Podcast Summary: MickeyJoTheatre – Ross Harmon (Get Down Tonight, Wicked, Shucked) - INTERVIEW

Date: October 26, 2025
Host: Mickey Jo Theatre
Guest: Ross Harmon

Overview

In this engaging interview, Mickey Jo Theatre sits down with West End rising star Ross Harmon, fresh from leading "Get Down Tonight" at the Charing Cross Theatre. The conversation traces Ross’s journey from early roles in jukebox musicals and cruise ship productions to major West End appearances in shows like "Wicked" and "Shucked." The interview weaves through experiences with iconic theatre, his approach to playing real, living subjects, and the unique joys (and challenges) of cast camaraderie. The tone is warm, passionate, and peppered with moments of laughter and reflection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "Get Down Tonight" – The London Arrival

• Introduction to the Show

  • Ross describes "Get Down Tonight" as much more than a typical jukebox musical. Instead of a standard rise-to-fame biography, the show explores the friendships and personal journey of Harry Casey (KC of KC and the Sunshine Band).
  • Notable quote:
    • “We’re telling a story about friendship accompanied by some of the most iconic tunes … and for a song that was written now, 50 years ago, to be so timeless and iconic is so rare.” – Ross Harmon (03:38)

• On Timeless Hits

  • Signature songs featured include: "Shake Your Booty," "Get Down Tonight," "Baby Give It Up," "That's the Way (I Like It)," "Please Don't Go." (04:20)
  • Ross notes that new songs written by Harry Casey in the last decade are woven in, keeping the show fresh for fans.
  • Quote from Harry Casey (via Ross):
    • “I said to Harry, what do you think makes a song timeless? And he said, joy. Joy we needed back in the 70s, and Lord knows we need some joy now.” – Ross Harmon (03:58)

• Working with a Living Subject

  • The creative process involved sensitivity, as Harry Casey is alive, present, and personally involved in development.
  • “There’s a pressure … you don’t want to be a caricature … but I do think I’ve crafted a version of Harry which feels really appropriate.” – Ross Harmon (07:37)

2. The Actor’s Journey: Early Roles and Learning Moments

• First Professional Job: "Mamma Mia" on a Cruise Ship

  • Ross booked the job soon after graduating from the London School of Musical Theatre, reflecting on “what to do, what not to do” as a new professional. (09:18)
  • The experience taught making older material feel current and connecting across generations.
  • The contract was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. (10:31)

• Transition Through "Heathers" and "But I’m a Cheerleader"

  • Played two jock-type roles back to back, stretching his range and learning to inhabit characters “so far from myself.” (11:48)
  • Running joke about usually being required to take his top off for roles, except in "Wicked."
    • “Someone did say to me the other day, is it kind of a stipulation when you go in for a show, you have to take your top off?” – Ross Harmon (12:29)

3. "Wicked": Ensemble and Covering Fiyero

• Personal Connection to "Wicked"

  • A super-fan as a teen, Ross describes being cast as a “cathartic” experience, reconnecting with the passion he had for theatre as a child. (14:09)
  • Describes the ensemble experience as unexpectedly rewarding—being part of large numbers, community, and special moments on stage.

• Covering and Finally Playing Fiyero

  • Despite initial nerves, he built confidence through “learning the right lessons from covering roles.” (12:48)
  • Recounts his deeply emotional final performance:
    • “Curtain goes up, the audience applauds. And I just … just dissolved. I couldn’t sing anything in the opening.” – Ross Harmon (16:44)
  • Shares affection for Alexia Khadime and Amy Webb, significant colleagues during his time in the show.

• Reflections on the "Wicked" Phenomenon

  • Reminisces about seeing Idina Menzel in the original London run.
    • “I saw Idina three times in London.” – Ross Harmon (21:39)
  • Comments on the show's longevity and backstage magic—some crew have been aboard since 2006.

