Deborah Cox has a big voice — a very big voice — but she believes it takes all the power and velvety notes she can muster to adequately play tribute to Whitney Houston in the touring production of “The Bodyguard,” which stops at the Providence Performing Arts Center Jan. 9 to 14.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Deborah Cox has a big voice — a very big voice — but she believes it takes all the power and velvety notes she can muster to adequately play tribute to Whitney Houston in the touring production of “The Bodyguard.”
The show, which stops at the Providence Performing Arts Center this week, is based on the 1992 movie in which a pop star played by Houston seeks protection from a bodyguard (Kevin Costner) when she begins getting threatening messages from an unknown stalker. The play incorporates such signature songs from the movie as “I Have Nothing,” “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “I Will Always Love You” and “I’m Every Woman.”
In a phone interview from a tour stop in Salt Lake City, Cox talks about stepping into the role popularized by someone she calls “the voice of the ages.”
“It felt like a great opportunity to pay homage to her and to music that really has touched our lives,” she says softly, letting her vocal cords rest. Because the romantic thriller is a generation old, Cox says she enjoys helping bring it before new audiences who may not have seen the film. But, six performances a week is taxing for the performer, who has earned platinum status for several of her albums as well as a Grammy nomination, and has appeared on Broadway. She will not perform the Saturday afternoon or Sunday evening shows at PPAC.
“I’ve found my rhythm but it takes a lot of voice rest and discipline,” she says of “Bodyguard.” “I have to find a way to balance what I have to do vocally with the acting and dancing. It’s like a marathon — you find moments where you can hold back and other moments where you push forward.”
The most challenging part of the songs in “Bodyguard” is that they were all built for Houston’s powerhouse vocals. Even though Cox has a similar voice and range, she admits that recording the numbers for a soundtrack is much different than belting them out nightly.
“It’s about making sure you are fiercely disciplined,” she reiterates. “Even in my own shows, I have learned to practice restraint.”
“Bodyguard” has further tested her discipline, with scenes in which her character has to scream in fright. She’s learned to deliver the dramatics without damaging her vocal cords in the process.
“Once you keep the technical stuff [with her vocal cords] going, you can go as long as you can without a problem,” she says knowingly, adding that she does weekly Facetime sessions with her vocal coach to practice the techniques that help maintain her vocal health.
— Susan McDonald is a regular contributor to The Providence Journal. She can be reached at Sewsoo1@verizon.net.
If you go ...
What: “The Bodyguard”
When: Jan. 9-14
Where: Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence.
Tickets: $41-$88
Information: (401) 421-2787, ppacri.org
Note: The show is not recommended for children under age 13 and children under age 6 are not permitted in the theater.