EDGE Interview: Tituss Burgess Goes Back to Music with New Touring Show

In a recent interview with People Magazine, Tituss Burgess explained what was his breakthrough moment as a queer performer. It was when he was rehearsing a line that spoken by his ongoing charater, hairstylist D'Fwan, on "30 Rock" and heard an off-camera belly laugh. At first he thought he flubbed the line. "I'm so nervous that I genuinely thought the laugh was at me for doing it incorrectly," he remembered. "Then I see this brunette walk from behind the camera, and it's Tina Fey. She goes, 'I am so sorry. Darn, you'll have to do it again... [But] that was funny.'" And he realized was his queer character need not be the butt of the joke, but could simply be funny by embracing their authenticity.

"I have the audacity to be an out gay actor in what's still very White hetero Hollywood," he also told the magazine, and it is a statement that pretty much sums up the multi-talented Burgess, who is best-known for his role of aspiring, gay actor Tituss Andromedonon on "The Unbreakable Jimmy Schmidt" that netted him six Emmy nominations. He also appeared on the late, lamented "Schmigadoon!" on its second season (on AppleTV+) which he narrated and sang in the style of the Leading Player from "Pippin." In 2021, he made a spectacular turn at the annual Broadway Backwards event in a gender-switching take on "Dreamgirls" with the final scene from the first act. Burgess plays Effie in a memorable homage to Jennifer Holliday with his superb "I'm Telling You I'm Not Going."

But it is his theater and music career that has taken center stage of late. Last year he starred as Harold Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge, on Broadway in "Moulin Rouge!." It was on Broadway where he had his start where he made his debut in the ill-fated "Good Vibrations" in 2005. Later that year he brought his ringing high tenor to "Jersey Boys," followed by "The Little Mermaid" and "Guys and Dolls," Regional theater roles include The Lion in "The Wiz" and the The Witch in "Into the Woods." He also recently completed a 15-year old dream of bringing the Whitney Houston vehicle "The Preacher's Wife" to the musical stage with a production at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre this past summer. For the show, he wrote the music and lyrics.

Next month he is headed to London for a concert residency at London's The Phoenix Arts Club, where he performs his new show, "The Indecisive Warrior," from September 30–October 13. In the show, Tituss invites audiences to experience familiar classics through the lens of his seasoned artistry. London audiences will not be the only one to see Burgess perform this show as he is bringing "The Indecisive Warrior" to a number of City Winery venues in the States beginning on September 10 in Philadelphia, with Boston (Sept. 18), New York City (Sept. 21), Chicago (Sept. 24), and Atlanta (Oct. 21) to follow. For ticket information, follow this link. And he's on television as well, hosting a new new competition series "Last Bite Hotel" on the Food Network beginning on September 24.
Introduction by Robert Nesti

EDGE: Hello there, tell us a little bit about yourself!

Tituss Burgess: I am many things, but I think I am a lover of music first. My career has thankfully turned into something I never anticipated or dreamed it would be. A few months ago, I wanted to get back to music. I needed to reset and find the thing that centers me: music.

EDGE: Can you tell me a bit about your upcoming show?

Tituss Burgess: It's called "The Indecisive Warrior." It loosely follows my little Pisces heart, my watery nature, and how I feel at any moment. I can only speak for my sign; many of us change our minds daily, but I think a Pisces has to tell you why and then walk you through every possible emotion. I always need context and proper framing to understand what can appear like a knee-jerk response. I assure you everything is thought through to our detriment. The show is like walking you through my musical stream of consciousness.

EDGE: What's involved in selecting a setlist for a show like this?

Tituss Burgess: It's no different than when I record an album. I will record 30 to 40 songs and decide the story or the moment. I approach it as if I were in the audience watching me and wondering what I would want from me. More importantly, what kind of surprises would I want? I don't mean surprises in the way that they would think; I can't believe he liked that particular genre or that this would be something that he would listen to. Most people know me from theater and are coming to hear me perform because they think they're about to listen to a theatrical set, but it's all pop music with a few jazz standards. I promise it is going to be an exciting show. I have a seven-piece band because I don't know how to do anything small. I believe the audience will be very satiated. At least I know it will be for me.