Music superstars Toni Braxton and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds are the latest artists to be added to the rotating roster of special guest star vocalists in the upcoming Broadway musical After Midnight. Braxton and Edmonds will join the company from March 18 through March 30, 2014
We caught up with Babyface and Toni at a special press day celebrating their special guest star role on the show at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Q. Kenny, this is your Broadway debut! Why was “After Midnight” the right project?
We got a call towards the end of summer about the play and it was Wynton Marsalis, the music of Duke Ellington and The Cotton Club, Langston Hughes Poetry, so in that sense it was certainly interesting. And the fact that they approached both Toni and I, it was a comfort zone, and then it was because it was out of my comfort zone, which is why I chose it as well. And I really felt like I wanted to challenge myself. My mom passed away about a year and a half ago and I kept imagining how proud she would be to see me on Broadway. So I feel like with my doing this she’s going to see me anyway and she’s going to be proud so I’m happy to do it.
Q. After having such a successful career and accomplishing so much, what do you think it is that drives you and keeps you constantly wanting to challenge yourself? And, with taking on Broadway and any new project at this point in your career, how high would you say the stakes are for you?
I think it is that thing of just always challenging yourself because that’s what living is. If you get to a point and just say I’ve done it all, then your life will become boring. So with stepping into this world it’s certainly scary, I’m very nervous about it and it’s a lot of hard work, but what drives me is that I want to step up to the plate and step up to the challenge.
Q. Your current studio album with Toni Braxton that was released just last month, “Love, Marriage & Divorce” shot to the top of the R&B charts hitting number one and we all know you as a musical genius and multi-platinum, Grammy Award-Winning superstar so I have to ask you what you think about the current state of R&B and the new musicians that’s are carving out their own paths to greatness? Are there any new artist that you currently feeling and listening to, get inspired by, or even say hey, this is kind of cool? This person has what it takes?
You know I can’t think off of the top of my head but you know there are great songs that come. I’m a big fan of Bruno Mars, and I’m a big Fan of Pharrell, and I wish that he would have won the Oscar. I’m particularly proud of Pharrell and how consistent he’s been with his career. As far as the music, maybe theres not as much great R&B as there used to be, but there is some, there are pockets of it, and I think that will improve, I think there will be more.
You can read what Toni told JONES MAGAZINE here.
For more information and to purchase tickets for After Midnight please visit:
