The list of Eddie George鈥檚 accomplishments is lengthy and impressive: He won the Heisman Trophy in 1995. The Tennessee Titans drafted him in the first round in 1996. He is one of two running backs to rush 10,000 yards (Jim Brown is the other). He鈥檚 played the Super Bowl, scoring two touchdowns.
You鈥檇 think the guy would give himself a break.
Not a chance. George teaches, is a financial consultant, and has added acting to his portfolio. He鈥檒l be here through Sunday, April 24, portraying Billy Flynn, the smooth-talking lawyer in the jazz age musical 鈥淐hicago,鈥 which Broadway in 蜜柚直播 is presenting.
He made his Broadway debut with 鈥淐hicago鈥 in January, performing eight shows a week. We caught up with him while he was on hiatus before joining the road tour.
Football compared to acting: 鈥淭here are definitely similarities; they are both entertainment. From the physical standpoint, (acting) isn鈥檛 as taxing. But night after night, emotionally, that鈥檚 rough, and just one day off a week is even tougher.鈥
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His opening night on Broadway: 鈥淚 was nervous. It would be the first time people would see and hear me in a different way and singing outside the walls of my home. I thought I would make it (to Broadway) one day, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be singing in a musical. My knees were knocking backstage, but once I heard the music, I let it go.鈥
The Super Bowl versus playing Broadway: 鈥淢aking it to Broadway is the pinnacle of success; it doesn鈥檛 get any better than that as an actor. I鈥檝e been blessed to reach the pinnacle in college (Ohio State University) with the Heisman, in the NFL, the Super Bowl. Now, making it on Broadway is truly amazing and surreal all in the same breath.鈥
Playing Billy Flynn: 鈥淏illy knows who he is 鈥 a lawyer, a hustler, prince of the courtroom, silver tongued, quick witted, always looking at the bottom line. He looks at the girls as a dollar sign. He鈥檚 a lady鈥檚 man, manipulator, charming and conniving. It鈥檚 really fun to play a role like that.鈥
The arts: 鈥淭he arts have been a gateway for me; a lifeboat. They allowed me to redefine who I was. I found a sense of freedom and that I enjoy telling a story. I owe that to the arts.鈥