THEATER
“I Just Want to Be Who I Am”
An interview with Jon Peterson, the lastest to play the
erotic, engaging, ominous emcee in Cabaret
By Blase DiStefano
Jon Peterson is presently starring as the emcee in the
touring company of Cabaret. He joined the tour
in January, when it was in Seattle, where a critic commented:
“Jon Peterson might be a contestant in a bodybuilder
contest, but nevertheless he is marvelously dissolute
and cynical as the emcee.” He’s traveled through
approximately 15 cities and will probably flit through
another 15 by 2001. • Peterson’s first show,
in 1981 in London, was The Sound of Music with
Petula Clark. (“She’s adorable,” he says.
“She was like an auntie or a mum or a big sister.
Really sweet.”) • I got acquainted with Peterson
on his cell phone while he was at a Baltimore train
station eagerly awaiting the arrival of a friend.
OutSmart: When I went on the web
and searched “Jon Peterson,” I came up with
a Ohio Republican representative.
Jon Peterson: I don’t want anything to do with
any Republican representative, thank you very much.
Don’t slur my name with that...
Gladly. In Cabaret, first
there was Joel Grey, then there was Alan Cumming, now
there’s Jon Peterson.
[Feigning exasperation] Oh, good God.
Grey comes across as a straight
man, Cumming comes across as bisexual, and you’re
openly gay.
“Openly gay” sounds like openly admitting
that you’re a serial killer.
[Laughs] Well, I guess so.
I’m just me. It’s a shame we have to use that
title.
It just seems important for those
people who are scared of who they are to know there
are those of us who can be open about our homosexuality.
I just want to be who I am. I am who I am, and that’s
it. If anyone wants to react badly to that, then react
badly to that away from me, please.
Thank you very much, yes.
[Laughs] I hope they react badly to you away from you,
too.
[Laughs] Still, it does seem important
at this time to have labels.
It is really, ’cause we’re still at an early
stage—although it’s wrong, it’s kind
of necessary now.
Were you born in London?
Yeah. I just came over to the states about a year and
a half ago, and I’ve just stayed. I love it. I’ve
got my green card...and I ain’t moving, baby, I
like it here.
[Laughs] How old are you?
37. [He was born August 9, 1962.]
Oh, you look younger.
I just look fabulous!
[Laughs] Well, you’re still
young.
If I look after myself, I’ve got a few years left.
[Laughs] Did you see the Tony
Awards Sunday night [June 4]?
No, I hadn’t seen any plays because I had been
away [on this tour]. So I just channel-surfed, and then
I saw Austin Powers was on, so I watched that
instead.... You know, I’m just waiting at the train
station for a friend of mine who’s just arrived.
Can I say hello to him real quick?
Of course.
To his friend: “How are you? I’m just giving
an interview on the TV.”
I’m back. We’re just about to walk to the
cab.
Where’s your friend from?
New York. He’s a priest, and he’s a great,
wonderful man. He always takes me on walking trips when
I go to New York, to places I wouldn’t want go
to on my own. And people don’t attack us, because
he’s a priest and he’s got a collar on, and
they just back off.
[Laughs] Fun question: If you
were stranded on a desert island, and you could have
only one movie with you, what would it be?
Oh, God. Oh, straining to think. I have no idea. It
would have to have Ida Lupino in it. And it would have
to be in black and white as well.
OK, you’re still on that
island, and you can have only one person with you—not
a friend, lover, or relative—who would it be?
Do they have to be alive?
No.
Oh my goodness. You know what? The Dalai Lama.
Do you do meditation or yoga or
anything like that?
No, nothing like that. I just wish I did.
Cabaret’s Houston opening was June 27, and the
show will continue at Jones Hall through July 8 only.
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