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Obama – the musical: spiky-haired Kenyan extra steps up to lead role Obama – the musical: spiky-haired Kenyan extra steps up to lead role
(about 1 hour later)
It is the stuff acting dreams are made of. Rehearsals were under way and Billy Owino was standing in for the male lead. The director liked him so much that he gave him the role.It is the stuff acting dreams are made of. Rehearsals were under way and Billy Owino was standing in for the male lead. The director liked him so much that he gave him the role.
And not just any role: Owino is playing Barack Obama in a musical version of his life, currently on stage at Kenya’s national theatre to celebrate his first visit here as US president. And not just any role. Owino is playing Barack Obama in a musical version of his life, currently on stage at Kenya’s national theatre to celebrate his first visit here as US president.
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It is a career leap for the 23-year-old actor, who has previously appeared as an extra in a couple of local films but is better known as a dancer. “It feels great,” Owino said ahead of Friday evening’s performance in Nairobi. “It’s an honour to play the most powerful man on the planet. I know I cannot fill those shoes right now, but I’m humbled.”It is a career leap for the 23-year-old actor, who has previously appeared as an extra in a couple of local films but is better known as a dancer. “It feels great,” Owino said ahead of Friday evening’s performance in Nairobi. “It’s an honour to play the most powerful man on the planet. I know I cannot fill those shoes right now, but I’m humbled.”
Owino hails from Kisumu, about 30 miles (50km) from the village where Obama’s father grew up, but with his spiky hair and shiny ear stud cuts an unlikely American president. He initially joined the production as choreographer and assistant director. Owino hails from Kisumu, about 30 miles (50km) from the village where Obama’s father grew up, but with his spiky hair and shiny ear stud cuts an unlikely figure for an American president. He initially joined the production as choreographer and assistant director.
“But when we were rehearsing, George [Orido, the director] thought I did the lines better than the main actor so he gave me the role,” Owino said. “The main actor took it positively because the show must go on.”“But when we were rehearsing, George [Orido, the director] thought I did the lines better than the main actor so he gave me the role,” Owino said. “The main actor took it positively because the show must go on.”
Orido, 42, said: “I changed the original guy because he didn’t bring it out as I wanted. Billy had the commitment and he had the character. I liked his way of doing it.Orido, 42, said: “I changed the original guy because he didn’t bring it out as I wanted. Billy had the commitment and he had the character. I liked his way of doing it.
“I was able to see the Obama coming out. He was able to blend very well the dances I needed and the acting,” the director said.“I was able to see the Obama coming out. He was able to blend very well the dances I needed and the acting,” the director said.
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Obama: Dream of a Father – the title is slightly changed from the title of Obama’s book – was first performed in Kenya when he was running for US president in 2008 and has been revived and updated because of the long-awaited visit, which begins on Friday night.Obama: Dream of a Father – the title is slightly changed from the title of Obama’s book – was first performed in Kenya when he was running for US president in 2008 and has been revived and updated because of the long-awaited visit, which begins on Friday night.
The 70-minute production features Barack Obama Sr, a goat herder turned student in the US, and introduces his son as a teenager playing basketball at high school. One scene portrays their sole meeting, when Obama Jr was 10. The show also depicts Obama meeting his wife, Michelle, and his previous trips to Kenya, accompanied by music ranging from traditional sounds of Obama Sr’s Luo ethnic group, Congolese and contemporary African to big band and jazz. The 70-minute production features Barack Obama Sr, a goat herder turned student in the US, and introduces his son as a teenager playing basketball at high school. One scene portrays their sole meeting, when Obama Jr was 10. The show also depicts the younger Obama meeting his wife, Michelle, and his previous trips to Kenya, accompanied by music ranging from traditional sounds of Obama Sr’s Luo ethnic group, Congolese and contemporary African to big band and jazz.
It concludes with the newly elected president’s historic inauguration speech, for which Obama wore a winter coat on a freezing day in Washington; Owino sports a blue T-shirt and dark trousers and does not attempt an American accent. “The speech is not easy,” he admitted. “Sometimes I sweat a lot. Sometimes I can panic and miss a line. But it’s a good speech.”It concludes with the newly elected president’s historic inauguration speech, for which Obama wore a winter coat on a freezing day in Washington; Owino sports a blue T-shirt and dark trousers and does not attempt an American accent. “The speech is not easy,” he admitted. “Sometimes I sweat a lot. Sometimes I can panic and miss a line. But it’s a good speech.”
