EDGE Interview: Constantine Maroulis on 'Blood/Love,' the Immersive Vampire Musical He Stars for One Night Only

Since then, Maroulis continues to mix things up by playing such roles as Che in "Evita" in regional theater, television roles, and a third album, "Until I'm Wanted," released in 2020. Last summer he appeared as rock and roll pioneer Alan Freed in a new musical bio "Rock & Roll Man," that he hopes will head to the West End and Broadway. In his immediate future are two concert performances of "Blood/Love," a Vampire rock/pop-opera. In the performance, Playbill writes: "The original score by Carey Sharpe, Dru Decaro, Erin Boehme, and Adam 'snake' Kobylarz immerses audiences into a gothic nightclub where vampires mingle with the living."

He follows this with numerous tour dates through April that will no doubt feature Maroulis performing two singles he released last summer, "Daydream" and "Comeback."

But Maroulis began his recent conversation with EDGE by praising "Blood/Love."

EDGE: Tell us about "Blood/Love?"

Constantine Maroulis: It's an exciting new project. I met the creators recently and we connected right away. I love the music. It's modern, sexy, and powerful. It's a well-constructed amazing piece of work. They've already had some success with the show in Los Angeles and Oshkosh. It's a piece that lends itself to all the exciting things that are happening on Broadway and other theatrical stages all over the world. It's an immersive show that can't be defined by a genre necessarily. I love it because it is not a traditional musical theater piece.

EDGE: What can you tell us about your character?

Constantine Maroulis: We're not deep into the rehearsal process yet, but from what I've learned he's the non-vampire in the group. Many probably thought I was the head vampire given the name of the show. That is why the show speaks to me, especially when I can take the audience by surprise. I love playing something opposite of myself. I'm excited to work with both Jelani Remy and Courtney Reed. I admire them very much and their talent is massive. We're going to put on one hell of a show, and I hope that it garners more interest for the show to live on in different spaces around our community.

EDGE: How does the immersion experience with the audience feed into your energy as a performer?

Constantine Maroulis: Great question. It can depend on the audience. I think you just feed off whatever energy is in the house that given night. You hope it's interactive that you each respond to each other's energy. What I love is that they are witnessing the action, and they are part of the landscape instead of having a stage separating them. With a show like this, it is like you are watching this beautiful moving picture that is happening around you. For a piece like this, it's great to have the audience so close to us.

EDGE: Blood/Love" shines a light on a dark underworld that has never been seen before. What is it about this world that people love?

Constantine Maroulis: It's fantasy. There's just an escapism to it and there always has been. I was lucky enough to work on "Jekyll and Hyde" many years ago. I think a lot of us enjoy fantasy storytelling. It captures a danger that we all gravitate towards although we might not want to admit it. I think it connects with our inner sexual inhibitions. We all are attracted to a mystery or something that scares us a little. We all watched how successful franchises like "Twilight" became. I think vampires that we see in movies and theatre are just trying to survive and preserve their way of life. We're just drawn to that kind of escapism as we are with Star Wars and superhero films, but there's something about the vampire genre, that if it's done well, can seem real, believable, and that they do exist.

EDGE: Would you want to be a vampire?

Constantine Maroulis: Sure, I would like that even if it was for a little while or a few hundred years. I think it would be fun and interesting. Although, It does seem like something that you're born into unless you are bitten. I am excited to take on this piece and just appreciate the support from the creators.

EDGE: This is a one-night-only performance, so how do you prepare for it?

Constantine Maroulis: Another great question. I thought I was going to have a sort of a slow end to 2023, but then it got really busy, really fast. I had a bunch of gigs pop, and I had a couple on the books. Then I got approached about "Blood/Love." Everything just kind of popped up and I love it. I am a quick study. I love to read everything first and when I'm getting in rehearsals just get to it. Even though this is a one-night-only event, I will prepare for it the way I prepare for any long engagement with everything that I get. It will receive the same attention as anything else. Because it is only for one night, I want it to be perfect.

EDGE: Have you performed in Joe's Pub before?

Constantine Maroulis: I used to do tons of shows there. I've had my solo band there many times over the years. I've been a part of some wonderful nights there, but it's been some time since I have performed there. It's a NYC institution. The staff there is amazing. Everyone is a knockout. They always have exciting things happening there. I appreciate Joe's and it's great to circle back to them because everyone else is a wannabe Joe's Pub. Joe's is just iconic.

EDGE: Anything new that you would like to promote?

Constantine Maroulis: In the last few years, I got back to songwriting. I released an album in 2020 during the pandemic named "Until I'm Wanted," and it did well. Also, my single "All About You" was out there that I co-wrote with Sam Hollander, who is an incredible writer. This past summer I put out two new songs, "Comeback" and "Daydream," and my newest single "Pieces "1will be out early this year.

I'm excited about that. Last summer, I was part of "Rock & Roll Man," which is the story of the birth of Rock and roll. It's about Alan Freed, who was the first DJ to play black music on popular radio during segregation. He popularized the term and people say he created the phrase rock and roll. He was a great disruptor of the system and elevated amazing black artistry at a time when it was against the law. I hope that "Rock & Roll Man" finds a life either on Broadway, on tour, or the West End. I'll be back on the road in February. I'll be performing at Boston City Winery and then I'll be in Concord, New Hampshire at the Bank of New Hampshire stage. I am excited to see what this new year brings.

For more on Constantine Maroulis and upcoming tour dates, visit his website.

For more on "Blood/Red," follow this link.