Josh Groban's Broadway Dressing Room Is Fancier Than Most New York Apartments
If you've ever heard a song performed by Josh Groban (and if you haven't, please, just go do it now), you know his vocal cords carry an incredible sense of power and stamina. Give "You Raise Me Up" a listen if you need proof.
But even one of the world's greatest voices needs a place to rest.
That's where a quaint and cozy dressing room overlooking 46th Street in Manhattan's Theatre District comes into play. The abode is in the Imperial Theatre (the venerable stage that has hosted infamous Broadway musicals from "Fiddler on the Roof" to "Les Miserables"), and will be Groban's personal retreat as he makes his Broadway debut in the musical, "Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812."
The multi-platinum recording artist will play the role of Pierre, a lonely outsider who falls in love with a gorgeous ingénue whose reputation has been ruined by an affair with a married man. With all that on-stage drama, Groban needed a soothing getaway to recoup, refresh and host guests between shows.
Originally, the dressing room assigned to Groban was a bit, well, understated - blank white walls and a cold atmosphere left much to be desired. That is, until designer Mike Harrison got his hands on the space.
A long-time creative, Harrison left his position as head designer of his own design company in 2014 to focus on art. In 2015, he found himself designing the dressing room of Leslie Odom Jr., a friend and coincidentally the star of "Hamilton" and NBC's "Smash." For Harrison, the project was the perfect blend of his love for design and his knack for making small spaces personal and welcoming.
The New York City-based designer and artist went on to complete dressing rooms for notables such as Lupita Nyong'o, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sean Hayes, Jessie Mueller and, now, Josh Groban.
But how do you design a dressing room for a musical icon? It all started when Harrison sat down with Groban to pinpoint what his favorite design elements were.
"After speaking with Josh about what style of design he is drawn to, it became quite clear that he possesses an eclectic style," says Harrison. "He enjoys the clean lines of Scandinavian furniture, the coziness of a winter cabin, the whimsy of a treehouse, influences of folk art and midcentury pieces, as well as the opulence of Russian design reflected in the set of his Broadway debut."
To select the majority of the furniture and décor in the space, including the couch, artwork, curtains and chairs, Harrison shopped HomeGoods to collect items that could bring Groban's many tastes together in one small space.
Harrison selected the artwork above the couch, specifically the map of constellations, to anchor the room.
"I loved this piece for its dimensions and colors, but also as a tip of the hat to the 'Comet' influences that I know were of importance to Josh," says Harrison. "I was searching for artwork that would tie together all of Josh's design sensibilities, but also give a nod to the aesthetic of the show for the guests that would be venturing backstage."
The artwork was paired with various wood tones, rich metals and luxe fabrics to create a layered and eclectic environment that not only provided plenty of interest for the eye, but also carried the functionality required of a Broadway dressing room.
That same practicality is also present in the dressing room's keyboard - important for Groban to warm up before shows - and the giant, brightly lit makeup table.
"Josh's dressing room is essentially divided into two spaces," says Harrison. "One section is used to receive guests, unwind, nap, do work and practice music, and the other section is the quintessential dressing area."
We can guess Groban will be spending quite a bit of time doing all those things in the dressing room as he moves into his new role as a Broadway star.
Scroll on to take a closer look at his new home away from home.
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