IN CONVERSATION WITH CONSTANTINE ROUSOULI

interview by JANA LETONJA

Constantine Rousouli didn’t just create a hit, he created a phenomenon. As the co-creator and star of the Olivier Award-winning Titanique, Best New Comedy Play, he has turned a camp, high-octane reimagining of Titanic into one of the most joyful and subversive successes in contemporary theater. Playing Jack Dawson with tongue firmly in cheek, and a Celine Dion power ballad always within reach, he took the industry’s traditional “leading man” box and gleefully set it on fire. A Broadway veteran with credits including Wicked, Hairspray, and Ghost, and a familiar face across television, Constantine has built a career defined by versatility, humor, and fearless theatricality. With Titanique now a global sensation, he stands at the helm of a show that proves comedy, queerness, and vocal power can steer the ship.

coat and pants KID SUPER
shirt AGBOBLY
tie RALPH LAUREN
boots BIKKEMBERGS

Titanique has become a global phenomenon. Did you ever imagine it would reach this scale?

Absolutely not. We wrote this just to make each other laugh. We were two broke actors in LA looking for something to do because our film and TV careers weren’t exactly taking off. It was purely a side project that brought us joy. Never in a million years did we think we’d be opening on Broadway almost ten years later.

What was the original spark behind creating Titanique?

Two dirty martinis. That was the spark. Honestly, something just came over me in my drunken state, and I pitched the idea on the spot.

Why did reimagining Titanique through the lens of Celine Dion feel like the right kind of chaos?

Listen, Celine Dion is forever my queen. It just made perfect sense to merge those worlds. Her singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ is forever tied to the movie. And she’s also this beautiful, loving, carefree, slightly kooky soul. Why not lean into that? The whole concept practically writes itself.

full look PRADA

Playing Jack Dawson in this version flips the traditional leading-man narrative. Was that intentional from the start?

I’ve been lucky to play some incredible leading roles, Link in Hairspray, Fiyero in Wicked, Sebastian in Cruel Intentions. But they were always the traditional straight romantic lead. When I started working professionally at 17, the industry wasn’t as open as it is now, so there was a lot of pretending to be something I wasn’t. At a certain point I said, “Screw it, let’s make Jack the complete opposite—young, slightly gay, and with the energy of a golden retriever.” I was tired of seeing leading men through one lens. It was time to paint with every color in the crayon box.

How does Titanique balance parody with genuine heart?

That balance is the tricky part. My co-writers and I are very conscious of walking that line. Comedy and heart need each other. If you go 100 percent balls-to-the-wall comedy from the start, the piece has nowhere to go and the audience disconnects. You need the emotional grounding to keep the ship sailing, pun intended.

coat, shirt and pants DOLCE & GABBANA
shoes DSQUARED2
socks PANTHERELLA
necklace MIANSAI

Winning the Olivier Award is a major milestone. What did that recognition mean to you?

It was truly a dream come true. I wasn’t expecting it at all. We had even been told that Americans rarely win that award, and we were totally fine with that. But when they called our names for Best Comedy, my heart just fell out of my chest. It was one of the most incredible nights of my life. Being recognized by your peers as a creator is one of the most fulfilling gifts you can receive.

What’s the secret to sustaining that level of energy night after night?

A cold brew, a nap, and Jesus. In that order.

blazer SANDRO PARIS
shirt TOD’S
tank top SCHEISSER
pants SANDRO PARIS
shoes DSQUARED2
necklace and rings MIANSAI

You’ve had a strong Broadway and touring career. How did those experiences prepare you to create your own show?

This career isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires serious discipline and drive. I was lucky to learn that work ethic very young. Starting in the business at 17 forced me to observe everything, the way shows are built, the way companies function, the rhythm of the industry. I’ve always loved the work, so when it came time to start writing, I brought that same passion and discipline into this new chapter.

blazer and shirt AGBOBLY
pants TIBI
shoes DSQUARED2

Comedy can be deeply strategic. How do you approach timing and tone on stage?

I’ve always felt like comedy is something I inherited. My father was a Greek guy from Queens, talk about a sense of humor. I honestly think of comedy as music. Every joke has a rhythm and a melody. You can feel when the timing is right to land it. And of course, it’s also trial and error. The great thing about comedy is the audience will immediately tell you when something isn’t working.

Do you feel theater is entering a new era of camp and unapologetic theatricality?

I do. I think people are exhausted by the outside world and they want to escape into something joyful. Theater has always been a place where people can come together and laugh. Sometimes it really is that simple, people just want to have fun.

shirt and pants TOD’S
boots DSQUARED2
necklace MIANSAI

After Titanique, what feels like the next creative mountain to climb?

I’d love to become the gay Tina Fey. I want to create more projects in television and film, write things for other people, write things for myself, maybe host the Golden Globes. You know, the simple stuff.

If you could describe this chapter of your career in one song (Celine or otherwise), what would it be, and why?

It would have to be A New Day Has Come by my queen, Celine. This chapter of my life has had its share of challenges—losing my father, relationships ending, moving back to New York, even getting hit by a car. But through it all, I’ve learned that no matter what life throws at you, there’s always another day to try again. Keep pushing forward. Keep your heart open. Keep spreading love. You never know when inspiration might strike, and suddenly you find yourself with a show on Broadway. Stranger things have happened.

TEAM CREDITS

talent CONSTANTINE ROUSOULI
photography BEN ABARBANEL
styling R COLE STEVENS
makeup and hair EMILY AMICK for EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS using ARMANI
styling assistant JOHN JEON
makeup and hair assistant CY BLANKINSHIP
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
location FILM LOCATIONS NYC and DON SHAPIRA