Layton Williams, Star of TITANIQUE, Thinks this is the Gayest Broadway Season yet, and He’s Here For It.

From the basement of a Gristede’s to packing the houses of some of the world’s most iconic venues, it seems Titanique can’t be stopped. Racking up awards and dazzling audiences with powerhouse vocals and so-stupid-it’s-genius comedy, Titanique is back in New York - this time on Broadway. 

With an opening night set for April 12, previews are underway for this kooky crazy take on James Cameron’s 1997 epic Titanic, starring co-creator Marla Mindelle as Céline Dion herself. Mindelle is joined once again by her co-creator Constantine Rousouli, along with a host of new faces including Melissa Barrera, Jim Parsons, Deborah Cox, and, fresh from his Olivier Award-winning run in the West End production of Titanique, Layton Williams.

We spoke with Layton about his fabulous career on and off the stage, the importance of being yourself, and winning that coveted Olivier. 

You're coming off this huge, award-winning run in London and, before that, Titanique was already a sensation in New York. What was your first brush with the show?

I hadn't actually seen the show before I threw my hat into the ring. However, I'd heard the buzz about it. Lots of queens would come back to London being like: "Oh my God, I saw the most amazing thing off-Broadway." And, you know what, when Titanique was originally supposed to go to London I wasn't actually free because I was doing Cabaret. Then, Titanique got delayed and it wasn't coming until Christmas. I'd just finished Cabaret and I literally still have the text message to my agent with the link to the announcement. Little did we know what would come of that tiny little WhatsApp message!

Talk about divine timing. And now you're making your Broadway debut! How does that feel?

This is the ultimate dream. I started really young and I've been on and off the stage and screen in the UK for 20 years and I love it. But a few years ago, I did get a chance to work in the U.S. I did a show in Los Angeles. That was my first taste of the American moment. And then I was like: OK, this is the first little step. The next step has to be Broadway. I've always had it on my mood board. I always hoped it would happen. But, if I'm being completely honest, I never thought it would be a job like this, where I'm running around in a wig being an iceberg. It's always the surprising gigs that are the ones that take you to that next level.

You've done TV, you've done theater, you've done film. But it seems like theater has been the consistent through line for you. Is that purposeful? What keeps you coming back to theater?

Since I've been young, I've also jumped from thing to thing. But theater is where I fully come into myself and shine and thrive. I'm able to do all of my favorite things at once: singing, dancing, acting. For me, it's like I'm getting to have my cake and eat it, too. I really love how many incredible queer roles that I've been able to play and I'm just really running with it. I've been having this conversation with some of the cast members in rehearsals about how lovely it is for us just to be so gay. We are thriving and being us and it's so magical.

Absolutely. One of my favorite things about Titanique is its queerness and that it's a celebration of being totally, unapologetically gay. And it's a worldwide sensation! It's everywhere now. What do you think is the most underrated thing about Titanique? What do people not expect?

I think people really sleep on the powerhouse vocals. People talk about it being funny, funny, funny. Yeah, we know it's funny. But when everybody is on that mic, the mic is on, honey. We are singing down. And when everybody gets their moment to shine, it's just so impressive. Not many are able to be funny from the core, from the bones, and then open their gobs and project this iconic sound. Celine Dion eight times a week, do you know what I'm saying? It's not an easy thing. We are fighting for our lives but it is so worth it and I think that's one of the special things in Titanique that sets the show apart from many other funny shows.

I want to ask you about your Olivier win. Walk me through that experience.

Honestly, the Olivier's was not something I set out to do. I've always done gigs where I'll be the second person to come in or I'm the first Black person to play the role, but I've never originated until Titanique. So, I guess that put me in the category of being able to be up for awards. But, in my mind, I'm thinking: okay, I love this part and I'm not sh*tting on my own part, but, like, it's silly. People are really putting their hearts and souls onto the stage. I like to leave expectations at the door anyway and just do the gig. 

I was genuinely in disbelief when I found out. And one of my first thoughts was: the best thing I can do is just be best dressed. I don't care if I lose, so long as I'm best dressed. Do you know what I'm saying? I threw on a look, my mum came down, we beat the face, and I would be lying if I didn't say I was a nervous wreck. And we had to wait. I was second to last. I was literally sat there for three hours. I squeezed my mum's hand when they were doing all the announcements and I was just like: say my name, say my name. Please, just say it. And then, when I won, it was just pure from the heart. Like, just screaming, throwing up, crying. It was the best night of my life. But do you know the best thing about it all? I got to go back. I was the only person that was still doing my role. So, you know, that next Monday, I got to go into work and perform as an Olivier Award winner. That was just a dream come true. I always hoped it would happen, but when it actually happens, you're like, girl, really?

That's got to be so gratifying. Congratulations again. As you know, here at Theatrely, we write for a Gen Z audience. What is it that you hope that a Gen Z audience might get out of a show like this?

When I was at college, I felt like my teachers were trying to make me fit into some kind of box. You know, the boys had to do this and the girls had to do that. It was so boring and there was no scope for us to do what we wanted to do. I'm not shading my college, but it was a different time. Not that I'm ancient! I'm just really hopeful that a Gen Z audience can see shows like Titanique, they can see shows like Cats [The Jellicle Ball] across the way [on 44th Street]. Broadway is so queer right now. It's so exciting. It's actually celebrating difference. So, don't conform. I do a lot of teaching and I try to tell them: eventually, what you think is gonna set you back, i.e. being yourself, could potentially become your superpower. I've made a whole career on just being me.

That's a great message. Now that you're here in New York, are there any shows opening this spring that you're excited to see here on Broadway?

Oh my god, a hundred percent. I'm hoping to make Cats soon. I mean, the cast! Like, Leiomy, are you kidding me? That is high on my list. Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, I want to see that. And Beaches, also on 44th.

Yeah, that is a packed street, huh? You've got some great shows there.

I'm so proud to be on Broadway right now. I'm pretty sure this must be the gayest Broadway season that we've ever had.