Tituss Burgess: You're Rocking This Thing
From the big stage to the small screen, Tituss Burgess charms audiences with his wide-ranging singing voice and over-the-top characters, including D'Fwan, the "gay hairdresser and homosexual party planner" from 30 Rock and most recently Tituss Andromedon from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. On the Netflix series co-created by Tina Fey, Burgess plays a beleaguered, aspiring Broadway star and best friend to the title character, who was recently rescued after spending 15 years locked in a bunker by a doomsday cult preacher. The two become unlikely roommates in a basement apartment in Harlem.
Burgess admitted that there are some parallels between he and Titus, first name and apartment location being the least among them. Like Titus, Burgess tried out many times for The Lion King; he worked at Disney World and would fly back and forth to New York to audition — "and they were not having it."
However, unlike his Unbreakable character, Burgess did find success in Broadway with roles in Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid and Guys and Dolls. And several years after playing D'Fwan on 30 Rock, Burgess received a character breakdown for the part of Titus, which he said was either "a really cruel joke, or Tina Fey had written something for [him]." Luckily, the latter was true.
Burgess graciously lent his Broadway-ready voice for a Guys and Dolls-inspired musical round called "Sit Down, You're Rocking This Thing," as well as this episode's grand prize: a personalized birthday serenade.
If you can't get enough of Burgess' voice, enjoy Titus Andromedon's breakout hit single "Pinot Noir."
Interview Highlights
On similarities to his Unbreakable character, Titus Andromedon
My manager sent me the breakdown [of the character]. It said: "Seeking Titus: Broadway wannabe. Broke. Lives in a basement apartment in Harlem." Broke. Lived in a basement apartment. In Harlem. I still do! So much of my personal experience has been creeping up into these scripts that I'm thinking, "Either [Tina Fey] has my apartment tapped, or do I just seem like so desperate that [auditioning for The Lion King 20 times] is something that I would do?"
On auditioning for D'Fwan on 30 Rock
[My audition was called] an "under five,' which is literally under five lines. I had one. And I had a call back. For one line. You literally don't know what you want me to do for one line? You want me to come back and do it again?
On D'Fwan in general
What is he going through? All the things. Every emotion possible.
On future projects
I'm writing a musical...that I will likely star in. I [have a working title that I can't tell you]. I can tell you that it's based on a movie Whitney Houston did, and it's not The Bodyguard.
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Transcript
OPHIRA EISENBERG, HOST:
Let's welcome our VIP to the stage. He's appearing in the Tina Fey Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." Please welcome Tituss Burgess.
(APPLAUSE)
TITUSS BURGESS: Thank you.
EISENBERG: So we just played "Crazy."
BURGESS: I love that song.
EISENBERG: I've watched you sing an incredible version of it.
BURGESS: Oh, gosh (laughter). I do - did - do.
EISENBERG: Yeah.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: So it just happens to be on...
BURGESS: Do you want to hear a little bit?
EISENBERG: Yes.
BURGESS: You want some?
(APPLAUSE)
BURGESS: (Singing) Well, I think you're crazy. I think you're crazy. That's enough.
EISENBERG: Oh, my God.
(APPLAUSE)
EISENBERG: So your role that you play in "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" - the role is also Titus - named Titus.
BURGESS: Yeah. My manager's - she sent me the breakdown, a screenshot, and it said, seeking Titus...
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: ...Broadway wannabe, broke, lives in a basement apartment in Harlem.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: Broke, lived in a basement apartment in Harlem - I still do.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: Actually, let's listen to an audio clip from the show.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT")
BURGESS: (As Titus Andromedon) I changed my name to Titus Andromedon, and I marched myself into audition for "The Lion King."
ELLIE KEMPER: (As Kimmy Schmidt) You were in "The Lion King" on Broadway?
BURGESS: (As Titus Andromedon) Yes, except I was not. I auditioned for "The Lion King" 20 times in 15 years until they finally told me, you are not passing as a straight giraffe.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: Have you ever auditioned for "The Lion King"?
BURGESS: Yes (laughter).
EISENBERG: You have? For what role?
BURGESS: All of them.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: Really?
BURGESS: Yes. So much of my personal experience has been creeping up into these scripts, and I'm thinking, either this woman has my apartment tapped...
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: ...Or do I just seem, like, so desperate that that's something that I would do?
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: I used to work at Disney World about 12 years ago. And I would fly up, back and forth, audition for that fricking show, and they just were not having me.
EISENBERG: So then you go into audition for a comedic role that has nothing to do with Broadway, for "30 Rock."
BURGESS: For "30 Rock" - which was called an under-five. Under-five is literally under five lines. I had one. And you have a call back - for one line?
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: You mean that you don't know what you want me to do for one line? You want me to come back and do it again?
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: The same subject and predicate - you need me to do this again?
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: Anyways.
EISENBERG: Right. You can't just stare at my photo and have me just call in or something?
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: Now, I've watched all of "30 Rock," but I don't remember what your first line was the first time you appeared. Do you remember it roughly?
BURGESS: I'm not just a gay hairdresser. I'm also a homosexual party planner.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: So strange.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: What is he going through?
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: All the things.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: Every emotion possible.
EISENBERG: Is there - you know, do you have a dream Broadway role out there that, you know, you'd like to...
BURGESS: No, but I'm writing a musical that I will likely star in. So I'll just...
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: Do you have a working title for your musical?
BURGESS: (Laughter) I do. I can tell you that it is based on a movie that Whitney Houston did, and it is not "The Bodyguard."
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: All the listeners are Googling like mad right now.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: Well, I am very excited that you are going to lend your incredible, unique voice to a game on our stage.
BURGESS: Perfect.
