goes to Broadway.
Q: That’s some serious history there, with Sammy and Sinatra.
A: I’m blessed to have had the experience of walking with giants in my lifetime, and to pay tribute to them now is — I’m honored. I pay tribute to them, and I have the privilege of working with the younger gen, too, with people like Big Boi and Usher, who is my godson. And there’s some great, young talent today. And I love passing along the knowledge of what I’ve learned to them. So we’re trying to keep the tradition alive. And young people need to hear this.
Q: Wait, you’re Usher’s godfather?
A: Yes, and he’s done a wonderful job. I’m proud of my godson.
Q: How’d that come about?
A: Years ago, my daughter was friends with him, and he was Usher Raymond at the time — a young kid. My daughter brought me a tape, and it was him performing in a park and he couldn’t get a meeting with a record company. My daughter asked me, “What do you think, Dad?” I said, “First thing, he has to pull up his pants.” But later he came over and borrowed my dance tapes and it wasn’t long before my daughter played me “You Make Me Wanna,” and I told her, “Stand back. He’s about to blow up.” And sure enough he did.
Q: What did you learn from working with Sammy Davis Jr.?
A: In Denver, you’ll see the beginnings of how Sammy and I met, and I’ll talk about our shows and travels together. I’ll also talk about how he influenced my thinking and how his dedication to the craft was his whole heart. The one thing I learned from him was his tenacity and love of his audiences. He never gave up on his hopes.
Q: “Tenacity” — the name of your Broadway show?
A: Yes, and I got it from Sammy.
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
BEN VEREEN’S “STEPPIN’ OUT.” Actor-singer-dancer Vereen will present his musical show at the Newman Center at 7:30 p.m. today as a fundraiser for Rocky Mountain PBS, Channel 6 in the Denver area. Tickets, $25-$125, are available via .
