Family portrait

From left: Brian d’Arcy James, Jennifer Prescott, Grace James, 7

Photograph: Imogen Brown

Ever since Brian d’Arcy James was cast as the title ogre in Shrek the Musical, many jokes have been made about his “going green.” What most folks don’t realize is that he really has gone green—in the environmental sense of the word—thanks to his wife, Jennifer Prescott, founder of the new website greenDesigngoods.com. The actress has transformed her husband’s Broadway dressing room (pictured above) into an eco-friendly haven. With their seven-year-old daughter, Grace, the pair live in a similarly toxin-free apartment on the Upper West Side.

Is your daughter interested in following you into showbiz?
JP Not really. Grace is not particularly showy and she doesn’t crave that kind of attention. A great example: They’re doing a play at school and she came home squealing, “Mom, I got the best part!” I thought she got the lead or something. It turns out she’ll be designing the costumes and the sets. To her, that’s the best part.
BDJ I think Tim Hatley’s design for Shrek has something to do with that. She’s noticed all the different elements that make it work.

Brian, you do a lot of belching and farting in the show. What was Grace’s reaction?
BDJ I don’t remember that being something she was squeamish or happy about. But Jen’s the one who sat with her on opening night.
JP She actually responded most to Donkey and Lord Farquaad. Grace has always had a certain level of discomfort watching mommy and daddy perform, although she’s come a long way with that.

Did the two of you meet while doing a show?
JP Yes, we met while performing in Carousel ?[on Broadway in 1994]. I don’t act much on stage anymore though. We can’t both be on a theatrical schedule and take care of our family. So Brian has left me in the dust in that respect, but I don’t feel ripped off. I did four Broadway shows, so I know what that is. Theater is heavy lifting. Once you have children, your perspective changes.

How did you go from gigging to green living?
JP In between performing jobs I worked for magazines. I was the home market editor for Real Simple for a couple of years. I shifted my focus along the way and became interested in sustainable products. When I started it was slim pickings, but now it’s turned into a huge industry. My goal with my website is to have a really great design site that is also eco-conscious.

How is that idea reflected in Brian’s dressing room?
JP The producers were going to redo it anyway, so I stepped in. I used low-VOC [volatile organic compound] paint and got an eco-friendly sofa from Crate & Barrel made with a soy-based foam instead of petroleum-based. I got a carpet made from non-treated wool. They’re all things people can easily do.
BDJ It looks fantastic, and if it’s also eco-friendly, all the better. The show has so much glue, paint and fumes; it’s nice to know we’re trying to balance it out a bit.

You’re in a DreamWorks show. Will you allow your daughter to see the Disney competition?
BDJ [Laughing] Grace has seen most of them already.
JP I couldn’t wait for her to see Lion King. It’s so innovative .

And how did Shrek compare?
BDJ She had a big smile on her face, and I remember she said she liked it a lot. She never says anything is “great!” She doesn’t realize that most actors are really needy—like me—so she’s not conditioned to over-compliment.—Raven Snook

Shrek the Musical is playing at the Broadway Theater.

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