Actor Spotlight

Former Dallas actor makes a grand theatrical debut in weepy musical tour

Even though he's now a New York City resident, John Campione can't seem to stay away from Texas. The Dallas actor starred in musicals at just about every theater before he left and has already returned to town once in Dallas Theater Center's Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical.

Now he's joining the national touring company of The Bridges of Madison County as Michael, the son of lonely housewife Francesca. Campione joins the tour in Houston at the Hobby Center on January 25, then stops at the Music Hall at Fair Park February 2-14 courtesy of Dallas Summer Musicals. He will then continue touring the country with the show.

As he preps to make his grand entrance, Campione took the time to fill out our survey of serious, fun, and sometimes ridiculous questions.

Name: John Campione

Role in The Bridges of Madison County: Michael (Bud and Francesca's son)

Previous work in the DFW area: Multiple roles/shows with Dallas Theater Center, Uptown Players, WaterTower Theatre, Theatre Three, Lyric Stage, Stage West, and others.

Hometown: Mesquite, Texas

Where you currently reside: NYC. Washington Heights to be specific.

First theater role: Motel the tailor in Fiddler on the Roof, sporting the most awful, fake, glued-on red beard you ever saw (important note: I am most definitely not a redhead).

First stage show you ever saw: The first show I recall was a junior college production of Camelot, and I remember thinking, "Well, that looks fun, maybe I'll try it."

Moment you decided to pursue a career in theater: I had a recital to give at the end of my classical music degree in voice, and the pieces that seemed to resonate the most, both with me as well as with my audience, were the two theater selections. Something clicked in my head that opera was never going to be my strongest suit, and it was then I started to realize my passion for theater, acting, and digging into a character.

Most challenging role you’ve played: Valentin in Kiss of the Spiderwoman. It was equally challenging dramatically and vocally, and sort of marks a turning point for me in terms of how I look at prep and character development. I learned a lot from that experience and would really love a crack at that role again in a few years.

Special skills: I play guitar, piano, and a couple others with varying levels of skill. I like to write and arrange music from time to time, and I love anything physical (i.e., obstacle course racing, cycling, climbing, archery, and I just tried trapeze for the first time a few days ago and LOVED it!).

Something you’re REALLY bad at: Keeping a straight face. Sometimes in the worst of situations.

Current pop culture obsession: All these FANTASTIC Marvel films! And in theater, the new Hamilton musical.

Last book you read: The Bridges of Madison County in prep for this tour. Currently reading Ron Chernow's fascinating, massive, and incredibly well researched biography of Alexander Hamilton (which inspired the show).

Favorite movie(s): I'm so terrible at picking favorites. Favorite film I've seen most recently was Spotlight (Oscar nom this year).

Favorite musician(s): Mumford and Sons, Jason Mraz, Brad Paisley, and Journey, just to name a few.

Favorite song: "Back in Black," "Let It Be," "She's Got a Way," "Soldier" by Gavin DeGraw.

Dream role: Guy in Once, Tom Joad, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins.

Favorite play(s): A recent favorite read was Night Watch by Lucille Fletcher.

Favorite musical(s): Company and Hello Dolly!

Favorite actors/actresses: Oh these impossible choices ... Steve Carell, Jessica Chastain, Michael Fassbender.

Favorite food: Tex-Mex.

Must-see TV show(s): American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother.

Something most people don’t know about you: All 10 of my fingers are double jointed and I'm always happy to provide a demonstration.

Place in the world you’d most like to visit: Italy.

Pre-show warm-up: Various stretches from head to toe, quiet reading, and some pacing and emotional prep.

Favorite part about your current role: The way he kind of whips onstage, says his bit, and gets out of there (very much like a typical 16-year-old).

Most challenging part about your current project: With a longterm project like this one, I think the biggest challenge is always maintaining the quality and spontaneity of the work from start to finish, as well as staying healthy and consistent.

Most embarrassing onstage mishap: I can't think of anything I've been embarrassed by ONstage. It's live theater: Things happen, actors adapt, and I think that's what makes it so great. My most embarrassing moment is when I have missed an entrance because of a lack of focus. There is no excuse for it and you only have yourself to blame for letting your colleagues down. It's also not something I ever look back and laugh about; it always bugs me.

