Has he got a story for you! James T. Lane was bitten by the theater bug at an early age. As a child in South Philadelphia, he attended a performing arts school from kindergarten through eighth grade. After brief stints at Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State, he dropped out, determined that the only way to find work on the stage was to get out there and do it.
That conviction led him to Broadway, where he made his debut as Ritchie in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. Since then, he’s appeared in multiple productions on the Great White way. Most recently, he played Billy Flynn in the revival of Chicago, starring alongside Jinx Monsoon.
Starting this weekend, Lane brings his story off-Broadway in his remarkable autobiographical one man show, Triple Threat. Playing twenty different characters, he shows how he survived growing up black and gay in Philadelphia, becoming a star, turning to drug addiction, ending up homeless and ultimately finding grace in recovery.
On Juan Ayala’s podcast Actors with Issues, Lane promised “not to hold anything back” and says that the show is” in the style of John Leguizamo, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, and Anna Deavere Smith-but with a dash of musical theater.” “It’s a play that moves and sings,” he said.
Kenny Ingram directs and choreographs. Set design is by Teresa L. Williams, sound design by DJ Potts, lighting design by Emmanuel Delgado and lighting design by T’ij D’oyen. Brendan Gaul and Brett Henenberg along with Traverse32 are producing.
Triple Threat will play at Theater Row (West 42nd between 9th and 10th, NYC) beginning June 17- July 30th. For tickets and information, click here.