Most of Phillips' fans first spotted him in Ritchie Valens' biopic "La Bamba" 20 years ago and quickly followed with "Stand and Deliver" and "Young Guns."
What you may not know is that 10 years ago Phillips earned a Tony Award nomination for his turn as the ruler of Siam in "The King and I."
And now, on national tour for the first time, he's playing royalty again as King Arthur in “Camelot.”
A favorite from the Golden Age of musicals and approaching its 50th anniversary, "Camelot" is the story of an idyllic medieval land and the Round Table. A romantic triangle starring noble Arthur, his queen, Guinevere, and best friend Lancelot brings the dream crashing down.
Phillips is not about to say which composing team he prefers - "King and I" is Rodgers & Hammerstein, "Camelot" is Lerner & Loewe - but he definitely proclaims he's not a song-and-dance man.
"No. No. No," Phillips says, and laughs. "I'm definitely a theater guy, but I don't credit myself as a singer/dancer. I'm an actor who can sing. I'm probably more melodic than (Richard) Burton" (who originated the role).
Phillips says he "stops and listens to Matt sing every night."
"Matt" is Matt Bogart, a College-Conservatory of Music grad and still a Cincinnati favorite.
Last year he starred as "Ace" at Playhouse. Bogart, as Lancelot, gets to sing "If Ever I Would Leave You." There's more Cincinnati in the supporting cast with Norwood's (and CCM's) Shannon Skoeke playing baddie Mordred.
Phillips is a rare breed, an actor who has found steady work for 20 years. "How crazy is that?" he asks.
These days Phillips has a recurring role on primetime drama "Numb3rs" and recently completed filming Steven Soderbergh's "Guerrilla" where he co-stars with Benicio del Toro, Franka Potente and Julia Ormond.
On stage, he likes that there's no camera, no chance for a second or third take.
"You have to be pitch-perfect night after night," he says.
• Go to CinStages.com to leave a review of “Camelot.”
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