80s cultural hit ‘Flashdance’ at MJT

David R. Gordon was halfway through a tune from the musical “Bring It On” when the “Flashdance” director stopped him cold.

“That’s enough,” the director said.

Gordon initially thought his hopes of landing his first national touring Broadway show were over. The California-born performer felt his heart sink.

“Then he said he wanted to bring me back,” Gordon said. On his return visit, Sergio Trujillo, director and choreographer of “Flashdance: The Musical,” had the 27-year-old sing a Billy Joel tune: “Only the Good Die Young.”

Turns out he was a perfect match for the lead character’s boyfriend, Jimmy.

“I definitely can relate to Jimmy,” Gordon said during a phone interview. He was in Grand Rapids, Mich., on a break before curtain time. The temperature outside was 7 degrees. “I can’t wait to get to New Orleans,” he laughed at the mention of weather.

“In the show, Jimmy’s a ‘wanna-be.’ He has an ultimate dream of going to New York City and becoming an actor.”

It is a familiar pursuit for Gordon. The youngest of six children, he is the first in the family to shed his Los Angeles roots and move to the Big Apple to chase the spotlight.

“I’m the only one in my family to move more than 20 minutes away from where I grew up,” Gordon said. “Is it hard watching my niece and nephew grow up on Skype? You bet. But given the chance to be part of a national Broadway tour and getting to travel the country – I’ll take it.”

“Flashdance” hit the big screen in 1983 and instantly became a pop culture phenomenon. With the inspiring story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer, the movie captivated audiences. Females connected with the love story: the romance between working-class girl Alex and her steel mill boss. But they equally related to trying to balance love and one’s passion for a dream. She spends her days at the steel mill and nights at a local bar, all the while longing to become a student at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy.

Meanwhile, male audiences jammed to the music. “Flashdance” gave the music world some iconic hits: “I Love Rock & Roll,” “Manhunt,” “Maniac,” “Gloria” and, of course, the title song, “Flashdance – What a Feeling.”

Lyricist Robert Cray and musician Robbie Roth reunited for the Broadway show, writing 16 new songs, including “Where I Belong,” which Gordon’s character Jimmy sings.

“It’s written in the same style as the Billy Joel song they had me sing during auditions,” Gordon said.

One might wonder how the cast of “Flashdance: The Musical” are able to relate to a show that many of them weren’t even alive during. Gordon wasn’t born until two years after the film was released.

“I was born in 1985,” he said. “But having older sisters, despite being a baby, I definitely got a sense of the ‘80s.”

At tryouts, Gordon wasn’t thinking about the 1980s, though. Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and wearing a Fedora, he was just hoping to get hired. Turned out, he nailed it, right down to his costume. Jimmy is seen on stage – dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and wearing a Fedora. “Later, I asked Sergio what I should do as Jimmy. He said, ‘Just be you.’”

Trujillo offered a second bit of advice: smile. “He liked my smile.”

Trujillo’s high-energy take on “Flashdance,” which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, has everyone smiling.

“There really is something for everyone in this show,” Gordon said. “It appeals to all audiences – men and women alike. It’s fun to watch women come to life and tap the person next to them and say, ‘That’s what it was like in the ‘80s. That’s how I danced,’ or ‘That was how I dressed.’

“And the dads or significant others get caught up in the music. … There’s plenty to look at, too, that’s for sure.”

And then there’s the dancing, including the infamous splash dance.

“It’s electrifying,” Gordon said. “The dancers get started and the energy immediately starts flying.”

The universal message – being passionate about following your dream – also unites audiences, the actor observed.

“‘Flashdance’ does a really great job of bringing you on a journey,” Gordon said. “The moral of the story is people get knocked down along the way, but they still have to pursue their passion. Alex has a lot of cards stacked against her, and she dances at night to feed her passion and as a way of expression on the way to realize her dream.

“That’s what we need to do, too – to believe in ourselves and believe in our dreams.”

Without giving away the storyline, it works for Alex Owens, and it’s working for David Gordon.

“Flashdance,” featuring a new score for its 30th anniversary Broadway tour, opens at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts on Feb. 25.

COURTESY PHOTO

David Gordon, who plays Jimmy in “Flashdance,” is pictured. Tickets range from $32-$90 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.