It is only mid-August, and this week will see the SECOND new musical of the season begin previews. I'm talking about
Chaplin, the increasingly buzz-worthy show about film icon and comedy genius,
Charlie Chaplin. The ball finally got rolling about a week ago when
Michael Reidel decided to unleash his ugliness on the show, commenting on a low advance (which is in dispute with producers) and the fact that the principal backers own a frozen food empire. (Why her highness gives a damn about where the money came from is beyond me...) You'd think he'd know that there is no such thing as bad publicity... ever since he tried to poop on the
Chaplin parade, people are Tweeting, Facebooking, and every other social network-ing about it. Since then, they've stepped up their visibility with features on
Playbill online, and a very respectable showing at Broadway at Bryant Park.
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| Christopher Curtis |
But there are many reasons to give this show more than a passing thought. First, its creative team could just be a perfect storm new voices and seasoned veterans. Newbie
Christopher Curtis provides the music and lyrics, while the book is by Mr. Curtis and 3 time Tony-winner,
Thomas Meehan. Direction and choreography are by
Follies, Finian's Rainbow and
Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway vet
Warren Carlyle. Tony nominee
Beowulf Borritt will provide scenic design, while Broadway debutante
Amy Clark will supplement the costume designs already completed by the late legendary designer
Martin Pakledinaz. And talk about seasoned:
Ken Billington will, with
Chaplin, be designing his 98th Broadway production.
Jon Driscoll (
Ghost, Brief Encounter) will be creating the projection designs.
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| In LaJolla, it was called Limelight.Rob McClure and Jenn Colella |
The cast itself also presents a nice balance veterans and newcomers. I, for one, am really REALLY excited to see
Rob McClure as Chaplin. I've had the pleasure of seeing is super performance as Princeton/Rod in
Avenue Q, and can tell you the man has some serious musical comedy gifts. The supporting cast includes four of my favorite performers, each constantly working and each on the cusp of stardom:
Jim Bortlesman (a great song and dance man from
Chicago, The Producers, and most recently,
The Adams Family. Christiane Noll seems to find work regularly -
Ragtime, Urinetown, and
Jekyll and Hyde are among her prolific appearances on Broadway.
Wayne Alan Wilcox was terrific in both
Carrie and
The Normal Heart, and the always wonderful
Jenn Colella (
Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity, Lucky Guy) will play Hedda Hopper. The principals also include
Erin Mackey (Wicked, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Oona O'Neill, Michael McCormick (Curtains, Kiss of the Spider Woman) as Sennett/ McGranery/Emcee, (Encores' Merrily We Roll Along) and Zachary Unger as Young Charlie/Jackie.
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| Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin |
Similarly, the ensemble balances youth and experience. It includes: Justin Bowen (Debut), Emilee Dupré (The People in the Picture), Sara Edwards (Follies, Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Leslie Donna Flesner (Finian's Rainbow, Follies), Lisa Gajda (Catch Me If You Can, Elf, Movin' Out, Fosse), Timothy Hughes (Debut), Ethan Khusidman (Debut), Ian Liberto (Billy Elliot, How to Succeed, Promises, Promises), Renée Marino (Wonderland, West Side Story), Michael Mendez (Debut), Sarah O'Gleby (How to Succeed, Promises, Promises), Hayley Podschun (Anything Goes, Pal Joey, Sunday in the Park with George, Hairspray), Adam Rogers (Debut), William Ryall (Me and My Girl, Grand Hotel, Amadeus, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Anything Goes), Eric Santagata (The Apple Tree, The Scottsboro Boys - assistant director/choreography) and Emily Tyra (Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway).
See? There are plenty of reasons to be looking forward to Chaplin!
Jeff
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Agreed!!! Cannot Wait.
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