Jim Newman (Curtains, Sunset Boulevard) is no stranger to Broadway, and this year he's making his comeback in one of the most exciting revivals: Mamma Mia! Everyone's favorite Abba-inspired musical-turned-movie is being revived at the famous Winter Garden Theatre (where it first premiered back in 2001) for a limited engagement through February 1, 2026. Newman is taking the stage in the revival as the happy-go-lucky potential father, Bill Austin, alongside Christine Sherrill as Donna, Amy Weaver as Sophie, Carly Sakolove as Rosie, Jalynn Steele as Tanya, Rob Marnell as Harry Bright, Victor Wallace as Sam Carmichael, and Grant Reynolds as Sky.Newman who previously toured with the Village People for 10 years as the Cowboy and also starred in the award-winning series Daddyhunt: The Serial sat down with photographer Ron Amato for a photo shoot that Out is exclusively premiering. Ahead, he talks about taking the stage as a queer man (and not playing the queer role), being a part of this beloved show, and what he plans to do next.Out: What drew you to acting on stage?Newman: I was the youngest of four with divorced working parents, so I was a little starved for attention. When I didnt make the basketball team in seventh grade, they put me in choir, and the director heard my voice and asked me to try out for the high school musical Annie Get Your Gun because I was tiny and they needed someone to play Annies little brother, Jake. I got the part and the attention and the sense of play and family I was missing.What does it mean to be queer on Broadway in a moment when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack?Well luckily, Broadway has always been a queer safe space. We took care of each other before, during, and after the AIDS crisis, and its a lot easier to come out in that world and fearlessly advocate for each other with allies everywhere. Going back in the closet is nonnegotiable!You were in the touring company of Mamma Mia! before it got transferred to Broadway. What was yours and the cast's reaction when you got the news about Broadway? Many in the cast are making their debut.A lot of crying and hugging. As the veteran, I had been downplaying the Broadway rumors because in my experience, tours dont come back to Broadway, and if theres a revival, its recast with a whole new creative team. This is an anomaly in our business, but those 25 Broadway debuts are the reason this is my favorite Broadway opening of my career! Because weve been together for almost two years, its like almost all your family getting their dream in one fell swoop!You were great in Mamma Mia! As an avid fan, I have to ask the question a lot of people are going to ask: Why isnt Bill Australian like he is in the movies?I actually dont know the answer. He was written as being from America in the script I received on the first day of rehearsal.You play Bill a lot goofier than he is in the movie. Why did you feel that was right for this character on stage?Film is a different medium, so subtleties that work in film dont always read in a 2500-seat theater. But really, I took my lead from the script. Bill is a wild man he screams, yeehaw! when he meets Donna! and they wanted me to be a bad dancer, so I took that and then I always decide how I, Jim Newman, would react in that situation because it will feel the most honest and Im a little goofy. [laughs]Not to get all actor-y, but I see him as a good-time guy whos afraid of commitment because he doesnt want to get hurt. Something I can relate to. I remember going to frat parties, and the guys that were the most fun were the ones who would get drunk and dance wrong and strong with a smile on their face as if they were killing it. Bill says he gets faint at the thought of a wedding, so I used that when he finds out hes a father. Its really all in the text, and I was grateful to the creative team for allowing all of us to create our own versions of these characters without being bound by other actors portrayals. I think thats what makes it fun for the audience. Otherwise they could just rent the movie, right?Who do you think Sophie's dad is? Do you think it matters if the audience knows?I think Bill is clearly the father. Hes an adventurer with commitment issues. Sophie calls off the wedding to travel the world. Proud Papa.You toured with the Village People for 10 years as the Cowboy. What was that like, and what brought you to the end of your time with them?It showed me how insular Broadway is and how huge pop culture is. Rarely when I told people I did Broadway did someones face light up like it did when I said I was the Cowboy in the Village People. Its just such an iconic band with iconic songs and people were always excited to hear about it. It was pure joy, seeing the world and being treated well and playing with huge artists in festivals whose CDs I had played. It was also the first time I had job security, so that was nice and unexpected at that time in my life. Also, playing for as many as 500,000 people and watching them all do the YMCA armsI cant even describe what that feels like. But then there was a long lawsuit by an ex-member and we lost, and they took away the Village People name and we tried to rebrand and then COVID hit and we couldnt recover so it was back to theatre. But for me, it was an amazing gift that fell in pocket, and Im just grateful. Obviously since this new Village People performs at Trump rallies, the whole story is a lot juicier, but I have to wait for a couple of folks to kick it before I can write the tell all-book.You've acted on Broadway, television, and movies, what's next for you?I will continue to work as long as I can because I need to stay creative, but my life got bigger than my career so the next chapter is much more balanced with all the amazing things and people that are in my life. The final dream is driving down a country road in my used pickup with my rescue dog in the passenger seat, country music blaring, one elbow resting out the drivers side window.Jim Newman (@jimnewmankeepmovin) photographed by Ron Amato (@ron_amato ronamato.com) for Theater Folk at the iconic Jalopy Theatre & School of Music in Brooklyn, New York (@jalopybrooklyn jalopytheatre.org). Photo assistant David Donofrio @ddonofrio01This visual collection was curated by equalpride's digital photo editor, Nikki Aye.Find tickets for Mamma Mia!, which runs through February 1 at NYC's Winter Garden Theatre, at mammamiabway.com.