by Kaizaad Kotwal

Columbus--D.C. Anderson has his roots in Elyria, Ohio, where he grew up. Born in Chicago, this out Broadway performer studied at Baldwin Wallace College near Cleveland.

Leaving the Buckeye State, he spent most of the 1980s in New York City, then moved to Los Angeles for most of the 1990s. But, realizing that his main goals and dreams in life were to pursue musical theatre as much as possible, he found his way back to the Big Apple in 1998.

Today at age 50, D.C. (which stands for David Cameron) seems to be fulfilled with where he is in life, especially professionally. On turning the big FiveOh, Anderson said that it felt �a bit weird.�

�When I was in my forties, I felt like I was mature but young. Now that I am getting into my fifties, I feel that I am mature and mature,� he notes with a laugh.

Anderson returns to his native state in the Broadway tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber�s Phantom of the Opera, which will play at the Ohio Theater in Columbus to August 30 and at Procter & Gamble Hall in Cincinnati from December 7 to January 1.

An entertainment phenomenon like no other, Phantom is still running. Several U.S. tours have been non-stop for more than the past decade, and there are many international productions. Add last year�s film version directed by queer filmmaker Joel Schumacher, and Lloyd Webber has created a veritable cottage industry out of one musical.

In this tour, Anderson plays Monsieur Andre, one of the opera�s two managers, in charge of the diva who is replaced by the Phantom�s prot�g�, the young, gorgeous and talented Christine.

�It�s a great part,� Anderson said during a phone interview from Houston, Texas. �I absolutely love the part and getting to work closely with legendary David Cryer is amazing. I never ever take it for granted.� Cryer is Monsieur Firmin, the other manager.

Although he has done musical theatre for a long time, Anderson is still awed when he hears a live orchestra strike up each and every night. He has been with Phantom since 1989 on Broadway and on tour, although in different roles. In between he took 3� years off to go perform in other shows like Man of LaMancha and Ballad of Li�l Joe.

Anderson loves his work, because while he performs at night he gets to use his days to work on his own songwriting, music and photography.

�Besides, I love getting to see the country,� he says of the hectic yet far-reaching touring schedule.

As a cabaret singer and songwriter, D.C. is the recipient of a Bistro Award and several MAC nominations. Visit www.dcanderson.net to listen to selections from his solo CDs The Box Under the Bed, Collected, All is Calm, All is Bright and Ballad.

In addition to performing in the extravagant musical, Anderson will also be working on putting together a benefit cabaret with other cast and crew to help raise funds for the Columbus AIDS Task Force and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Anderson came out as a performer many years ago, partly because he is a character actor. He knew that his chances of getting work would not be as affected by being out as if he had been a leading man performer.

�Besides,� adds Anderson, �I want to be as honest as I can in my time on this planet. It took me a while to get there as I was twenty-four before I came out.�

Anderson says that right now he has �no complaints with life.�

�If I did, I should be shot. Life is too good.