'Simon & Garfunkel' actor-musician aims to impress Athens fans of folk rock history

Obviously, the real Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are not going going to be onstage when the Broadway hit "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" comes to the Classic Center on Feb. 1, but Athens audiences won't exactly be seeing a high-ticket cover band, either. The show is a multimedia musical journey with two very dedicated actors at the center.

For actor Taylor Bloom, who plays Paul Simon opposite Ben Cooley as Art Garfunkel, preparing for the role of a beloved folk-rock pioneer involved a deep dive into Simon's personal life, vocal and guitar techniques, and what else was going on in the world during the hit-making duo's 1956-1970 run.

"Before I started working on the show, I was about as familiar with Simon & Garfunkel as the average music listener," Bloom told the Banner-Herald. "It was a true pleasure to become familiar with their catalog and learn the songs."

Instead of being a fake concert, "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" takes the audience through the musicians' entire career, from their teenage band Tom & Jerry to their iconic 1981 reunion concert in Central Park, which attracted more than 500,000 people. Bloom and Cooley perform songs with a backing band interspersed with archival film and photographs for historic context.

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Though Bloom compared his role to being part of a tribute act, part of his research was learning how Simon's onstage movements, stage presence and guitar playing changed over the singer-songwriter's career.

"(Playing Paul Simon) is intimidating for a few different reasons," said Bloom. "Those are big shoes to fill, and almost everyone who comes to see the show is a devoted Simon & Garfunkel fan. People in Athens know exactly how everything should look and sound, so we have to bring it every night."

Middleton, Va., native Bloom, who is also in a band called called Coastline, said that his experience with "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" brought added dimension and skill to his own songwriting and musicianship, and being able to play to enthusiastic crowds who are already familiar with the songs is not something every artist gets to experience.

Since 2018, Bloom and Cooley have become friends through their roles in the show, and are getting to see what it's like being on a tour bus together performing folk rock at different cities across the United States. The fun and intensity of that lifestyle shows in the pair's onstage chemistry as well.

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For those who think they know everything about Simon & Garfunkel, Bloom said that the Classic Center show will still hold a few surprises for even the most dedicated fans.

"Without giving too much away, I'll just say that people should come for the music and stay for the stories we tell," said Bloom.

Visit classiccenter.com for tickets, show times, and updated safety information.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Actor-musician shows Athens his chops in 'The Simon & Garfunkel Story'