Prolific stage, film, and television actor Norm Lewis reflects on his career and discusses his upcoming performance at the historic Perot Theatre
By Phoebe Warren

“We’re going to take you on a journey of my career, and I’ll tell stories. A lot of those stories will lead into a song that means a lot to me or relates to that story. And, yeah, it’s going to be a fun night, just because of the fact that I love to have fun on stage.”

Norm Lewis, an American actor and baritone singer, will take the stage alongside the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra at the Perot Theatre on Saturday, November 9th at 7 p.m. to present Blockbuster Broadway with Norm Lewis. The performance will feature musical numbers from Norm’s vast repertoire of beloved Broadway hits.

Norm Lewis is an acclaimed performer who has earned Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award nominations for his work across stage, screen, and music. He is widely recognized for his recurring role on the hit TV series Scandal, as well as his film appearance in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. He recently starred in the national tour of the Tony Award–winning A Soldier’s Play, as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End Concert of Love Never Dies. In the fall of 2021, Lewis returned to Broadway, starring in Chicken and Biscuits at the Circle In The Square Theatre. His performance as Porgy in the Broadway production of The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess also garnered him several award nominations.

In 2014, Norm made history as the first Black actor to portray the title role in a Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera. “It was one of those things where I wanted to play the role for about 20 years,” Norm explained. “I saw it in 1994 up in Toronto, and I’d already heard the music before, but after seeing the show, I was like, ‘I have to be in this show. I want to be that guy.’” Though a renowned actor, Norm carries himself with quiet dignity and humility. “I have a lot of friends who happen to be African American, who happen to sing really well,” he said. “They could have been that guy, but I was lucky enough to be the one. Now it’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than having that title. I’m representative of a group of people who wouldn’t necessarily see themselves in that role. So now I represent that, and I’m more proud of that than anything.”

Norm co-founded Black Theatre United, an organization dedicated to protecting “Black people, Black theatre, and Black lives of all shapes and orientations in communities across the country.” As Norm described, their mission centers on fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion.

While on-stage progress is evident, Norm acknowledged that there is still work to be done behind the scenes. “We don’t have enough Black producers,” he said. “We don’t have enough Black directors or choreographers. There are people who have the skill and the talent, but they just don’t get the chance to do [their work professionally]. So what Black Theatre United is doing is opening those doors.”

Norm, whose illustrious career has spanned decades, is thrilled to share his story at the Perot Theatre, where he will perform alongside the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. “I encourage everyone to be supportive of the Texarkana Symphony,” Norm said enthusiastically. “Not only for this show but [also for] future shows that are coming down the pike. It’s a great area, with wonderful musicians, and there’s going to be more stuff happening. I feel like this could be a great opportunity for more people who are surrounding Texarkana to come in and support it.”

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Norm Lewis: A Life Onstage