Tony Nominee Will Chase Talks Returning to High Fidelity at 54 Below & His Love of Rush and The Beatles

Before Will Chase scored a Tony nomination for his role as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, he led the short-lived but well-loved musical High Fidelity. Now, nearly seven years after the show closed, the cast is reuniting for a set of concerts on May 19 and 20 at 54 Below. Here, Chase talks about returning to the Tom Kitt/Amanda Green musical, his love of Rush and the Beatles and the American Idiot track that he can’t stop listening to.

What record/album was your favorite growing up?
Sgt. Pepper/Yellow Submarine by The Beatles.

What concert most influenced you as a performer?
Rush’s Grace Under Pressure tour.

What is your go-to audition song?
Back in the day, Kenny Rankin's "This Old Man."

What song are you most excited to perform in your show?
"Last Real Record Store on Earth."

What musical theater track is the most played on your iPod?
"Jesus of Suburbia" off the original Broadway cast recording of American Idiot.

If you could invite any performer onstage for a duet at 54 Below, who would it be?
Harry Connick Jr.

What musical theater performer from the past do you wish you could collaborate with?
Gene Kelly.

What album was the soundtrack to your 20s?
Impossible to narrow:
Beatles’ White Album
Mahler Symphony No. 1, the Concertgebouw/Bernstein recording
Rush catalog

What’s your favorite love song?
"Love" by John Lennon.

What song makes you feel sexy?
"Get Your Way" by Jamie Cullum.

What is your favorite workout track?
"Stricken" by Disturbed.

What’s the best hidden gem in on your iPod?
Sitzprobe of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Favorite break-up song?
"With So Little to Be Sure Of" from Anyone Can Whistle.

What song most makes you smile?
"What Would You Do for Love" by Kevin Hammond.

When this song plays, I can’t help but dance:
"Let 'Em In" by Paul McCartney/Wings.

My vote for the song of summer is:
"Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles.

Don’t miss Will Chase, Jenn Colella and more in High Fidelity at 54 Below on May 19 and 20. Check out the video below to see Chase in High Fidelity’s “Top 5 Desert Island Breakups” music video.