MickeyJoTheatre — Ramin Karimloo (Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Roam) - INTERVIEW

Date: October 19, 2025
Host: MickeyJoTheatre
Guest: Ramin Karimloo

Episode Overview

In this insightful interview, theatre critic and host Mickey Jo speaks with acclaimed West End and Broadway star Ramin Karimloo. The conversation covers Ramin’s international career, his deep engagement with iconic roles in shows like Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera, and his excitement for the new musical Rome. The episode offers a blend of personal reflection, behind-the-scenes stories, and Ramin's philosophy on theatre and artistry.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Life as a Transatlantic Performer

• Ramin’s sense of presence and gratitude:
  • He now makes a conscious effort to “really take in and be present” (01:41), appreciating the unique opportunities and frequent travel, balancing gratitude with finding peace at home.
  • "I love being home... It's so nice to be in my own music room prepping things as opposed to a hotel room..." (01:41)
• Upcoming plans include travel to Japan and New York, highlighting his ongoing international career.

2. Reflecting on Recent and Iconic Roles

• Notable shows discussed:
  • Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre (02:24)
    • Host’s personal memory of seeing Ramin, referencing the “black shirt/white shirt” costume changes.
  • Pirates! The Penzance Musical:
    • Ramin describes it as "so much fun... one of my favorite times yet." (03:05)
    • Acting with joy, regardless of whether the story is heavy or comical, is central for him.
    • "I feel like my best is yet to come." (03:09)

3. Spotlight on Rome: The New Musical Concert

• What is Rome about?
  • "It’s about a nomadic clan’s caravan that breaks down in a hostile territory... on the way to a sacred festival." (04:06)
  • The music: "Romani infused, folk rock driven, very energetic, fun" (04:06)
• Themes:
  • Community, family, generational relatability, seeking connection rather than division.
  • "You always look for that redemption... what it asks of me as an artist and as a singer pushes my boundaries. It takes me to a place I don't think I've been." (05:49)
• Playing Yoshka:
  • Ramin’s character is "magnetic, charming, flawed... as a father, there's a lot I could relate to him." (05:49)
• Sociopolitical Parallels:
  • Drawing on the Romani experience and broader themes of marginalization—but as a universal story.
  • “I like the idea of searching for what brings us together rather than what separates us... That's what we used to do: celebrate what made us different.” (07:24)

4. Building New Works vs. Iconic Shows

• Comparison of creative processes:
  • "It's more similar than dissimilar... we still go through the same process." (08:29)
  • In new work, “every day is a discovery. Every day will be hit and miss.” (08:29)
  • Shows like Les Misérables have a roadmap, but new works provide continuous, fresh exploration.

5. Pivotal Career Moments

• Breakout Roles:
  • Love Never Dies: “To have music written around your voice, that was quite an extraordinary experience.” (10:34)
  • Les Mis 25th Anniversary: “This stuff is not about us. We're not important. We're all just coming together to tell a story...” (10:51)
• “When you’re having fun, you’ll do your best work. And regardless, you’re having fun.” (11:30)
• Funny Girl: Significance in getting to speak more—each show pivotal in different ways. (12:02)

6. Vocal and Emotional Challenges

• Most vocally challenging roles:
  • Ramin doesn’t designate specifics: "It's not that they're difficult or easy... when I'm in a good place, things just come out." (13:04)
  • Playing Jean Valjean: initially reluctant, but found his conduit to the character, which unlocked the vocal performance.
  • Smoking for Facing the Crowd presented unique vocal challenges. (14:01)

7. Les Misérables — Personal Memories and Fan Moments

• Ramin’s time as Valjean at the Queen’s (now Sondheim) Theatre and in Toronto with Colm Wilkinson (15:02–18:12)
  • “I used to stage door him and ask him for his autograph. And then... he goes, ‘Ramin, it's so good to see your career blossom. I'm proud of you.’” (15:54)
  • Touching stories from the 25th Anniversary concert and working with original cast members.
  • Anecdotes about backstage jam sessions with Colm Wilkinson (16:46; 17:29)

8. Unexpected Artistic Journeys

• Roles that surprised him:
  • Lonesome Rhodes in Facing the Crowd, The Pirate King in Pirates! “See what happens... the fact that there was so much joy and playfulness. You are not your body, you're your spirit.” (21:12)
  • Taking on roles out of fear, and finding growth in the unknown.
• On the Phantom:
  • “Even... if I was to ever play Phantom again, I don't know what I would do with that.” (22:18)
  • Maintaining his fan appreciation, preferring Hal Prince's original version. "The next time I see Phantom... I want Hal's version, the original version." (22:35–23:05)

9. Hopes and Aspirations for Rome

• Universal messages:
  • "What I want us to represent is this universal story, this story of, like, everyone's trying to search for a way to shine their light in darkness." (23:50)
  • Encouraging audiences to find their own meaning: "I want them to take what they see from... not what I want them to." (23:50)
  • Advocates for celebrating differences and creating unity: “Our differences are celebrated, and not feared.” (25:33)
• Bringing it full circle:
  • Despite heavy themes, the show has “a lot of energy... great music... something that stems from something quite dark and heavy that can lead to light, that can lead to unity rather than division, love, you know, family, community.” (26:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being present:

  • "Now I'm really enjoying it... I'm very grateful to be able to hear you say that and also to hear myself say that and be present with it." —Ramin (01:41)

• On building new work:

  • "Every day is a discovery. Every day will be hit and miss... we're trying to honor where it stems from, but also bringing it back to being a universal story." —Ramin (08:29)

• Advice on performance and purpose:

  • "When you’re having fun, you’ll do your best work. And regardless, you’re having fun. And that's what I think we have to ultimately tap into." —Ramin (11:30)

• On unity and differences:

  • "If we stop looking at things that separate us and look for the things that actually unite us, we can celebrate those differences because that’s what we used to do." —Ramin (07:24)

• Fanboy moment with Colm Wilkinson:

  • “I used to stage door him and ask him... for his autograph. And then for the 25th, I remember... ‘Ramin, it's so good to see your career blossom. I’m proud of you.’” (15:54)

Timeline & Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:05–01:41 — Ramin’s reflections on travel, being present, and finding home
• 02:24–03:09 — Host recalls Love Never Dies, Ramin on Pirates!
• 04:06–05:49 — Ramin explains Rome and his role as Yoshka
• 08:29–09:39 — The creative process: blocking new versus established shows
• 10:12–12:02 — Breakout roles, pivotal career moments
• 13:04–14:08 — On vocal challenges and finding the conduit to character
• 15:02–18:12 — Les Misérables stories, working with Colm Wilkinson
• 21:12–22:18 — Artistic surprises and philosophy on risk
• 22:35–23:05 — Phantom, fandom, and production perspectives
• 23:50–26:07 — Aspirations for Rome, universal messages and hopes
• 27:13–27:47 — About concert-style productions and The Addams Family anecdote

Closing Thoughts

Ramin Karimloo’s interview is a vibrant reflection on an artist’s ongoing journey—balancing the gratification of legacy roles with the thrill and challenge of new work. With Rome, Ramin seeks not only to entertain but to foster unity and celebrate diversity, themes that resonate deeply in today’s world. His humility, humor, and reverence for the theatre craft shine throughout this conversation, offering both inspiration and anticipation for his next stage appearance.