Joshua Turchin has been on the Broadway scene since he was nine-years-old and has been non-stop ever since!
From Flounder in The Little Mermaid Live To Film at the Hollywood Bowl and being featured in the upcoming season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to the production of his own original musical, The Perfect Fit, Turchin does it all! His resounding talent has led him to do such incredible things in his teenage years!
The actor, singer, musician, AND composer is also the host of his very own Comedy-Variety-Talk cabaret show, The Early Night Show, that went virtual due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The show showcased stars off of Broadway, TV, and film and helped raise funds and awareness for The Actors Fund, which helps support individuals in the entertainment industry who found themselves unemployed during this difficult time.
“I was able to have several live shows in NYC,” Turchin tells Celeb Secrets, “And when Covid paused everything, I decided that adult, teen, and kid performers needed an outlet to perform (as much as I needed one, too), so I created The Early Night Show virtual edition format.”
Turchin talks with Celeb Secrets about the behind-the-scenes of The Early Night Show, his favorite memories throughout his acting career, what instrument he enjoys playing the most, and more!
You can check out his comedy-variety show, The Early Night Show, here!
Celeb Secrets: Hi Josh! For people that don’t know you, can you tell them a little bit about yourself?
Joshua Turchin: “HI! Thanks for having me here today! I’m an actor, singer, musician, and composer. I love performing and hosting as much as I love creating new music (and musicals), and orchestrating and arranging music as well.”
CS: How have you been during quarantine?
JT: “I’ve been doing well, thanks! Of course, I miss seeing friends and colleagues in person regularly, but I’ve really tried to take this time to create opportunities for myself and as many others while supporting different charities during this challenging time.”
CS: It’s been an interesting past year. Have you picked up any new hobbies during this time?
JT: “It has definitely been an interesting year! Just a year ago, I was in rehearsal for a new Off-Broadway musical and I never would have imagined that the industry would be paused as it has been. My newest hobby is streaming on Twitch (@joshuaturchin). I have so much fun streaming and playing games and music with people on my stream. Last week, I had people on my stream make suggestions for a new song, which I wrote live on the stream.”
CS: You’ve been in the Broadway scene since you were 9-years-old! What is something you love most about being on stage?
JT: “I love that every day on a stage is a totally different experience. Yes, the characters, songs, and lines may be the same, but there are so many different pieces that come together to make a show which makes every performance really unique and fun. I also love the interaction with the audience. Making them feel something for the character I am playing is so special, whether it’s laughing with the character or feeling sympathy for him. It’s a unique form of connection and I love it!”
CS: What is one of your favorite memories in your acting career so far?
JT: “Every job that I have been fortunate enough to have has been incredibly special. However, I think playing Flounder in The Little Mermaid Live-to-Film at the Hollywood Bowl with Lea Michele as Ariel, Harvey Fierstein as Ursula, Ken Page as Sebastian, Peter Gallagher as Triton and many other talented performers is one of my most favorite memories! Allen Menken performed as well, and he is one of my absolute favorite composers. Right before the first show, I found out that my original musical that I wrote the music, book, and lyrics for, The Perfect Fit the Musical (www.theperfectfitmusical.com) was selected out of hundreds to be produced in an international theater festival in NYC! Sharing that great news with Allen Menken before the show was so amazing! Then, I got to bring Flounder to life and sing She’s in Love in front of about 17,000 people!”
CS: Aside from featuring in amazing shows live and on television, you also created your own Comedy-Variety-Talk Show, The Early Night Show! How did the idea of the show come about?
JT: “When I was 11, I knew that there would be a time in the near future for me and my friends where opportunities might slow down. I wanted to create something fun for us to do in between jobs. As child performers, we just want to do what we love, which is sing, act, dance, make music, etc. So I thought creating a variety show might be a really great way for all of us to continue doing what we love. I modeled it after different late-night shows but wanted to keep it family-friendly and performed at a time of day where all ages could enjoy (early night). So, The Early Night Show was born, and I started my career then as a music director, accompanist, and host as well! I was able to have several live shows in NYC, and when Covid paused everything, I decided that adult, teen and kid performers needed an outlet to perform (as much as I needed one, too), so I created The Early Night Show virtual edition format. Shortly after that began (March 16, 2020), it was picked up by the Broadway Podcast Network and is available as a podcast on all digital musical platforms and as a webseries at www.theearlynightshow.com.”
CS: What is something you didn’t know about the behind-the-scenes process of creating a show until The Early Night show came about?
JT: “I didn’t realize just how much work it was to create something virtual! When it’s live, it takes time to select the songs, write the monologues, transitions, games, and of course practice the songs. However, with the virtual version, I do that weekly plus have a lot of post-production work to make sure that everyone sounds great. Most of my virtual shows have supported The Actor’s Fund, which is an amazing organization. All of the hard work is worth it to make a difference in the lives of others.”
CS: You’re going to be seen on Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Schmigadoon soon! What was it like working on set on these shows?
JT: “It was amazing! With Schmigadoon, you won’t actually see me, but you will hear me on two different episodes. We recorded from a studio where I used to work a lot pre-covid, so it was amazing to go back there! The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was the most surreal experience! When I found out that I was cast in the show, I started binge-watching it. So, when I got to set and met the regular cast (who was incredibly nice) I was kind of in shock to be seeing everyone and everything in person!”
CS: You’ve worked mainly on Comedy shows, what other genres do you hope to try out in the future?
JT: “I do love comedy, but I love drama as well! I would love the opportunity to play a really complex character with different emotional levels who is going through a lot.”
CS: You play 15 instruments. That’s amazing! What made you want to learn to play? Do you have a favorite one?
JT: “Thanks! I love music! Since the time I could touch the keys, I have been playing piano. I think I wanted to play because I always heard melodies in my head (I still do), and love to bring them to life using an instrument. I started playing by ear, but then learned to read music. Of my instruments, piano is definitely my favorite, with accordion and ukulele as close seconds.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, is there any secret you can let us in on that people may not know yet?
JT: “I will be graduating high school and starting college when I’m 15!”
