Juan Pablo Di Pace, who gained recognition for starring in the iconic 2004 music video for Eric Prydz's "Call on Me," has made his Broadway debut at the Nederlander Theatre. The 47-year-old actor is currently playing the role of Doc in the musical "Schmigadoon!"
Di Pace stepped into the role of Doc during a four-week absence of original cast member Ivan Hernandez. His engagement on Broadway began on October 24 and is scheduled to run until November 22.
A Journey from Music Video to Stage
Before his Broadway appearance, Di Pace was widely recognized for his role in the "Call on Me" video, where he was featured as the only man in an aerobics class. The video became a pop culture phenomenon in the early 2000s.
His acting career has also included roles in numerous Hallmark movies. Some of his former co-stars have attended his performances. Sarah Drew, who starred with Di Pace in the 2024 Hallmark movie "Branching Out," saw his debut and praised his "incredible" performance. Peter Porte, who worked with Di Pace on the 2020 LGBTQIA+ romcom "Dashing in December," also attended.
Di Pace publicly shared his journey by coming out as gay in March 2019 during a TEDx talk. He spoke about experiencing bullying for his sexuality while growing up and how it influenced his artistic path. He described his early desire to fit in and how he transformed himself to gain acceptance, but ultimately chose authenticity.
"Schmigadoon!" on Broadway is based on the Apple TV+ series of the same name. The musical follows a couple who discover a magical town where life is set to music, and they must find true love to escape.