Bollywood Interview
The "Passions" Bollywood production number gave Eric Martsolf (Ethan) the opportunity to trot out his singing and dancing skills. Considering Ethan isn’t the type of character to break out into song, this fantasy sequence provided viewers with a chance to see both Ethan and Eric in a new light. Check out what Eric has to say about how a previous job prepared him for Bollywood and what it was like dancing in pajamas.
Were you nervous about having to sing and dance on the show?
Not at all. I was a singer and a performer before I was ever an actor. It was sort of like riding a bike for me. I just got on and pedaled. It was like second nature, so I wasn’t nervous.
So you enjoyed re-visiting your past life as a singer/performer?
Oh yeah. I loved it. I feel like I’m in my element when I’m doing that stuff.
What was your singing and dance background?
Throughout my high school career, I was always involved in all the plays and all the musicals. The longest (professional) show I was ever on was the "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" National Tour. I portrayed the Pharaoh out there for four and a half years with the Osmond family. What’s interesting is our outfits for the Bollywood routine were pretty darn similar to what we wore for "Joseph." So not only was performing customary to me, but the costumes were as well. (Laughs)
Was the choreography hard to learn?
The choreography was a bit challenging. We were familiar with Bollywood movies and how opulent and ornate they are, but none of us had ever danced in the style of the Bollywood films before. That was interesting because it involved muscles in your body that you just customarily don’t use on a day-to-day basis. Dancing barefoot is also something new to me. I’m used to wearing shoes! It was pretty challenging.
What did you think of the costumes?
I was blown away. They were all handmade and imported from India. I was afraid to move in them for a while for fear of ripping them! I knew how ridiculously expensive they were. That’s just a tribute to our show. When they do something, they want to do it right. And they definitely did.
Were there any challenges you didn’t expect?
I have to say no. Everything was so well-prepared from the directors to the choreographers to the actors. It was such a well-oiled project. Usually with these large-scale productions, there are always headaches and frustrations, but this was just a really pleasant experience for everyone. The whole production team had Indian jewelry on and got into it. They loved the spirit of the whole thing, and in turn, we got a really great sequence.
How did you feel by the end of the long taping day?
I wanted to do more! I was sad it was over. I love the chance to do something out of the norm. Not that I don’t love my triangle and my girls, but it’s always fun to throw in a new element into Ethan’s world. It was a blast.
Would you want to do another fantasy sequence like this one?
I would do a Bollywood sequence every other day if they would let me. I think we should go around to each country and do a different fantasy. I think that’s what sets "Passions" apart from other shows. I always enjoy the chance to do those things. I will never say no to putting on a very expensive pair of pajamas and dancing around barefoot.
