Nicolas King Part I – Lift Off

By Alix Cohen

Once upon a time, Nicolas Erik King was born in Westerly, Rhode Island under a lucky marquee. He had supportive parents, a grandmother and aunt in the business for which he was destined, the ease and fearlessness of a natural showman, a photographic memory, relative pitch, and enough talent to make stagehands applaud.

It’s Nic with a c, not Nic with an h,/’Cause Nic with an h, goes ‘huh’ not ‘ka’…” (from John Kander/Fred Ebb’s “Liza with a Z”)

Years later, he would talk family and show business with actress Carol Burnett in whose only play he acted, be asked his opinion by master producer/director Harold Prince with whom he later corresponded, laugh with entertainer Clint Holmes (“He has a wicked sense of humor.”) and discuss spirituality with American Songbook icon, Michael Feinstein.

The King family was Jehova’s Witnesses, Nicolas became a “Pioneer.” From 17-26, he went “shepherding” door to door, spreading the Gospel 70 hours a month, additionally working in the office. “Everything else came second.”

Scriptural Principles reigned. Neither sex nor alcohol had a place in a young life without the usual adolescent rebellion. “I was a good boy.” National holidays were eschewed. Still, his family hosted lots of parties attended by “tons” of cousins. The Kings were strict, but Nicolas never felt deprived.

“Entertainment is not forbidden. According to Isaiah, music is a gift from God. God’s throne is surrounded by angels whose sole job is to make music for him day and night. Not to use it would be an insult.” That didn’t mean he had a free pass. As a young man, he got into trouble with the Body of Elders for singing Cy Coleman’s “Witchcraft” which was thought to promote cult-sorcery. Nicolas explained the implicit metaphor to no avail.

“If we use that reasoning,” he then said to a leader, “What am I to make of you who just two months ago took his family to The Magic Kingdom in Orlando? Do I think you’re promoting the occult? I think you’re someone who arranged a nice vacation to allow his children’s imaginations to grow…” Challenges, he says, taught him to debate.The church constantly set a higher bars, but his parents never pushed. “I feel incredibly lucky.” The Kings remain devout. Nicolas left the church at 26 (he calls himself “a hopeful agnostic.”)

Being an only child, Nicolas grew up something of a lone wolf. He’s created his own valued community; “People who will fill my soul and offer constructive criticism.” The artist grew up in a house whose soundtrack was soul and funk, which he still loves. As a performer, however, he gravitated to American Songbook and pop.

“Before Nicolas could even talk or walk he was sitting in his high chair eating Cheerios… there was some jazz music playing on the stereo… I walked into the house because I lived next door and there he was snapping his fingers in time… I nearly lost it…” vocalist Angela Bacari (Nicolas’s grandmother)

At 4, he won the local branch of the Talent America competition performing a medley including “All That Jazz” and “Broadway Baby” dressed in a bespoke tuxedo. State and National contests followed. The family went for the trips, not wins. There was no pressure. Nicolas was just happy being on stage. He never suffered stage fright. “If I’m prepared, I’m fine…Trophies were bigger than I was.”

“My father described me as a spring. He said if he pushed down, I’d bounce out of their hands and resent them.” The Kings never trotted him out to perform at gatherings. In fact, Nicolas recalls lingering on bottom steps hoping to be asked.

After the third win, he acquired a commercial agent, immediately garnering bookings. His mom drove him everywhere. When Nicolas lost a part to someone else, she’d say, “Aren’t you happy for him? There’ll be something else for you.” He remains friends with the man who was his main childhood competition.

The first time Nicolas was taken to see Liza Minnelli, he remembers only a red streak across the stage. At 4, Bacari felt he was ‘ready’ to accompany her to Foxwoods. They sat in the front row. The headliner pulled him onto her lap and sang. She knew his grandmother in passing. Nicolas didn’t have a “proper introduction” until he was a mature 7.

There was no vocal training. Later he’d watch his grandmother coach. Minnelli would be a student. Parentheses of piano and dance lessons came and went. He was exposed to all kinds of music and theater when still small enough to stand under a piano.

“I don’t mean to sound like People Magazine, but most kids came home and watched Barney or Rugrats. I came home and watched Liza at Radio City. I knew every minute of it by 5.”

Bacari became his theatrical manager when the youngster expressed Broadway ambitions. “I bugged her for months.” He auditioned for the role of Gavroche in Les Misérables. “I’d put you in the show tomorrow, but you just can’t hit the notes. You’re the Bea Arthur of children,” producer Richard Jay Alexander told him.The Music Man also passed.

When he was 8, Nicolas was cast as Chip, the Teacup in Walt Disney Company’s Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. The role is traditionally played by a child actor who fits in a custom built cart. “Over 48 inches you were out. I was the longest running Chip in history.They all treated me like an adult, an equal. It was never not fun.”

The Kings acquired a pied-à-terre in Manhattan to facilitate his work. His mom set Nicolas up with internet schooling. “We had routines. I slept and watched television till noon, then schoolwork (sometimes including cultural activities about which he’d write papers), dinner and the show. They’d drive home to Rhode Island Sundays and back Mondays. He was educated this way until early graduation at 15. “I wanted to get out and work!”

From ages 10-22, Nicolas performed in Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He saw the star in all tempers- exploding, aloof, and in tears because the show took in 48 instead of 51 million dollars. “Once, Jerry arrived with scissors and cut off all the band’s ties. An hour before broadcast, there were boxes of silk ties in the Green Room with Jerry’s initials on one side, each musician’s on the other. It was diabolical…That showbiz glitz is gone. We have celebrities, but we don’t have stars anymore.”

As a guest on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, he charmed Tom Selleck who then championed Nicolas for the co-starring role in Herb Gardner’s A Thousand Clowns. The character is 12 years old. Nicolas was 9. “He called me a middle aged kid.” The company brought in an acting coach. It was the only occasion on which he received formal guidance beyond a director.

Carol Burnett and Harold Prince came backstage. Nicolas had serendipitously just read both their books. The little girl down the hall in Burnett’s play with Carrie Hamilton, Hollywood Arms, was changed to a boy and he was cast.

“Carol is the sweetest human that ever lived. She started as an usher on Hollywood Boulevard and was fired for not letting people in after the movie started because it would ruin the story. They actually tore off her epaulets!” When the building was demolished, the comedienne acquired the door between its lobby and the seats. It now holds pride of place leading to her home theater. Carol and Nicolas are pen and telephone pals “Keep me in the loop,” she says in parting.

Part II Tomorrow

All unattributed quotes are Nicolas King
Opening Photo – Matt Baker
All photos courtesy of the performer
https://officialnicolasking.com/