Local Man Lands Role in Nationwide Tour of Flashdance: The Musical

*In his own words, David Gordon “chickened out” the first time he went to audition for a musical.

He’s apparently over his stagefright now.

On the 30th  anniversary of the 1983 movie Flashdance, the Orange County local stars in the inaugural national tour of the musical version of the film.

Gordon loves singing, dancing and acting and says theater is an outlet for him to express and enjoy himself. 

“They call them plays, and ultimately I think it’s fun I get to play for a living,” Gordon said.

In Flashdance the Musical, Gordon plays "Jimmy" – called “Richie” in the movie, a short-order cook who dreams of becoming a comedian. Gordon said he didn't know why they changed the name. 

The 27-year-old's local roots run deep. Born at Los Alamitos Medical Center, Gordon, now a New York resident, grew up in Rossmoor and Seal Beach.

He graduated from Los Alamitos High School the place his acting career … sort of began.

Gordon says its “very cliché” that he got into theater because of a girl he liked, but that’s what happened. She asked him if he would try out for “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown" with her when he was a junior.

Unfortunately, Gordon said, romance didn’t blossom, but a career did … after a rough start.  

First, he said no. Then he went to audition and then, in his words, he “chickened out.”

He said he felt out of his depth, watching people who had formal singing and acting training. So he went home and mentioned what happened to his mother.  

“After that, my mom said you can’t expect to go into something blind,” Gordon said. “The theater world interested me. But I just didn’t know it was for me.”

After training with a Long Beach singing teacher, Gordon tried out for his first real performance at the Buena Park Youth Theater, landing a role as Mr. MacAfee in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

“I figured that (Buena Park) was far enough so there’d be no one around, so I figured if I messed up I wouldn’t be embarrassed by it,” Gordon said.  

From that moment on he lived the theater, taking role after role until he landed his first professional part – a role in the European tour of the Grease Musical. Later Gordon, a tenor, moved out to New York, where he auditioned and got the role of Jimmy in Flashdance: the Musical.

Flashdance tells the story of an 18-year-old woman who makes a living holding down two jobs: a welder by day and an exotic dancer by night. But she dreams of becoming a professional dancer.  The 1983 movie helped push a number of songs to popularity including Gloria, I Love Rock and Roll and Maniac.

Gordon said he empathizes with his character, Jimmy.

“He has a journey in the show where he goes to the New York to pursue his dream,” Gordon said.  “Jimmy is a hopeless comedian … I like to say he thinks he’s a lot of funnier than he is. I think I’m a lot funnier than I am, so it works.”

For more information on Gordon check his website athttp://www.davidrossgordon.com/David_Gordon/Welcome.html. It’s not updated yet, but it will be.

Before the first national show last week, Gordon said he was ready.

 “I think I’m more nervous to play at home because I have more friends and family and people that have watched me grow up coming to the show,” Gordon said. “I’m excited, I think, more than nervous. “

On Friday, with a few Flashdance performances under his belt, Gordon said the shows were going well.

“It was great,” Gordon said. “It’s been really fun to be home. “

Flashdance is playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through May 18. For more information visit flashdancethemusical.com

According to a theater spokeswoman, single tickets, which start at $20, are available online at SCFTA.org, at the box office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday May 18 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation.

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