Actor Lands Joey Role Without Ever Watching Friends—Now He’s Hooked!

Ronnie Burden, a 28-year-old actor from Luton, has taken on the role of Joey in 'Friends! The Musical Parody,' but surprisingly, he had never actually watched the original Friends TV show before landing the part. Growing up, Ronnie's family often told him he reminded them of Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt LeBlanc, and would even quote Joey's famous catchphrase, 'Hey, how you doin'? ' at him. Despite this, Ronnie had only ever seen bits and pieces of the show in the background and never sat down to watch it himself. When he auditioned for the musical, it took about three months before he was officially cast as Joey. Once he got the role, Ronnie decided it was time to finally watch Friends and study Joey's character. He quickly realized why his family saw the similarities between him and Joey. Like Joey, Ronnie is an actor who goes to auditions and enjoys making people laugh. He described himself as a 'class clown,' which helped him connect with the character even more.

Ronnie now lives in Kempston, Bedfordshire, and says that doing Joey's Italian-American accent was not a big challenge for him. As a child, he often performed in school plays and local productions, including Bugsy Malone. Because of his Greek heritage, directors would often cast him in Italian-American roles, so he was already comfortable with the accent. Ronnie said, 'That accent just falls naturally to me, and it's a fun accent. ' He is excited to bring Joey to life on stage at Milton Keynes Theatre, where the musical is running for five days. This is the first time his family will see him perform as Joey, and he is looking forward to sharing the experience with them.

Since becoming a professional actor in 2020, Ronnie has felt the pressure of playing such an iconic character. Friends is a beloved show with a huge fan base, and Joey was so popular that he even got his own spin-off series after the original show ended. Ronnie said, 'There's so many fans out there of Friends, like you can't hide from it... Friends meant so much to these people, it meant more than anything. ' He studied musical theatre at Emil Dale Academy in Letchworth, which helped him prepare for the role. After performances, Ronnie often meets excited fans at the stage door who want to talk about their favorite characters. The musical has also gained attention online, with a video of the cast dancing during the curtain call going viral on TikTok. Ronnie was amazed by the positive feedback and said, 'We couldn't believe how... the positive feedback we've got 'cause I think you've got to be careful with a show like Friends where it's so iconic. '

Ronnie understands that fans come to the musical because they want to relive the memories of the show they grew up watching. He has grown to love Friends and enjoys learning more about Joey and the other characters. Ronnie is proud to be part of a production that brings so much joy to audiences and helps keep the spirit of Friends alive. If you have a story to share about Beds, Herts, or Bucks, you can contact the news team or follow their updates on social media. Friends continues to be a show that brings people together, and Ronnie's journey shows how new experiences can lead to unexpected passions.