EISENBERG: Are you ready for that?
BURGESS: I'm so ready.
EISENBERG: Give a huge hand to Tituss Burgess.
(SOUNDBITE OF DEPECHE MODE SONG, "ENJOY THE SILENCE")
EISENBERG: Joining us on stage right now is Alexander Kaufman and Whitney Anne Adams.
(APPLAUSE)
EISENBERG: Whitney, you're a costume designer for theater and Broadway. Have you done some Broadway?
WHITNEY ANNE ADAMS: I've worked on Broadway. I've made costumes for Broadway, but I've been in film recently.
EISENBERG: And what film are you...
ADAMS: I was the costume design assistant on "The Great Gatsby."
EISENBERG: Oh, wow.
ALEXANDER KAUFMAN: Wow.
(APPLAUSE)
EISENBERG: Oh, yeah. So, yeah, she's just OK at it, clearly.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: And Alexander, you're a Tituss fan.
KAUFMAN: I am.
BURGESS: You are?
(LAUGHTER)
KAUFMAN: Yeah, you're awesome.
BURGESS: Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
KAUFMAN: I'm so excited that we're on stage together.
BURGESS: Well, I hope you win.
KAUFMAN: Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
KAUFMAN: If I win, will you sing for me?
BURGESS: I most certainly will, yeah.
EISENBERG: That's amazing how you just made that happen, by the way.
(LAUGHTER)
KAUFMAN: Well, I have to win, so...
EISENBERG: So in "Guys And Dolls," Tituss played the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson, who had that show-stopping number "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."
BURGESS: Yes.
EISENBERG: What was it like to sing, like, one of the more iconic Broadway tunes?
BURGESS: Stressful as hell.
EISENBERG: Really?
BURGESS: Yeah, it's not fun. No, it was totally fun. And I remember one night during previews, Frank Loesser's wife, who controls the estate, was in the first row. And don't you know, I forgot the entire last verse of the song. Once, I spotted her on Broadway. It was so embarrassing.
EISENBERG: Well, this is going to be a chance to sing it all brand new.
BURGESS: Because I have the words.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: And this time, you'll be accompanied by our house musician, Jonathan Coulton.
JONATHAN COULTON, BYLINE: That's right. Although, I will say that we have changed the lyrics to be about things we do while sitting down 'cause why let a beautiful song stand there and be beautiful when you can ruin it?
(LAUGHTER)
COULTON: All these lyrics are about mundane things that you do while sitting down.
KAUFMAN: Right. OK.
COULTON: So Tituss will sing you the clues. Just ring in when you know what we're talking about, and the winner will move on to our Ask Me One More final round at the end of the show. All right, are you ready, Tituss?
BURGESS: Yeah, I think so. Let's do it. (Singing) I dreamed last night I was on my childhood playground. The monkey bars and the swings, they made me frown. The ride I sought was the one requiring balance 'cause without a friend, it won't go up and down.
(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)
COULTON: Alexander.
KAUFMAN: Seesawing.
COULTON: Seesawing is correct.
(APPLAUSE)
COULTON: You're on your way, Alexander.
(LAUGHTER)
COULTON: The longest journey begins with a single step, my friend.
(LAUGHTER)
COULTON: Believe in yourself.
BURGESS: (Singing) For the waiters all said, sit down. Sit down. You're going to spill. The waiters all said, sit down. Sit down, or you're going to spill. Don't matter if it's a split pea or a lobster bisque or a tater dill. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down, or you're going to spill.
(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)
COULTON: Alexander.
KAUFMAN: Eating soup?
COULTON: Yeah.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: Miss thing, what're you doing?
(LAUGHTER)
ADAMS: I hit the buzzer. I knew both those answers.
BURGESS: All right, girl. You better catch up.
ADAMS: I'm trying my best.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: You ready?
COULTON: I'm ready.
BURGESS: Let's do this one slower.
COULTON: Yeah, slower, OK.
(LAUGHTER)
BURGESS: I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. (Singing) Now I'll get dressed in my boots and chaps and helmet. I'll hit the trail and escape the maddening horde. I think it's time that I get back in the saddle. And this big brown beast is calm, thank the lord.
(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)
ADAMS: Horseback riding.
COULTON: Yeah, well done.
(APPLAUSE)
COULTON: (Laughter) Feeling good, aren't you?
EISENBERG: Wow, yeah. Whitney's getting into the groove, did a little horseback riding dance.
(LAUGHTER)
COULTON: This is your last clue.
BURGESS: All right. (Singing) And the proctors all said, sit down. Sit down. We've started the test. I said to myself, sit down. Sit down and just do your best. Fill the bubbles in with your pencil - math and reading part of your college quest. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down with standardized test.
(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)
COULTON: Whitney.
ADAMS: SAT test.
COULTON: That's right, taking the SAT.
(APPLAUSE)
COULTON: Ophira, how did our contestants do?
EISENBERG: We have a tie.
COULTON: Oh, my gracious.
BURGESS: Oh, God.
(CHEERING)
BURGESS: OK.
EISENBERG: Hands on buzzers, people. Tituss, do you want to read the tiebreaker?
BURGESS: No, you do it, diva.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: That's the first time anyone's ever called me that.
(LAUGHTER)
COULTON: No, it's not.
(LAUGHTER)
EISENBERG: What famous Washington, D.C., tourist spot features 36 enormous columns and a statue of someone sitting down?
(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)
EISENBERG: Alexander.
KAUFMAN: The Lincoln Memorial.
EISENBERG: That is correct.
(APPLAUSE)
BURGESS: (Singing) Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. You won the game.
KAUFMAN: This is so cool.
(APPLAUSE) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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