Juan Pablo Di Pace brings a plethora of theatrical and musical experience to Live at the Orinda! An accomplished film, television and stage actor, as well as a singer, dancer, composer and director, the Argentina-born performer brings his love of musical theater to Orinda on Oct. 27.
You may have seen him as Fernando on the sitcom “Fuller House” or as Nicolas Trevino on TNT’s “Dallas” or you might have heard his velvety tones in concert at New York’s Studio 54 Below. Now, however, you can catch Juan Pablo Di Pace in person as he opens the Live at the Orinda! concert series Oct. 27 at the Orinda Theatre.
“Most people know me as a TV and film actor, but there was a time in my life when I breathed and slept musical theater,” said Di Pace. “With this show in Orinda, I’m revisiting characters I played and characters I always wanted to play.”
Born in Argentina, Di Pace moved to London as a teen and won a scholarship to London Studio Center where he submerged himself in dance classes. Dancing became his passion until he discovered singing, musical theater and, eventually, film.
His first musical theater experience was Bob Fosse’s “Chicago” in London. He went on to lead roles in “Grease” (Italy) and “Saturday Night Fever” (Spain), as well as appearing in such films as “Survival Island” and “Mama Mia!” As a recording artist, Di Pace has been releasing music since 2010, including his recent album “Vascular.”
Audiences at Live at the Orinda! can expect a fun and, at times, emotional evening as the 45-year-old multi-talented performer touches on his life from a child in Buenos Aires to a teenage student and young professional performer in London, Madrid and Los Angeles and his current busy life in Los Angeles.
Musical selections include the tunes of Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, as well as songs from the big screen, radio and some original compositions. Di Pace hopes to include his recent composition for his current movie “Duino.” Not only did he direct this coming-of-age story, but he also wrote and produced it.
“I’ve always loved every aspect of entertainment. It’s all part of the same need to express, I guess,” said Di Pace. “When I was an actor on the television show ‘Fuller House,’ that was all I had time to do. It was sort of a hybrid between television and theater since we had a live audience when we were filming. Some actors don’t like performing in front of a live audience, but for a theater kid like me, I loved the audience response.”
Even with the demands of a television sitcom, Di Pace continued singing, putting together live concerts during the show’s five-month hiatus.
In addition to spending several years on “Fuller House” and “Dallas,” Di Pace also played Jesus Christ in NBC’s “The A.D. The Bible Continues.”
While the role of Jesus was very challenging and rewarding, Di Pace acknowledges that all the roles have their own magic and lessons.
“Sometimes, the things the character is going through or the way they move through life becomes a really fantastic teaching tool,” said Di Pace. “For example, when I played the confident, arrogant Tony Manero in ‘Saturday Night Fever,’ I learned to be more confident in my own life, which, at that time, I wasn’t at all. And with the role of Jesus, I was thrown into this super kind of humility, tenderness and appreciation for humanity. It can be amazing if you let those characters seep in. That’s probably why I play very few serial killers.”
But since 2020, Di Pace has concentrated on being a filmmaker/producer.
“I’m also still singing and acting, so I’m juggling a lot of things. I must be very organized about my day and very disciplined to get everything in,” Di Pace said.
His one-man concert, however, takes top priority in October.
“All of the festivals for ‘Duino’ will be done by Oct. 1, so I can concentrate on my solo concert, which will be a celebration of music, and, in particular, musical theater,” Di Pace said.
Di Pace will be accompanied by former pianist, arranger and vocal coach for “American Idol,” Michael Orland. The Oct. 27 show begins at 5 p.m.
Live at the Orinda! is a concert series featuring world-class performers from around the globe in specially curated musical evenings at the iconic Orinda Theatre. Located at 2 Orinda Theatre Square. For tickets, go to orindamovies.com.
