Elvis Stojko excited dad will get to see him sing in ‘Chicago, the Musical’

TORONTO – When skating star Elvis Stojko performs in “Chicago, the Musical” in Toronto this week, in the audience will be the person who first inspired his journey: his ailing dad, a classically trained tenor who taught him how to sing.

Stojko says the 78-year-old has the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and suffered a heart attack last year, but he’ll be at the Princess of Wales Theatre on Wednesday to see his son — a three-time world champion figure skater — in his professional acting debut.

“At least he’ll have a chance to see that and be a part of it, which is really exciting for me because it was him that I started (singing) with when I was a kid and now I’m able to be on this stage,” Stojko said in an interview on Tuesday.

“I’m just lucky that he’s still here and he’s able to watch.”

Stojko plays manipulative lawyer Billy Flynn in the 1920s-era show that Mirvish Productions is running from Wednesday through Sunday.

The two-time Olympic silver medallist from Richmond Hill, Ont., said he used Broadway “as a warmup” before coming to Toronto, doing “a two-week intensive rehearsal” and then eight nights of performances with the regular New York cast in the role last week.

He learned some of the nuances of the character — who’s been played by many stars, including Richard Gere in the 2002 Oscar-winning film — from Broadway cast member Brent Barrett.

“I didn’t want to play Richard Gere playing Billy Flynn or Billy Zane playing Billy Flynn,” said Stojko. “I needed to find myself in that darker side of the character.”

Audience members who saw Stojko perform the role on Broadway included American figure skating Olympic gold medallist Sarah Hughes, who attended with one of the producers.

“I wasn’t nervous that they were there, but the first night was pretty intense,” said Stojko, who lives in Mexico. “I was standing in the back where I walk up the stage, and boom — the lights hit and I have to be on, like full energy, I have to take that stage, and my heart was pounding really hard and I was just focused on lines and flow and all of this.

“Once I got up there and hit the pose and went through, I started to settle in each scene.”

“I remember Sarah, after the first show, she was just like, ‘Oh my God, how did you know the lines? I didn’t know you could sing!’” he added.

“It was really cool because it was a chance for me to share with people another side of myself.”

In Toronto, Stojko will perform with the touring cast, which includes Bianca Marroquin as Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who kills her lover when he threatens to leave her. Terra C. MacLeod plays her cellmate, Velma Kelly, and Carol Woods plays Matron (Mama) Morton.

“It feels good. My old stomping grounds. I used to live about 20 minutes north of here,” he said in a downtown hotel restaurant.

“It’s great to be able to come home and do this.”

After all, home is where Stojko developed a passion for singing from his Toronto-based father, who belted out tunes in the Slovenian church they attended and around the house.

Stojko went on to perform in annual plays at his private school and took singing lessons from soprano Denise Daniels. That led to his role as Vince Fontaine in a 2004 production of “Grease” in Toronto and Hamilton, and his own album release in 2009.

“I don’t have as much experience as some of the people who’ve been (in ‘Chicago’),” said the seven-time Canadian national figure skating champion, who has retired from the amateur level but still occasionally performs on ice.

“But one thing I do have is the fact that I learn quickly, a good work ethic and I have a good ear for music.”

Stojko — who also races go-karts — said his wife, mother, racing coach, mechanic and skating friends also plan to see him perform in the show this week.

And once it’s all over, he’d like to do it again later in the year in Toronto and New York.

“I’d like to do that and obviously other projects too,” said Stojko. “But to really play this character and really settle in would be even nicer … and then that learning experience I could take anywhere, whether it be film or TV.”

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