Rouleau originated the role in Chicago, coming directly from the Broadway company.
Other theatre work includes Legally Blonde (Emmett), Toy Story: The Musical (Woody), Floyd Collins (Homer), King David (Jonathan), Les Misérables (Marius), ...Forum (Hero) and Cabaret (Cliff).
Full given name: | Nicolas Theodore Rouleau |
Where you were born/where you were raised: | Los Altos, California |
Zodiac Sign: | Aquarius |
What your parents did/do for a living: | My dad is an orthodontist, so I owe him a lot for my teeth. My mom is his office manager. |
Siblings: | Sean (30), Aaron (28) and Lizzie (24). |
Current audition song/monologue: | "Monticello" from Edges by Pasek & Paul. |
First Broadway show you ever saw: | Nine with Antonio Banderas in 2003--which is actually pretty trippy, because it played the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where I made my Broadway debut. |
Favorite showtune(s) of all time: | Easy - "Make Someone Happy" by Jule Styne. It will be my wedding song. |
Some favorite modern musicals: | The Light in the Piazza and Floyd Collins (anything Adam Guettel). And definitely Legally Blonde. |
Some favorite classic musicals: | The Sound of Music all the way. |
Broadway or screen stars of the past you would most have loved to perform with: | I've always wanted to work with Jerry Herman. Luckily there's still time! Who can make that happen? |
Your personal vocal idols, living or dead: | It's no secret - I could listen to Kelli O'Hara sing all day long. |
The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: | Kelli O'Hara live at Cafe Carlyle. (Notice a theme here?) |
MAC or PC? | MAC |
Most played song on your iPod: | Currently it's "Liz Caplan Voice Lesson 7/25/12" -- Liz & I nicknamed it "Spa Day for the Voice" and I warm up to it every day before the show. |
Favorite Tweeters: | It's a tie between two good friends of mine: Alex Wyse (@alexwyse) and Samantha Martin (@HiMyNameSam). I favorite just about every tweet either of them writes. Follow them-- you won't regret it! |
Last book you read: | "A Beginner's Guide to Investing." I'm trying to learn how the stock market works. I'm boring myself writing this. |
Must-see TV show(s): | If the TV is on, it's usually on "HGTV: Property Brothers," "Love It Or List It" and "Income Property." I'm also really into "Breaking Bad" right now. |
Performer you would drop everything to go see: | Kelli O'Hara (Okay, really that's the last time I mention her. It's starting to get weird haha.) |
Pop culture guilty pleasure: | "Dance Moms" |
Three favorite cities: | London, New York... and now Chicago! |
Favorite sport/team/player: | Gotta stick with my home teams: SF Giants, San Jose Sharks and the 49ers! |
First CD/Tape/LP you owned: | The first cassette I bought on my own was Sheryl Crow's "Tuesday Night Music Club." I listened to "All I Wanna Do" on loop for weeks. And it was hard to rewind on a cassette player... kids don't know how easy they have it these days! Ha! |
You were very active in youth and local theatre in the Bay Area. Who were some of your great influences as a young performer? | I really have to thank EVERYONE involved at Peninsula Youth Theatre (PYT) in Mountain View, CA. They really helped shape me as a young performer, and I owe much of what I've accomplished so far in my career to them. They taught me a lot about performing, but more importantly, they taught me a lot about about family and community. |
What are some of your most memorable roles as a kid or teenager and how old were you? | Like every 16 year old boy, I did play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.
While it may be the most inappropriate role I have ever played (aside from Mereb in Aida), it was my most memorable performing experience as a kid. It's one of the shows that the PYT parents are still talking about 10 years later, which I think is really special. |
First stage kiss: | In Guys and Dolls in 2002 opposite my good friend Emily Bliss. I came off stage one day and told her she wasn't doing the kiss right-- she slapped me right across the face. I've never said anything to a girl about an onstage kiss again. |
How you got your Equity card: | The Book of Mormon |
Some of your favorite food/drink hangouts in Chicago: | Yolk for brunch. Also Girl and the Goat or Little Goat Diner for dinner. Both are owned by Stephanie Izard and both are amazing! |
Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: | I listen to Sara Bareilles' "Breathe Again" followed by Carrie Manolakos' "Red." In that order. Every show. |
Most challenging role you have ever played: | Definitely Elder Price |
Most challenging part of playing Elder Price? | Vocal and physical stamina |
Do you have a favorite moment in the show for your character? | "I Believe" is both my favorite and most terrifying moment. But mostly my favorite. |
What has been the major difference performing for a Chicago audience compared to Broadway? | The audiences have actually been very similar, which I think is a huge testament to the brilliant writing of this show. It just works. And it works everywhere. |
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: | I played Woody in Toy Story: The Musical for Disney Cruise Line. At the end of the show, Buzz and Woody are supposed to fly off while attached to a rocket to catch up to Andy's car. Well something happened one night with the fly system and only Buzz flew off while I was left standing on the ground. Alone. Poor Andy... Woody never returned that night. |
Worst costume ever: | Also on Disney Cruise Line, I had to dress as a Lamp Seller in this "Prince Ali" number from Aladdin. I had this jacket lined entirely in plastic magic lamps that I was supposed to tempt the audience with while dancing. Without fail, at least one lamp would fall and shatter on stage every night, causing someone to trip. Stories aside, I really did love working for Disney! |
If you could trade roles with anyone in the cast for a week, who would it be? | Nabalungi. I think I was a female ingenue in my previous life. |
Most interesting or memorable stage door or celebrity visit experience: | On my first night ever joining the cast of Mormon on Broadway, Oprah Winfrey was there. There was no better way to start my Mormon experience. It's a shame she's not in Chicago anymore. We have a running joke in the cast that every limo we see is actually Oprah. If only! |
Leading man role you've been dying to play: | I'd like another shot at Jean Valjean when I'm older. Something about being 16 might have prevented me from really diving into that character. Maybe... |
Leading lady role you'd like a shot at: | Lizzie in 110 in the Shade. I've had a lot of practice singing "Simple Little Things" alone in my apartment. Should I be admitting this? |
Career you would want if not a performer: | House Flipper. Like I said, I watch a LOT of HGTV... and I may be a little over confident in my abilities. |
Words of advice for aspiring performers: | Be the actor that you would want to work with. |