Back in 1998, Tony Award winner Jim Dale was approached by Listening Library to narrate a new children's fantasy book by a first-time author named J.K. Rowling. He became the "voice" of Harry Potter and the more than 130 characters in his wizarding world, nabbing a Grammy for his Potter work in 2000. This year, he narrated Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (which earned him his fourth Grammy nomination) and Around the World in Eighty Days (both Listening Library).
How has your audiobook success changed your career?
After being in the business for over 50 years, it is an absolute delight at my age to have a new, young listening audience (and the not so young) writing to me and attending the Harry Potter readings around America. I keep forgetting that I have been a part of their lives for the past seven or eight years. As one young lady said to me, "My Mom doesn't know it, but I go to bed with you every night!" I used to be a songwriter [Georgy Girl] and had a great ambition to be a Grammy Award winner. Now due to Harry Potter, I have been nominated four times and am the proud owner of one of those lovely awards
Congratulations on receiving your fourth Grammy nomination! What does this particular recognition mean to you?
Every award given to a performer is the result of the very best people getting together and deciding that this actor, or that singer, has excelled themselves this season or year, and this is their way of saying thanks and congratulations. It also makes grandchildren very proud of their ol' grandpa!
What do you enjoy about doing audiobooks, say, as opposed to stage, TV or film work?
Being my own boss. By that I mean making my own choices regarding the voices I create. Not having to memorize words or songs, which seems to become more difficult with every acting job I become involved in. Working to such a deadline keeps me on my toes. And finally, being able to spend every evening at home in front of the fire instead of in front of an audience.
You've now completed six Harry Potter recordings, creating a slew of character voices. How do you keep things fresh and energetic, yet somewhat familiar for listeners, each time you enter Harry's world?
Each new book is a whole new adventure, and the reader enters Harry's world raring to go, and so should the narrator. He must bring all the excitement and thrill to the listener to appreciate as the reader would. It also helps to have a great book to narrate.
What other audiobook projects are you working on now, or what other projects have you lined up? When can we expect to hear them?
Last year I recorded Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson [Brilliance Audio; Dale won an Audie Award from the Audio Publishers Association for the performance]. Their next book [Peter and the Shadow Thieves] is due out this summer, and they have asked me to narrate it. In the meantime I shall be appearing in the New York Roundabout's production of The Threepenny Opera. We open in April and it will be a stunner. Come see us.
