What's Your Favorite?

A chat with Bob Westenberg, actor and assistant professor.

You get the impression talking to Bob Westenberg that he’s got more captivating stories than time allows. Perhaps he’s following the old theatre adage, “leave them wanting more.” Or, perhaps a man who made the journey from a seminary in California to Broadway to a professor’s office at Drury University has actually just accumulated an abundance of stories.

“It’s been like a leaf floating down the river,” says Westenberg, referring to the ease of each transition in his life. The current seems to land him in the right place at the right time. Early on in his time on Broadway, Westenberg arrived at the theatre with his friend, Tom Aldridge, to start rehearsing for Into the Woods, when he noticed a good-looking woman in the cast. “I said, ‘Who’s that?’ and he said, ‘Well Bobby, that’s your wife.’” The woman’s name was Kim Crosby, and she played his wife in the play and indeed still plays his wife of 17 years today. Not only that, it was for Into the Woods that Westenberg was nominated for a Tony Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Acknowledging the rare longevity and sustained success he achieved, Westenberg says, “I basically ended up doing 25 years in New York as an actor, and I’ve never waited a table in my life.”

Since his arrival at Drury University, Westenberg is still able to act here and there but says: “I really don’t miss it as a career. I really, really enjoy directing more now.” In 25 years on Broadway, Westenberg may have had countless costume changes, but it is now that he truly wears many different hats. “Between semi-professional stuff, professional directing and student directing, that’s taking up most of my time artistically. At Drury we do six productions a year.” Word is that there is a new theater for Drury in the future. If need be, Westenberg could build it, you know, he used to be a carpenter. But that’s another story for another time.

What’s Your Favorite…

Production you’ve been in?

“The Crucible. I played John Proctor. We got to perform it in Jerusalem.”

Song you’ve sung?\

“’Finishing the Hat,’ in Sunday in the Park with George.”

Thing about performing on Broadway?

“The limo.”

Thing about performing on Off Broadway?

“The subway.”

Thing about teaching?

“Student growth; it has to be.”

Thing about the Springfield arts scene?

“The variety. There’s a shocking amount of it.”

Surprising thing about Springfield?

“Tornadoes. I know it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Coming from California and New York it was like, ‘Oh my God, these things are real.’ I had actually been onstage in Fiddler on the Roof during an earthquake.”

Out-of-the-way place in New York City?

“Kodama. It’s a Japanese restaurant.”

Radio band?

“FM.”

Book?

“I think I’d have to say Great Expectations.”

Cosby?

“I’ve never watched it, but I performed with Phylicia Rashad.”

Line you’ve said in a play?

“I was raised to be charming, not sincere.”

Theater where you’ve performed?

“The Booth, where we did Sunday in the Park with George. Or the Forrest Theater in Philadelphia.”

Note to sing?

“E.”

Bridge?

“Golden Gate.”

Time of day?

“5 o’clock”

Type of wood?

“Walnut. I’ve always liked it.”

Type of dog?

“Mutt.”

Addiction?

“Reading.”

19th century president?

“It’s gotta be Lincoln.”

Body of water?

“The Pacific.”

Toe?

“I love them all.”

Thing about your time at seminary?

“Breakfast. They had phenomenal breakfasts.”