Career you’d have if you weren’t in theater: Stunt driver.

Favorite post-show spot: The Old Monk! Nice to be back in Dallas so I can have some more of those fries. Also, Whataburger is never more life-changing than at midnight after a two-show day...

Favorite thing about Dallas-Forth Worth: The friends I've made here over the years.

Most memorable theater moment: I consider myself lucky that there have been too many to count in the last few years, but the first that comes to mind is performing "Don't Rain on My Parade," as part of Broadway Our Way at Uptown Players. Singing that song and the audience response was as thrilling and empowering as any single moment I have ever experienced onstage.

Actor John Campione.

Photo courtesy of John Campione

Actor John Campione.

qa theater interview

RIP, Irma

Dallas actress and 'Soul Food' star Irma P. Hall passes away at 91

Courtesy photo

Irma P. Hall

Dallas actress and longtime resident Irma P. Hall, best known for playing Big Mama Jo in the 1997 film Soul Food, died Tuesday, November 10, surrounded by loved ones, according to an announcement from her family. She was 91.

Hall built a nearly five-decade career in film, television, and theater, earning an NAACP Image Award for Soul Food and a Jury Prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in The Ladykillers.

"Her commanding presence and remarkable ability to bring depth and authenticity to every character made her one of Hollywood's most respected and recognizable character actresses and a cultural icon," her family says in a statement.

Before becoming a familiar face on movie screens, Hall spent more than 20 years teaching English and foreign languages in Dallas public schools. She maintained her ties to her native Texas throughout her Hollywood career.

Born Irma Dolores Player on June 3, 1935, in Beaumont, Hall grew up in Chicago before returning to Texas to attend Texas College in Tyler. Her path to acting began unexpectedly when actor and director Raymond St. Jacques discovered her talent during a poetry reading in Dallas, her family says.

She made her film debut in Book of Numbers in 1973, launching a second career that would take her from Dallas stages to Tinseltown sets.

Hall became widely recognized for her portrayal of Big Mama Jo in Soul Food, the 1997 film about a close-knit family whose Sunday dinners bring generations together. She starred alongside stars Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, and Michael Beach.

"One of the most iconic mother roles in film history, "A Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men was written and produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, specifically centering on Irma P. Hall's character in Soul Food," the family statement says. "Decades after its original release, this song is still one of the most popular and enduring Mother's Day anthems of all time."

Hall's other credits included A Family Thing (1996), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), Beloved (1998), Patch Adams (1998), The Ladykillers (2004), Collateral (2004), and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (2008). She also reprised her role as Mama Joe in the television series based on the film.

Hall's performance in Soul Food earned her an NAACP Image Award for outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture. In 2004, she shared a Jury Prize at Cannes for The Ladykillers, in which she starred opposite Tom Hanks. She also received honors from the Chicago and Kansas City film critics associations for A Family Thing and was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.

Courtesy photo

Irma P. Hall stayed connected to the Dallas arts and theater community throughout her life.

Hall remained connected to Dallas and its arts community her whole life, her family says. She co-founded the Dallas Minority Repertory Theatre in 1973. Her contributions are also remembered through the Irma P. Hall Black Theatre Awards, known as The Irmas, an annual celebration of performing and technical theater talent across Dallas-Fort Worth, founded in 2015.

Education remained another lifelong passion. Hall received an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts and Education from Texas College in recognition of her work in the arts and education. At Inspiring Body of Christ Church in Dallas, where she was a longtime member and cherished Church Mother, she regularly visited the church's University of Dreams school to read to children and share her love of storytelling. She also participated in the church's theater ministry.

“Today, we celebrate the extraordinary life of a woman whose faith, wisdom and love touched so many," senior pastor Rickie G. Rush says in a statement. "Our beloved Church Mother, Irma P. Hall, has taken her final bow on the stage of life and stepped into eternity.”

Hall is survived by her only daughter, Irma Hall Crayton, who remembered her mother's influence as both an educator and a mentor.

“She started as a teacher in the classroom but ended up being a teacher to the world,” Crayton says. “My mom used to always say, ‘To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.’ And she was just that to many people.”

Funeral services and memorial arrangements will be announced at a later date.

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