42nd Street Director James Vásquez Shares His Passion

Well known in the San Diego theater community for his work at Diversionary Theatre, San Diego native and Craig Noel Award– winning director James Vásquez will join San Diego Musical Theatre’s production of Broadway’s smash– hit musical 42nd Street, opening at Spreckels Theatre on May 27th. Here the multitalented director, actor and hoofer discusses his theatrical journey.

You are a man of many talents: theatre, film and TV acting, choreography, screenwriting, directing and more. How did you become so accomplished in all these fields?

Practice, practice, practice. I’ve trained continually throughout my career—whether attending actual classes or observing or assisting directors/ choreographers whose work I admire. I think I’ve also become more confident in taking risks. It’s always of the utmost importance to tell a clear story, but having a strong point of view and having a sense of fearlessness is vital.

How did you take the leap from the Juilliard School of Drama, to directing theatre and performing at comedy clubs, to founding Daisy 3 Pictures and then directing two award–winning feature films?

Ignorance truly is bliss! It goes back to taking risks. Everything that has come up in my career these last several years I’ve approached with the attitude of, "Well, we won’t know until we try it!" My stand–up comedy journey really started as a dare. I had no intention of ever doing stand– up, so when offered the chance I felt I had nothing to lose. It truly opened my work and me up in an exciting way. Daisy 3 Pictures came out of the desire to fill time and be creative while unemployed. My producing partners and co–founders, Mark Holmes and Carrie Preston, had a love for film. We thought, why not get a couple of cameras and see if we can figure it out?

What were the inspirations for your films, 29th and Gay, Ready? Ok! and That’s What She Said?

I hadn’t written anything before 29th and Gay, which started as short sketch comedy loosely based off silly events in my real life. Carrie encouraged me to flesh it out. We were both dabbling in writing at the time and kept encouraging each other to "start with what we know." 29th and Gay ended up being a little more autobiographical than I like to admit or ever intended it to be. Ready? OK! was actually based on a discarded flashback in 29th and Gay and found a whole, full life of its own. A friend of ours wrote a one–act play a few years ago, Girl Talk, which Carrie had directed and wanted to turn into a screenplay. That became That’s What She Said. It was a response of sorts to all the "bromance" films dominating theaters. A few years later, we found ourselves celebrating our world premiere at Sundance.

You’ve restaged the ever–popular Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe for several seasons now. What’s it like to direct such an iconic story?

First and foremost, it’s one of the greatest honors of my life to guide a San Diego holiday tradition. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. We’ve all grown up with the stories of Dr. Seuss, and I grew up watching The Grinch year after year at Christmas. To have spent the last 14 holiday seasons in Whoville... who doesn’t want to be a Who?! It’s a story about acceptance, family and tradition. To watch families come together and share this experience year after year, or for the first time, it’s a pretty great gift. 

What attracted you to SDMT to direct 42nd Street? Do you identify with the difficulties and heartbreaks of the story’s characters?

I think I was born wearing tap shoes. My feet seem to never want to sit still. Getting to put my spin on this classic musical, with some of the best tap numbers seen on stage, was an opportunity I jumped at. I do feel a connection with that old Hollywood idea of, "Hey kids, let’s put on a show." I’ve always loved how, in 42nd Street, we see the behind the scenes workings and birth of a Broadway show within our show. 

What are some of your favorite acting roles and directing gigs?

The Grinch is forever going to hold one of the top spots. San Diego Musical Theatre has actually given me the chance to tackle a couple of bucket list shows with CATS and West Side Story, both shows I had seen and been inspired by in my early teens. I’ve also been working with the Old Globe/USD Graduate Acting program the last two years. We tackled Clybourne Park last spring, maybe one of my all–time favorite and most challenging experiences to date. Currently, I’m directing the first year grad students in a world premiere play by Keith Reddin titled Acquainted with the Night. I love new works! 

What shows haven’t you done that are on your future wish list?

Well, let’s get the big embarrassing one out of the way... I love Annie. I’d love to direct a big, splashy production of it someday, somewhere. There’s a newer stage adaptation of Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter, which I’d die to get my hands on. It’s a beautiful story, full of tons of theatrical magic.