ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — He’s toured the U.S. in “Mamma Mia!,” spent five years as a singer on cruise ships, played for crowds on George Street and taught high school kids, yet since mid-March, Justin Nurse has been taking on his most challenging role yet — and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Quarantined like all of us amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurse, a substitute teacher who says he’s been missing his students, has been a full-time stay-at-home dad to his two young daughters, Ella and Jozie.
“It’s absolutely my favourite role I’ve ever had and I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything,” says Nurse, whose wife Aimee is also a teacher and has been working hard from home. “But the days go from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The girls love their daycare and are used to constant stimulation, and we’re trying to keep them away from the TV. That means crafts, science experiments, music lessons, going for walks dressed as a dinosaur, whatever we can do. It’s constant dishes and laundry and cleaning up, but then as soon as they go to bed, I’m looking at pictures of them from that day.”
Nurse says he has long wanted to perform — pretending as a child that he had a camera guy following him around — but was shy and needed a little push. It was in high school at Holy Heart that he began singing, then went on to pursue degrees in Musical Theatre Performance from Sheridan College and, later, Education from Memorial University.
In between, Nurse spent two years as the understudy for Sky, one of the lead male roles in the Canadian cast for hit ABBA-based musical “Mamma Mia!,” lived for a while on cruise ships, where he performed as a singer, and, at one point had a plan to try and break into the film industry by moving to Vancouver and changing his stage name to Justin Cross.
“Yeah, I was going to live out of my car and try to make it out there. I picked Cross because at the time I was reading a lot of James Patterson books and Alex Cross was the cool detective. I ended up meeting Aimee and she told me, ‘That’s ridiculous, you should stay here and marry me instead,’ and I did,” Nurse says, laughing.
You might know Nurse as a teacher at Waterford Valley high school, where he taught drama, or as a substitute teacher in other local schools. You may have seen him in “Republic of Doyle” or in one of a dozen or so short films or hosting the Janeway Telethon. Maybe you caught him on stage in musicals like Atlantic Light Theatre’s production of “9 to 5,” or TaDa! Events’ “Jesus Christ Superstar” or “Rock of Ages.” Perhaps you’ve taken to the dance floor in front of him and the other members of bands 709 and STIXX & Stones at a wedding or in a George Street bar.
If you’ve spent any time in western Canada, you might recognize Nurse as the longtime voice of supermarket FreshCo in radio ads and on their phone systems. If you’ve seen Corus Entertainment’s “Canada Together” ads on TV, featuring people from across the country singing the national anthem, you’ve seen Nurse (with daughter Ella in his arms) doing the final flourish, breaking into a chuckle.
“I knew the producers and they contacted me and said they needed someone from the East Coast,” Nurse says. “I said, ‘great, when do you need it by?’ They said, ‘How about in five minutes?’ I went to the living room to sing and Ella jumped up in my arms. When she made me laugh I figured they’d cut that part out, but it’s the line they picked.”
Despite loving the family time he’s getting at the moment, Nurse is missing his musical life and is looking for ways to adapt to the reality of COVID-19. He’s considering teaching voice lessons online, is interested in more radio work and says he’d love a job recording audiobooks.
Twitter: @tara_bradbury
1. What is your full name?
Justin Gerard Nurse.
2. Where were you born?
St. John’s, N.L.
3. Where do you live today?
St. John’s.
4. What’s your favourite place in the world?
Having been to over 65 countries while working on cruise ships I have a lot of reference for this one. The most beautiful place I’ve ever seen is the Norwegian fjords. The Greek islands are unreal, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands will take your breath away. My favourite place? Same as where I was born and where I live now.
5. Who do you follow on social media?
All the “Star Trek” pages, Marvel, political pages, Jon Stewart, Justin Trudeau, local artists like Dana Parsons (hilarious) as well as friends in “Come From Away,” Petrina Bromley and Romano DiNillo.
6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I find social scenarios very stressful and I’m always nervous when I perform. It’s part of the reason I love it so much; it’s a rush.
7. What’s been your favourite year and why?
2015 and 2016, the years my girls Ella and Jozie were born. Literally, no contest.
8. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
I had back surgery four years ago. Leading up, the chronic pain I was in was epic. It put all other things into a new perspective.
9. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
A high school friend “forced” me to audition for the Holy Heart of Mary Chamber Choir, which led to so many great friendships and experiences. From college to “Mamma Mia!” to traveling the world and finally my bands Stixx and Stones and 709, it all began with that one day.
10. What’s your greatest indulgence?
Miss Vickie’s salt and vinegar chips. I have to plan when I indulge, otherwise I’d be face and eyes into it all the time!
11. What is your favourite movie or book?
Impossible to choose. I’m a huge movie buff. It would depend on what genre and period. Some top choices might be “Forrest Gump,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Wrath of Kahn,” “ET.”
12. How do you like to relax?
Like anyone else with kids in this current state of existence, I have a very little time for relaxing. However, when I do, I want nothing more than to share a couch with my wife, Aimee, and watch one of our favorite shows while playing scrabble, either online or in real life. I know. Nerd.
13. What are you reading or watching right now?
“Legion,” “This is Us,” Walking Dead,” a lot of Disney+, especially the newest nature programming they have. I just finished reading “Old Man’s War” and “The Ghost Brigades” by John Scalzi. Lots of fun there!
14. What is your greatest fear?
I fear fire, having started one in my Dad's house as a child, and heights, but my greatest fear is for the world. It seems people can no longer have a difference of opinion without rage and hurling insults. It’s like we’re all in our cars yelling at people cutting us off, except now we can be heard by everyone.
15. How would you describe your personal fashion statement?
Wishing it was 1994 most days but for a big event, I want to be Frank Sinatra.
16. What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t think I have a “thing” I treasure. People and memories, those, I treasure.
17. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
That grateful list is too long for both my parents. My sense of family, love, humour, love of music/theatre and singing, friendship, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
18. What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
Captains Kirk, Picard and Janeway and Hugh Jackman, I think we’d be buds.
19. What is your best quality, and what is your worst quality?
I’m creative, I think that may be my best quality. Even when I have no idea what I’m going to do next, somehow an idea will drop in. My worst quality is that I often over-commit. I’ll take on 100 projects at a time. Somehow, it always works out.
20. What’s your biggest regret?
I have made mistakes, somethings I’d not say or not do, but all of my errors lead me to where I am now and I wouldn’t risk any of these realities for some sort of alternate timeline.