In another break from the historical record, Owino and his fellow cast members then burst into a celebratory African dance. He added: “The audience have been giving positive feedback about how I can make them forget about my hair and make them believe I’m Obama.In another break from the historical record, Owino and his fellow cast members then burst into a celebratory African dance. He added: “The audience have been giving positive feedback about how I can make them forget about my hair and make them believe I’m Obama.
“We’re trying to show them how somebody can come from a humble background and become bigger than anyone would ever imagine. Anybody and everybody, no matter where they come from, if they set their mind on something, can do it,” Owino said.“We’re trying to show them how somebody can come from a humble background and become bigger than anyone would ever imagine. Anybody and everybody, no matter where they come from, if they set their mind on something, can do it,” Owino said.
From flags to ringtones to novelty glasses, Kenya is in the grip of Obama-mania, with people gathering on footbridges near Nairobi’s international airport several hours before his arrival. Owino, whose next production will focus on victims of terrorism, said: “To some Kenyans, it’s everything. People are glued to TV screens to see him arrive at the airport. Everyone is optimistic his visit will be fruitful.From flags to ringtones to novelty glasses, Kenya is in the grip of Obama-mania, with people gathering on footbridges near Nairobi’s international airport several hours before his arrival. Owino, whose next production will focus on victims of terrorism, said: “To some Kenyans, it’s everything. People are glued to TV screens to see him arrive at the airport. Everyone is optimistic his visit will be fruitful.
“It is a big day for me. I wish I could just catch a glimpse of his face.”“It is a big day for me. I wish I could just catch a glimpse of his face.”
Orido made his way to Nairobi’s airport for the president’s arrival. He said: “Everybody’s happy, even across the political divide. We’ve been going down economically because of terrorism but his coming has restored a little bit of confidence with American investors. There are thousands of guests coming to the airport. That’s something we haven’t seen for years in Kenya.”Orido made his way to Nairobi’s airport for the president’s arrival. He said: “Everybody’s happy, even across the political divide. We’ve been going down economically because of terrorism but his coming has restored a little bit of confidence with American investors. There are thousands of guests coming to the airport. That’s something we haven’t seen for years in Kenya.”
He added: “Obama is a unifying factor. He comes from a minority community and has been able to be elected in the US as a black man. That’s phenomenal. You don’t have to come from a big tribe to be elected president. He’s a symbol of hope and brings a message of good governance, democracy and inclusivity – things we have problems with at home.”He added: “Obama is a unifying factor. He comes from a minority community and has been able to be elected in the US as a black man. That’s phenomenal. You don’t have to come from a big tribe to be elected president. He’s a symbol of hope and brings a message of good governance, democracy and inclusivity – things we have problems with at home.”
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Kenya’s national theatre, opposite the historic Norfolk Hotel, was opened by the British actor Ralph Richardson in 1952. The main auditorium is currently undergoing renovations so the Obama musical is being staged behind a second world war memorial in a modest hall nearby. A giant version of the celebrated “Hope” poster designed by artist Shepard Fairey, with a stylised stencil portrait of Obama in red and blue, is mounted at the back of the stage.Kenya’s national theatre, opposite the historic Norfolk Hotel, was opened by the British actor Ralph Richardson in 1952. The main auditorium is currently undergoing renovations so the Obama musical is being staged behind a second world war memorial in a modest hall nearby. A giant version of the celebrated “Hope” poster designed by artist Shepard Fairey, with a stylised stencil portrait of Obama in red and blue, is mounted at the back of the stage.
Tedd Munene, who at 17 has just finished school, is making his professional debut in the show. “When I heard it was to do with Obama, I just had to audition. His life is so interesting – an ordinary man who accomplished extraordinary things – and I admire him for this.” Tedd Munene, who at 17 has just finished school, is making his professional debut in the show. “When I heard it was to do with Obama, I just had to audition,” he said. “His life is so interesting – an ordinary man who accomplished extraordinary things – and I admire him for this.”
Munene plays the teenage Obama, growing up in Hawaii. He added: “I explain how I was black but the neighbourhood kids were white – identity issues. I also want to know where my dad is.”Munene plays the teenage Obama, growing up in Hawaii. He added: “I explain how I was black but the neighbourhood kids were white – identity issues. I also want to know where my dad is.”
Obama Sr is played by Donwill Odero, 24, who bears some physical resemblance. He said: “People here respect Obama Sr. He has made history in this country by producing the first black American president. We show his struggle for education. He worked to put Kenya on the map and his main aim was for his son to study and become an important person.”Obama Sr is played by Donwill Odero, 24, who bears some physical resemblance. He said: “People here respect Obama Sr. He has made history in this country by producing the first black American president. We show his struggle for education. He worked to put Kenya on the map and his main aim was for his son to study and become an important person.”