IWTA, Episode 32: Rick Crom, Part I

Rick Crom is an actor, singer, comedian and songwriter. Perhaps best known as Louis CK's gay poker buddy on the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award winning show Louie on FX, he's also been seen on Chappelle's Show, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and Caroline's Comedy Hour. As a comedian, he's a regular at The Comedy Cellar in New York and has performed in clubs throughout the country. As an actor, Rick has appeared on Broadway in The Goodbye Girl (with Martin Short and Bernadette Peters), Footloose, and Urinetown. As a songwriter, Rick wrote the book, music and lyrics for Newsicle, a musical that lampoons current events, celebrities and trends which has been running Off-Broadway since 2009, and has earned him several Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Lyrics. Newsicle is currently enjoying an open-ended run at The Kirk at Theatre Row. In Part 1 of our conversation, Rick talks about making his comedy debut in Chicago, and how the harsh competition that greeted him in New York propelled him into a successful cabaret and Off-Broadway career as a songwriter and a residency at The Comedy Cellar; the importance of having an original, unpredictable point of view when writing a funny song; the best way to deal with nerves in an audition; and what it's like to be a swing on Broadway. He also does impressions of Kirk Douglas, Don Pardo and a gay John Wayne that you don't wanna miss. Tune in.