Friday 5: 5 Broadway Boys For Spring 2025

Back in the day, we used to celebrate Broadway beefcake with "Broadway Heat" competitions. The good news was, without fail, every "winner" and "runner-up" was a lot more that just eye candy. Today, we sorta keep that tradition going with occasional "Stars-To-Be." This week's Friday 5 is a bit of a hybrid: these guys are all good looking, but we strongly suspect that they are going to be big names on the Great Bright Way. Mark our words!

5 Broadway Boys For Spring 2025

Jacob Dickey (Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends as Performer)

Of the 5, he has the most Broadway experience. This spring he is part of the big name ensemble for this tribute to the Master. It'll be great to see him in the spotlight.

Broadway Credits include:

• Aladdin as Aladdin
• Company as a New Yorker and understudy

National Tour Credits include:

• Company as Andy
• Aladdin as Aladdin

McGee Maddox (Smash - Ensemble)

This Canadian makes his Broadway debut here. He comes with a host of skills and credits, including as an accomplished ballet dancer and regional theater actor. Plus, I love his name!

National Tour Credits include:

• Cats as The Rum Tum Tugger
• An American in Paris as Jerry Mulligan

Zachary Noah Piser (Redwood as Spencer and others)

This guy has been the "one that got away" for me. Missed him in Dear Evan Hansen and Wicked, and he was out the day we saw KPOP. I've heard nothing but good things about his performances. Here's hoping he's there when we visit the Nederlander next month!

Broadway Credits include:

• Dear Evan Hansen as Evan Hansen
• Wicked as Boq

Colin Trudell (Floyd Collins as Ensemble)

Here's our second Broadway debutante, though we are happily able to testify to this young man's talent with first hand knowledge. He really bowled us over as the warmhearted Emmet Otter off-Broadway. And now he's coming to Broadway in a Lincoln Center production, no less. He's definitely on the way up!

Off-Broadway Credit:

• Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas as Emmet Otter

Wesley Wray (Buena Vista Social Club as Young Ibrahim)

Another of our Broadway newcomers, the young man is still in college - University of Michigan - going for his BFA in Musical Theater. He's also trained at the Alvin Ailey School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. With an already packed resume, he is ready to take Broadway by storm, and we are here for it.

At the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts:

• As You Like It as Amiens and Silvius (also music composer)

At University of Michigan:

• Guys and Dolls as Harry the Horse
• A Chorus Line as Mike Acosta
• Shaina Taub's Twelfth Night as Duke Orsino

BONUS: Diego Andres Rodriguez (Sunset Blvd. as Artie)

Because we've already seen him once this season, we can verify he's got the goods! Making his debut as Joe Gillis' best friend and making a meal out of that snack of a role. He also goes on for Tom Francis as Joe Gillis on occasion. And, following his run in Sunset, he has already got his next gig lined up!

Broadway Credit:

• Sunset Boulevard as Artie/Ensemble, Joe Gillis understudy

Upcoming National Tour:

• The Great Gatsby as Nick Carraway

Mr. Broadway November 2020: The Minutes' Tracy Letts

Due to some technical issues throughout November, we're going to do a little catch up this week. Thank you, 2020.

Unlike Ms. November, I've never seen any of Mr. November's performance. Even more surprising, perhaps, is that I've never seen any of Tracy Letts' acclaimed plays (or any of the movie adaptations - though I was a fan of the TV series made of his play, Superior Donuts). A part of the Steppenwolf Theatre since the 90s, he began there by appearing in many of their productions, and then had many of his plays developed and produced there, including his most acclaimed play August: Osage County. His most recent work, The Minutes, was also developed there, and began Broadway previews just before the shut down. In honor of the announcement (however optimistic) that the show will open in March 2022, we decided to name this Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and actor Mr. Broadway.

Mr. Broadway November 2020

The Minutes'

Tracy Letts

with Laurie Metcalf

GETTING TO KNOW TRACY LETTS:

BIRTH DATE: July 4

BIRTHPLACE: Tulsa, Oklahoma

MEMBER: Steppenwolf Theatre

FAMILY: Married to Carrie Coon; they have one child (above)

SELECT THEATER CREDITS: Broadway - Actor: The Minutes, All My Sons, The Realistic Joneses, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony Award Winner - Best Actor); Broadway - Playwright: August: Osage County (Pulitzer Prize winner, Tony Award winner), Superior Donuts, Linda Vista, The Minutes (Pulitzer Prize Finalist); Off-Broadway: Man From Nebraska (Pultizer Prize Finalist), Killer Joe, Bug

OFF-BROADWAY (Playwright)

BROADWAY (Playwright)

BROADWAY (Performer)

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Mr. Broadway October 2020: Best Actor in a Play Nominee Ian Barford

We've had our eye on this month's Mr. Broadway ever since he wowed us in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. 2020 was gearing up to being quite the season for Ian Barford what with a leading role in Linda Vista and a role in the new ensemble play, The Minutes. COVID had other ideas. But the great news is that Mr. October 2020 was recognized for his work in Linda Vista with a Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play nomination!

Mr. Broadway October 2020

Linda Vista/The Minutes'

Ian Barford

     

GETTING TO KNOW IAN BARFORD:

BIRTH DATE: September 4

BIRTHPLACE: Bloomington, Indiana

FAMILY: Married to Anna D. Shapiro (above); two children

MEMBER: Steppenwolf Theatre Company since 2007

SELECT THEATER CREDITS: BROADWAY: The Minutes, Linda Vista, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, August: Osage County, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice; REGIONAL: Take Me Out, Othello, Dead End, The Weir; STEPPENWOLF: The Minutes, Linda Vista, August: Osage County, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Detroit, Up, Endgame, The March, Mary Page Marlowe

          

Mary Page Marlowe

Endgame (right)

The March

     

Up

Detroit

BROADWAY

     

     

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