Q&A: Close Up with Jaime Camil

Jaime Camil knows a thing or two about camp. The actor, director and singer plays an egomaniacal telenovela star on the CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” and in real life, he’s appeared in hit telenovelas in his native Mexico. He also starred as Billy Flynn last year in the Broadway production of “Chicago.” Now he’s kicking up the camp another notch in the Hollywood Bowl’s splashy summer musical “Mamma Mia!” as Sam Carmichael, one of the possible fathers of bride-to-be Sophie. Camil chatted with The Times about the production, which runs July 28 to 30.

Rehearsals begin this week, and opening night is around the corner — are you ready?

It’s a little stressing, but it’s a process. The first three or four days you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. By the fifth or sixth day, you start to get the material into your system. But when you’re in the theater, in the wings waiting to come out — OMG, do I know my lines?!! — it’s a very exciting moment. And this is a really fun musical.

What’s it like to come off of “Chicago” last summer and careen right into “Mamma Mia!” this summer — culture shock?

No! Because I love musical theater. It’s where I feel the most a fish in the water. The most shocking thing is the venue. The Ambassador Theatre [on Broadway] is about 1,100 seats. At the Hollywood Bowl, it’s nearly 18,000 people. And they’re so spread out…. It’s going to be unusual to do theater in such a big venue, but the Bowl takes advantage of the amazing acoustics it has and the big screens. I’m sure they’re gonna play with pyrotechnics and make it super fun.

What’s the stickiest “Mamma Mia!” song that you can’t get out of your head after rehearsing?

“Mamma Mia!” It’s so catchy. My character doesn’t even sing that song, and it sticks the most — all day, all friggin’ day for the past three weeks. I played the music for my daughter, and now she can’t stop singing it!

Referencing an Abba song from the production: What was the time of your life?

That question should be categorized: professional time of your life, personal time of your life, single time of your life, married time of your life…

OK, bachelor time of your life?

In my 20s, when I was living in Acapulco for a long time — that was super fun.

You’ve appeared in so many staged productions — on Broadway, in Mexico City, now L.A. Do you have a dream role?

I remember when I saw the movie “Sweeney Todd” with Johnny Depp, and I was like, “Wow, I would love to do that play in the theater!” So fun and dark, and the music is amazing.

“Jane the Virgin” is about a woman who becomes artificially inseminated by accident. “Mamma Mia!” is about a man who unknowingly fathered a daughter. Themes emerge!

Thank God, in my life, I do know who’s the father of my children. And who’s the mother. No drama of that kind in my personal life.

Who would you most like to see in the Hollywood Bowl audience?

My daughter. She’s almost 6, so she’s only seen me in “Chicago.” We locked eyes, and she knew that dad was up there. It was such a beautiful thing.

If you were stuck on a Greek island with an old flame, as Donna is in “Mamma Mia!” ...

I’ll be brutally honest: I adore my wife. The woman that generates the most passion in me, who I want to be with every single minute, is my wife.

deborah.vankin@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin

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