By Kenneth Jones
I'm curious to know what your relationship to the theatre has been. Do you go to Broadway? Do you see shows?
What else have you seen on Broadway?
Does your wife choose?
07 Feb 2012
Kevin Daniels will play Magic Johnson in Magic/Bird.
EJ: Yeah, I see shows myself. My wife and I see shows — not just there in New York, but when they come here as well. I'm just blown away. I was just there to watch Sam Jackson and Angela Bassett [in The Mountaintop] when they kicked off their play. Matter of fact, I was there opening night. I'm always going there. I love it. There's nothing like New York. There's nothing like Broadway. There's nothing like a great play. I'm still blown away. I still can't believe that this is actually going to happen and that Larry and I actually have a play! This just blows me away because I've been there so many times and never thought that I — we — would be a part of any play.
EJ: Ah, man!
EJ: Yes. Hey, you know if you're married, you already know what's happening: You follow!
EJ: Exactly. You follow. A lot of times we'll go just because our friends are involved. Sam and LaTanya Jackson — they recommend a lot of plays. So, we go a lot of times to see our friends and then we go a lot of times to see the great plays. We love it.
Have you met Kevin Daniels, who is playing you in Magic/Bird?
EJ: Yes. Matter of fact, he's coming today in a minute, to talk to me one more time before he [goes to New York]. This is where he lives.
What's it like talking to "yourself"?
EJ: Weird. [Laughs.] I can't even begin to tell you how weird it is! Also, too, how a guy has to watch you — wants to see your mannerisms and on and on and on. It's weird. [Laughs.]
You feel like a specimen.
EJ: Exactly.
Have you shot hoops with him?
EJ: No, no, no. It's about business. It's about him really capturing my voice, watching me: how I stand, walk, talk— those things.
See you on opening night.
EJ: I'm coming and I can't wait. It's going to be great.
(Kenneth Jones is managing editor of Playbill.com. Follow him on Twitter @PlaybillKenneth.)
