EDGE Interview: Nick Rashad Burroughs on the Joys of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'

If ever a musical deserved an exclamation point in its title it is "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," the spectacular recreation of Baz Luhrmann 's 2001 film hit that brilliantly mixes contemporary pop songs with a story set in 1899 Paris. With echoes "La Boheme," it features a story of love found and love lost set in the over-the-top Moulin Rouge, the Montmartre-located nightclub that was the center of bohemian culture during the final days of the 19th century.

Why the Moulin Rouge lives on in today's world is largely due to the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the Impressionist artist who immersed himself in the Parisian nightlife of the Belle Epoque and captured in on his canvases. Lautrec is also believed to be afflicted with a rare genetic condition that caused his legs not to grow in childhood, which led him to have an adult-size torso and a child's legs.

In this lavish musical, Lautrec is one of the bohemians who welcomes Christian, the show's protagonist, to the Montmartre Quarter of Paris at the turn of the 20th century. He also proves crucial to the plot when he encourages Christian to pursue Santine, the glamorous cabaret star. Christian has fallen in love with Santine, but the penniless poet feels he can't compete with the wealthy Duke of Monroth for her attention. Lautrec provides encouragement by telling Christian that "the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return" in the song "Nature Boy" towards the end of the first act.

"Moulin Rouge! The Musical" has been a sensation since it first premiered at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre in the summer of 2018 before it landed on Broadway the following summer. Its success is due in part to its conceit of using 20th century pop songs as a score, which inform its narrative of love found and love lost.

Playing Toulouse-Lautrec in the national company, which is currently at the Boston Opera House through February 4, is Nick Rashad Burroughs. His previous Broadway shows include "Kinky Boots," "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical" (where he played Ike Turner), the musical adaptation of "King Kong," and the national tour of "Something Rotten!," where he was first Black actor to play the role of Shakespeare. And for playing Judas in a recent revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar," he received a Broadway World Award. Nick also recorded the single "Ordinary Day" on Todrick Hall's #1 pop album "Forbidden."

More recently, the hunky Burroughs wrote, produced, and starred in the video "Gym Crush," featuring Tony-winning Alex Newell (from "Shucked"). This is one of the numerous videos found on his YouTube channel.

EDGE: Can you share your Broadway story with us?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: I was attending the University of Alabama, and, while doing a senior showcase in New York City, I got an audition for the national tour of "Kinky Boots." I still had to go back to school after my senior showcase because I was in the middle of the school year, so I was flying back and forth. After seven callbacks and flying back and forth, they announced the tour, and I was very upset because I thought I didn't get it. While I was at the airport, I got a phone call. The voice on the other end said, "Hi Nick, we know you auditioned for the tour, but we would like you to be in the Broadway production and the understudy for Billy Porter. When can you start?" When I got back to school, I packed my bags and returned to New York to start rehearsals for "Kinky Boots" on Broadway.

EDGE: How did you first encounter "Moulin Rouge!"?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: It was absolutely the movie. I have always loved pop culture and music videos. I was the person who would watch every music video on MTV and BET. I remember seeing this movie, and it was so intriguing to me because everything in the "Moulin Rouge" movie was shot by Baz Luhrmann and it felt like every shot was a cool and outlandish music video. I just remember being so intrigued with it as a kid, but I never thought for a second that it would be in my future. Getting to be a part of this phenomenon is out of this world.

EDGE: How would you describe your character, Toulouse Lautrec?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: He's a famous artist in Paris. He's responsible for all the designs of the Moulin Rouge. He designed the entire look of what we know and love about Moulin Rouge today. He's one of the only characters – well, Satine is based on someone, but Toulouse Lautrec is an actual real person. In the show, we play an aspect of what he did in this world. If you watched the movie, my character, in the Broadway musical, is three characters mixed into one.

EDGE: Which aspects of yourself do you bring to Toulouse Lautrec?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: I've fallen in love with the fact that Toulouse would choose art over riches. He came from money and could have had a life of wealth, but he felt that his art was stifled by not being able to experience real life. So, he left home to be an artist in Paris. Even though I love having everything in life that is not me struggling all the time, I do love art. The arts keep me alive because it changed my life. When I was first introduced to singing, dancing, and acting, It ignited a purpose in me that will never stop. I love bringing that part of myself to my role, because I feel like we share the same love of art.

EDGE: Do you have a favorite scene to play in the show?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: It is "Nature Boy." I do love to have fun. If you look at my resume, all the shows I've done have been splashy and fun. With this role, even though he's a fun character, his song "Nature Boy" is one of the only subtle, quiet moments of the show. It's always fun to challenge myself in that regard, where we have audiences being blasted with these giant numbers over and over and then I come out and set a new tone with this song. I won't give too much away, but it's a special moment to get to do that every night.

EDGE: As a connoisseur of pop music, what is it like being part of a show where the songbook for "Moulin Rouge!" is truly a dizzying collection of pop songs?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: I have always been a connoisseur of pop music. I'm musical, and I love new music. My friends send me new music all the time. Being a part of a show that has all the songs that were giant parts of my life always hits me. When I am now stage singing these songs is just crazy to me. When have you ever sat through a Broadway musical where you get to sing all the songs that you can still hear on the radio? It's amazing!

EDGE: Have you ever been to the Moulin Rouge in Paris?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: No, not yet. Every person who has been a part of our cast, when their contract ends, goes to Paris and go to the Moulin Rouge. One of these days, I will get there.

EDGE: What will audiences be most excited about seeing in "Moulin Rouge!"?

Nick Rashad Burroughs: I think they have no choice but to be extremely entertained. The second the lights go down and the music starts, it is one of the most in-your-face spectacles that leaves you with no choice but to be upright. I promise you will be singing, dancing, and having the time of your life.

EDGE: Tell us about your new song and video "Gym Crush," featuring Alex Newell.

Nick Rashad Burroughs: It features the Tony Award-winning Alex Newell, who I love to death. I wrote this song purely from a legitimate gym crush who has no idea that I exist. It was just, like, a fun little tune that I couldn't get out of my head, so I brought it to life with help from Alex. We had such a blast shooting it, because it was ridiculously outlandish.

EDGE: Finish the sentence "Theatre is..."

Nick Rashad Burroughs: Life-changing. It was for me, so I think it's important to say.

You can see Nick Rashad Burroughs in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" in Boston through February 4, 2023. For more information, visit Broadway in Boston.

For upcoming dates for the "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" national tour, visit the show's website.

Check out these pics from Burroughs IG on the following pages: