Gaining an audience

Young Chang

Broadway heavyweight Davis Gaines remembers being new, having no idea

what to do, who to ask, where to go and how to even walk into a big bad

business that isn’t very kind to newcomers hoping for a break.

The award-winning actor comfortably admits, even after 2,000-plus

performances of the title role in “The Phantom of the Opera,” that

auditions are scary.

That talent isn’t all that matters.

That, yes, who you know can make a difference.

Gaines, who will perform a sold-out cabaret act for the Orange County

Performing Arts Center today through Sunday, will also teach a free class

for local high school and college students recommended by their

instructors as part of the Masters at the Center series.

“He has the experience that a high school student is not going to

necessarily get from a voice teacher or a teacher at the school,” said

Jon Lindfors, choral music director at Costa Mesa High School, which is

sending one student to the master class.

Bethany Bohall, manager of education programs at the Center, added

that most of the students have never had opportunities to learn from

professionals. The exposure helps them pursue a career in the performing

arts.

“This is the first year we’re offering musical theater classes,”

Bohall added. “Traditionally, we offer jazz and different forms of music

classes . . . but Orange County has outstanding musical theater students

so it seemed logical and exciting to bring those groups together.”

Gaines relates to young hopefuls who want, more than anything, such a

career. He is also inspired by how generations continue to produce star

hopefuls with the same passion he had as a child growing up in Orlando,

Fla.

His family members weren’t involved in the entertainment field. His

first experiences involved the school and church choirs. But for some

reason, he never wanted to be anything other than a performer, Gaines

said.

“I’m always constantly amazed at the talent that’s out there at such a

young age,” he added. “That this whole musical phenomenon continues. It’s

kind of an oddly universal thing that always amazes me.”

The Hollywood Hills actor, whose credits include principal parts in

“Whistle Down the Wind,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Hello,

Dolly!” and “Camelot,” will critique students Friday in an audition-like

setting where everyone will get a few minutes to perform.

“But I’m the last person to do that, ‘cause auditioning for me was the

least . . . I felt the least comfortable in an audition,” Gaines

confessed. “I don’t do auditioning very well and it’s definitely an art

that I don’t know if I’ve ever learned.”

Gaines plans to share the most valuable advice in conquering an

audition: Be yourself, trust your instincts and don’t worry about what’s

expected.

You can’t know anyway, he reasons.

“I would not worry about whether you’re gonna get the job, because

it’s beyond your control, nor whether you’re doing the right thing,” he

said. “Just do your best. If you happen to be right in your mind that

day, then don’t take it personally if you get rejected.”

Gaines, whose performing experiences also include singing at abar

where he washed dishes, said the second best piece of advice he’s learned

is to just go for it.

While a chorus member in “Camelot” on Broadway, Gaines’ first big job,

the actor remembers being inspired by a fellow cast mate.

“He said, you have to just stop and say I won’t take any more of those

ensemble parts if I want a lead,” Gaines said.

A theater alumni of Florida State University, the performer has also

started a scholarship fund at his alma matter. Every year, he visits the

campus and holds a concert. All proceeds benefit the scholarship, which

is matched in grants by the state of Florida once the sum hits $100,000.

“Whatever I can do to help. And it’s still a learning process for me

and I’m sure they can teach me as much as I can teach them,” Gaines said

of his master class students. “It’s a very familial, communal atmosphere

where we all have the one passion in common.”

FYI

WHAT: Davis Gaines

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Founders Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town

Center Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: $46-$49, but the performances are sold out

CALL: (714) 740-7878