4. "Shucked" and the Joys of Creation

• Surprise Opportunity

  • Thought he had moved on from musicals, then "Shucked" arrived. He was drawn in by the fun, the material, and the company's warmth. (23:07)
  • Unique in process—directors encouraged the cast to “find your version” rather than copy Broadway.

• Outdoor Theatre & Audience Connection

  • Regent’s Park proved an ideal, if rare, setting for a Broadway transfer.
  • Greatest compliment: friends returning with others after seeing the show, showing broad appeal and genuine “joy.”
    • “The show was created for joy and joy only, and that’s really powerful.” – Ross Harmon (25:59)

• Contrast with Jukebox Expectations

  • "Shucked" subverted expectations with heart and humor, while "Get Down Tonight" surprises with unexpectedly deep emotion beyond the music.
    • “People come for the music and they … end up being taken on a journey which maybe they weren’t expecting.” – Ross Harmon (29:34)

5. Theatre Life: Camaraderie and What He’ll Miss

• Specialness of Charing Cross & Ensemble Life
  • Contrary to warnings, Ross loves the intimate, challenging space at the Charing Cross.
  • Breaks the fourth wall often, feeling connected to the audience. (30:00)
  • What he’ll miss most: backstage camaraderie, laughter, the genuine fun radiating both on and off stage.
    • “If somebody recorded what we were talking about right now, there would be some kind of investigation. … The stream of consciousness that comes out of our mouths in that dressing room after a show is just bonkers!” – Ross Harmon (31:27)
    • “Find something which makes you belly laugh every day and do it. And I feel lucky to do that.” (32:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Timelessness in Music:
  “Joy, we needed back in the 70s, and Lord knows we need some joy now.”
  – Harry Casey via Ross Harmon (03:58)

• On Playing Real People:
  “I have to be sensitive to the fact that this is a real person. So I don’t want to be a caricature. … I do think I’ve crafted a version of Harry which feels really appropriate to the real human, but then also dramatized.”
  – Ross Harmon (07:37)

• On Ensemble vs Leading Roles:
  “If I had just gone in to play Fiyero, I would never have had those experiences. … I’m super grateful for the ensemble track.”
  – Ross Harmon (14:09)

• On "Wicked" Milestones:
  “Curtain goes up … I just dissolved. I couldn’t sing anything in the opening.”
  – Ross Harmon (16:44)

• On Camaraderie:
  “I don’t feel like I’ve worked a single day on this job… I just had so much fun every day. ... That’s the key to life, isn’t it? Find something which makes you belly laugh every day and do it.”
  – Ross Harmon (32:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-------| | 02:00 | Introduction to "Get Down Tonight" and Ross Harmon | | 04:20 | List of KC and the Sunshine Band songs in the show | | 07:26 | On pressure playing a real, living person | | 09:18 | Early career: "Mamma Mia" cruise ship experience | | 11:26 | Transition to "Heathers" and "But I'm a Cheerleader" | | 12:38 | Lessons from supporting and leading roles; imposter syndrome | | 14:06 | Deep connection to "Wicked"; ensemble and Fiyero | | 16:44 | Emotional final show in "Wicked" | | 23:07 | "Shucked" process and open-air performance | | 29:34 | Surprising audience with emotion in "Get Down Tonight" | | 30:00 | What Ross cherishes in the current run (venue, camaraderie) | | 32:29 | Reflection on life's joy: belly laughter and camaraderie |

Tone and Atmosphere

The discussion is candid, thoughtful, and effusive with a love for theatre. Both Mickey Jo and Ross joke warmly, swap stories, and share honest reflections about the unpredictability, joys, and challenges of a performer’s life. The interview feels accessible, full of behind-the-scenes insight, and genuinely celebratory of the theatre community.

For listeners and theatre fans, this episode offers an in-depth look at the craft, emotional resonance, and interpersonal bonds that shape a performer's journey—anchored by the perspective of a gifted, rising star with both humility and infectious delight for his art.